LANGDON HILLS GARDEN DESIGN FOR ENTERTAINING

Brief

The property is a new build and the soil quality in the garden is poor. The garden is very sunny and requires the creation of some shaded areas. Privacy is a real issue on all aspects and the client would like to screen with some trees along the boundary. The clients are keen gardeners and would like a design featuring a lot of plants. They have a hot tub which they would like accommodated in the final design. They have a dog so some lawn is also required.

Solution

The design layout is oriented on a 45° angle to the house to create the illusion of greater width and length to the garden. Directly adjoining the house outside the patio doors will be a small patio laid with steel grey porcelain paving. To the front of this will be a planting bed containing a square Corten weathered steel water table to create a focal point from the house interior. A pathway laid with wood effect porcelain plank paving will lead towards the back left section of the garden, through a larger rectangular grey porcelain patio. The two paved areas will be divided by a long thin walkway laid with charcoal composite decking. The rectangular patio will be partially enclosed by a bespoke pergola comprising a painted softwood timber frame with an overhead canopy constructed from steel reinforcing bars. Planting beds to either side of this patio will accommodate a variety of fibreglass planters of different sizes, shapes and colours, to add texture and form to the space. A second composite deck walkway will lead diagonally across the garden and dogleg past a central lawn towards the right-hand corner to terminate in a small porcelain patio on which the client’s hot tub spa will be placed.

The wood effect porcelain pathway will continue diagonally down the left hand side of the space, flanked on either side by long raised beds constructed from painted rendered concrete blocks, to a large porcelain slab patio in the back left corner. This patio will feature a white aluminium gazebo with vented louvred canopy to provide shelter and shade throughout the seasons. The planting will feature evergreen specimens, climbers and a selection of trees to create a lush feel and help create privacy in the space.