The existing front garden had very old shrubs that had become large and blocked the light from the beautiful sash windows. A softer planting scheme with colourful perennials and tall grasses create a soft screen from the street beyond. Being near the coast, the shingle and wooden walkway reflect the local atmosphere.
The brief for this family garden was to ‘feel like a jungle from inside the house’, so large specimen Palm trees, Yukkas and Bananas were mixed with grasses and perennials chosen for their leaf shapes and colours to create a rich mix of heights and textures. Dense planting close to the house achieves the desired effect of a jungle.
Already a wild feeling garden, the challenge here was to impose some structure and shape whilst keeping the cherished atmosphere of the space. New pathways and shaped lawn were introduced along with screening using sleepers vertically to follow on from the existing hedge. A small pond was added along with log-piles and natural planting for the wildlife.
This family wanted a garden that felt modern and fresh where they could entertain and socialise. My design replaced a concrete patio that wrapped around the house with a contemporary decking and pergola, a lawn edged with deep borders filled with Trees, shrubs and flowering plants. The old, broken water feature has been turned into a planter filled with tall grasses.