Garden Design - Muswell Hill, London N10
To create a clean-edged and elegant, easy to maintain space, the garden will be sculpted with long raised beds laid around its edge. These beds will be rendered and painted Seagrass to off set a contemporary planting palette of plum, claret and lilac. The strip of patio along the back of the house will be overlaid with decking, from which a 2 ft wide decking runway will run the length of the garden alongside the right hand raised bed. At the bottom end of the space we will create a simple 'room in the garden', placed to make the most of the afternoon and early evening sun, using fixed bench seating on three sides of a rectangle. Each bench will be backed with raised beds. A fixed BBQ will be built beside this area, increasing the entertaining possibilities of the garden.
The raised beds will feature architectural planting, using carefully chosen structural and specimen plants to create an exotic appeal while keeping maintenance responsibilities to a minimum. The space between the bench area and the decking directly behind the house will be laid with lawn. This limited use will make a feature of the lawn, rather than using it solely for its carpeting effect. The fences will be painted Seagrass to soften their effect and create a subtle backdrop to the planting. A storage area for bikes and other items will be placed directly behind the kitchen.
- A still, filtered, Mosaic pool running under the decking walkway, underlit to create an ambient feature.
- Lighting within the beds would show off the architectural planting and bring the garden to life at night. A series of 12 LEDs could also be placed down the decking, giving the illusion of a 'runway' and drawing the eye down to the end of the garden.
- Bespoke fixed cushions could be used to produce the final flourish for a feeling of true decadence. Crafted from simulated suede to fit the back and base of the seat, they would add comfort and style to the benched area. Optional scatter cushions in Lilac and Seagrass could also be created to tie in with the planting colour scheme.
- A contemporary metal sculpture placed at the end of the decking runway would offers a focal point and would add a flair of creativity into the space. The sculpture could be lit at night for added interest.
- Patio heaters would allow the space to be used even in winter. A modern version of Mexican chimnea - a terrace stove - could provide a stylish and ambient talking point as well as effective heating on chilly nights. A conventional gas powered patio heater has the added advantage of portability and can be placed wherever is most convenient within the space.