Kim Graham
Garden Design Studio

The perfect nook

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Walking out of the back door into the rear garden, you’ll step out onto a gravel path way surrounded by evergreen perennials, herbs and ornamental grasses. There will be a patio in the western corner of the property, which uses the shape of the house as a wind break. This will get beautiful morning sun, and hold the warmth from the fire pit well in the evenings. The patio will be created using reclaimed brick laid in a herringbone pattern.  The shape of this patio is unique and adds interest to the garden, as well as maximizes the space and aspect of this nook. Bespoke outdoor furniture will be made with all weather cushions for this patio.

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Alfresco dining

 

The gravel path will wrap around the house, with a long flowerbed running against the boundary wall.

Walking down the gravel pathway will take you to an L shaped pond which surrounds a dining area patio. Porcelain pavers will be used to create a stepping stone pathway through the water and onto the hoggin dining patio. The use of single pergolas and evergreen creepers will ensure privacy and enclose the space making it feel intimate. An evergreen Jasmine creeper will be used for its lovely scent.

 

The North Western boundary wall, in front of the dining area, will have a mirror with shutters attached to it; this will look as if it’s a window adding interest to the space, while making the garden feel wider.

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Using existing features 

 

Walking through the hoggin dining area, towards the back of the garden, will take you to another gravel path. This path leads to the shed. The sheds roof will be replaced with terracotta roof tiles, and will have a white k-rend applied to the exterior walls to mimic Mediterranean homes. This shed will be used as a focal point at the end of the garden, and used as a feature to enhance the overall mood of the space.

The oil tank will be moved and hidden behind the second Malus tree, against the shed and the wall, and screened by a small timber fence and gate. The flowerbed in front of this fence will blend the screening fence into the space so it does not become a focal point. I moved the oil tank so the aesthetics of the garden can be kept beautiful and clean. The new position of the oil tank and the shed creates a natural journey through the garden.

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Considered details

 

The traffic noise will be reduced by using evergreen pleached trees. These trees are large and voluminous so should work really well in keeping the traffic sound to a minimum.

The boundary walls are structurally sound, so to prevent waste and reduce cost, we will be putting a terracotta colour K-rend over the plastered walls. This will look really beautiful and striking against the green of the plants and the blue from the pond.

 

The existing mature Malus trees will be incorporated into the design, and under planted with drifts of ornamental grasses to create stunning movement and seasonal interest.

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Extending the use of the garden

 

Lighting will really bring this garden to life in the evenings. Modern lantern wall lights will be used to light up the seating areas, as well as the shed door. The lanterns will add to the Mediterranean feeling, and look visually appealing even when they are not in use. The uplighters are waterproof so will withstand the British winter. These uplighters will be placed at strategic points in the flowerbeds to bring to focus the trees and other specific plants. The uplighters are dotted throughout the garden, I didn’t want them to flood the garden with too much light, but rather twinkle, so I’ve chosen to keep them to a minimum. The uplighters will be black so they blend into their surroundings well. Lastly, for safety, I’ve used a motion sensor spot light on the side of the house.

Materials, plants and maintenance

 

The materials used in the design were chosen for their colour, longevity, maintenance, and visual appeal in fitting with the overall feel of the space. With the owner travelling so much I wanted to make sure that she didn’t have to worry about the maintenance of her garden. So all the plants are drought resistant, the hard landscaping won’t require much up keep, and the pond will be looked after by a pond specialist to avoid any problems.

 

Accurately creating the mood

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Gravel, hoggin and water were used to mimic the seaside, and evoke a feeling of being back in Italy. The face lift to the shed and the specific Mediterranean planting plan will further enhance this feeling. My goal with this design was to bring the Italian coast into this garden, so when the owner is in her garden the feeling of being home sick completely disappears.

 

Design and write up by Kim Graham