This space was a fairly blank canvas, containing few features other than a lawn, an old log-roll raised bed, and a large, well constructed garden shed. The area adjoining the house had recently been block paved, and this was to be integrated into the design. The client wanted a bold and vibrant garden that functioned on several levels - including a football pitch for their children and a sociable area for the adults.
To accommodate the client's love of colour, and in keeping with the style of the interior of the house, the design was based around blocks of vivid orange or blue, taking inspiration from the abstract artist, Mondrian. The existing shed and fruit tree were removed to allow the construction of main social area of the space.
This comprised an area of decking bordered on two sides by a long, L-shaped fixed bench seat, backed by lush planting in raised rendered block beds to create a relaxing, social focus to the space. Provision for al fresco dining was given with the inclusion of a large decking table, with a moveable decked box on casters providing seating for the client's children.
The block paving directly outside the house was integrated into the rest of the garden with the addition of several rendered block planters of various heights and dimensions. These were painted either orange or blue on different surfaces and planted with tall architectural specimens or low ground covering plants to give variation to the heights and perspective at play in the space.
A high rendered block bed at the bottom of the garden provides a dramatic frame to space, and also serves as a sturdy goal for impromptu football matches. A further low raised bed running down the left hand side of the garden ties the back of the space into the main area. This bed terminates in a higher raised bed to the left of the decked area, which acts a frame for
a stunning stainless steel water wall.
Planting in the space is strong and architectural, and chosen for year round interest with the inclusion of bamboo, spiky cordylines, tall grasses, and orange and blue flowering plants such as hosta and crocosmia tying the planting into the
overall colour scheme.
A dramatic yet functional lighting scheme adds the finishing touches to the space. Brick lighting illuminates the lawn area,
with strong spotlights providing an overall wash to the garden while picking out selected specimen plants in the beds. Blue LED deck lights cuff the edge of the decking, giving an outline to the central entertaining area. Finally, three blue neon stick lights placed in the planters on the block paving provide an unusual, eye-catching, entrance to the space.
"We would like to take this opportunity in thanking the whole team. From the very initial consultation with Kat, we managed to work together in the overall design of the garden. You have so many great and inspirational ideas we wish we had more space in our garden to use more of them!!! Then from the drawing to the actual implementation of the garden, taking on a
whole new identity. The space you provided is both great for the children and most importantly for the adult entertaining.
The general feedback from our friends and neighbours has been great. The whole team worked so hard through, sunshine, rain and a lot of wind all mixed together on some days. You managed to stick through it all and deliver us more than what we expected. We would like to thank you all and wish you all the very best of luck in the future."
