Quirky Garden Design in Walthamstow

Brief

This design aims to make the most use of a small space. The clients are planning an extension to the back of the house which will reduce the available area of the garden. They have a quirky, eclectic taste and would like a low maintenance garden with interesting and unusual features. It should be suitable for entertaining and also have plenty to amuse their seven-year-old son.

Solution

As the floor level inside the house is significantly higher than ground level in the garden, entry to the space will be a split level deck constructed from smooth Iroko hardwood boards. A small terraced step/platform directly outside the house door will lead to a larger decked patio adjoining the house to the right hand side. To the front of the small platform will be a raised planting bed, which will feature a series of solid oak cubes nestled within the plants and a stainless steel water blade falling into a Scottish cobble dressed reservoir below. Along the front of this raised bed will be a coloured Perspex screen featuring an unusual outdoor neon light to form the main focal point of the garden. The main deck area is large enough to accommodate an orangutan sofa. A large bespoke outdoor canvas printed with an image of the client’s choosing will create a funky backdrop to this area. A stone slab set in the outer corner of this decking will allow safe placement of an Indian fire bowl for outdoor fires and cooking.

A raised railway sleeper bed along the right hand boundary will enable the client to “grow your own” and will be planted with an espalier fruit tree and rhubarb plants. The back right hand corner will include a sentry box-style storage unit which will be painted with blackboard paint. The existing large fruit tree will be removed and an open framed timber cube constructed in its place. This structure will enable a host of play possibilities – a football goal, a swing seat, hammock or simply to become a den with the addition of a few old sheets. The existing bamboo will be retained and supplemented with additional bamboo to cover the entire back boundary. A large sheet of brightly coloured Perspex screen will offer further interest by providing a big block of colour throughout the year. The centre of the garden will be laid with luxury artificial lawn with shallow planting beds around the edge.