Garden Design Clinic – September 2011

Brief

This garden design London was for a family in Epping. The family had been in the property for sometime and had been focusing on the interior decorating. The garden as it stood was bland and uninspiring. A slope at one end of the garden was to be incorporated into the design.

Solution

Earth Designs proposed the use of strong sweeping curves across the expanse of this family garden to give a sense of unity. An art nouveau influence is predominant in the design. Directly outside the house is broad terrace which is surfaced in a decorative aggregate, the terrace narrows and a gradual slope leads down into the garden as the pathway curves around to a dining area. Here a semi-circular raised, rendered bed houses perennial herbs such as rosemary, lavender and purple sage creating a edible, culinary display. A round table and stools echo the curve of the planter and provide a place to dine.

An eliptical area of artificial lawn provides a strong durable, maintenance free solution to traditional lawn. Surrounding the lawn are mid-height coloured GRP planters. These planters are available in a range of colours to suit the clients taste. A pathway sweeps across the artifical lawn to a secondary seating area. Here a semi-circular low bench sits on a circular area of decorative aggregate. In this area a brazier can be used for barbeques or for some additonal warmth and light on a summers evening. From this area the pathway sweeps in the opposite direction to an hardlandscaped area which houses the shed. External lighting by way of LED fixtures recessed in the pathways accentuate the curves and provide soft ambient lighting.

The planting in the garden consists of perennials which have tall flower spike, such as fox gloves, to give height, and evergreen shrubs providing a low maintenance backdrop to the flowering plants.