The semi-rural retreat was completely cleared back to just the structural elements, which themselves needed to be re-designed, re-enforced and extended to allow for the more complex new design.

The upper level is a tactile, low maintenance, Millboard decking, enhanced grain finish on top of a composite framework. This useable terrace is enclosed within a safety balustrade in-situ construction, aluminium, timber and stainless steel wire design. This design was decided as the views over the lower level when seated on the upper level needed to be maintained. A generous chunky timber handrail offers a perch and a handy place to rest your wine glass. Funky seating and bio-fuel fire bowls/tables combined with discreet lighting entice our family out of the house to enjoy the garden even in the dark and colder months.

Garden landscape contractor Coulsdon Surrey

To help the family access the lower level, we re-configured the steps, widened them, extended, and made them shallower, then clad them with Porcelain tile and cut onsite to ensure these fitted as whole units and were secure. We re-designed the retaining walls to allow for in-built seats, raised the height of the walls to provide a better planting depth. A dense mixed palette of Perennials and grasses cleverly disguise the artificially humped soil and the Urbis large ‘Lily-Bowl’ water feature nestles amongst the planting and rocks, these rocks allow local pond life to access this pond. A cute birch tree stumpery completes the naturalistic, wildlife friendly requests by the client. They also wanted a zone to entertain and cook in whilst being protected from the elements and leaf drop, so a London Stone aluminium pergola was purchased and fitted and drainage integrated into the terrace, this was positioned under the neighbouring tree-line, a local fabricator was commissioned to build our design for a BBQ shelter, we added a roof tray with drainage system so a Sedum green roof could be installed which is an added bonus when viewed from the upper level.

Working our way out to the front garden, we pass a small seating courtyard comprising of decorative aggregate and porcelain tiles cut to form stepping stones, a in-situ timber and Millboard raised planting bed and seating complete this secondary courtyard, together with a feature oversized Urbis central focal point.

We re-built the front boundary and inner raised brick walls. Added a secondary lower-level sinuous steel edge to follow the new internal raised brick bed, finally we collaborated with a local craftsman/metal worker to produce and fit the unique horizontal slatted railings and gates. The front planting is a mix of evergreen hedging, feature trees and shrubs combined with season perennials and grasses to form a complete ground cover to help with low maintenance requirements.

Hunza lighting and a tap mounted irrigation system weave through the planting helping it to thrive and be viewed into the night, the lighting also allows visitors to see the level changes and a safe passage throughout the garden journey.