The North West aspect meant the garden lacked sun for much of the winter, but come summer there were sweet spots in the garden where a glass of wine could be enjoyed in the sunshine and this was key to positioning the seating spaces. The upper terrace and simple bespoke painted pergola is a place to relax in during the day. Our garden lighting plan also means that not only does garden look fabulous from inside the house at night, but in the summer the upper terrace is transformed into a small stage - a place for the clients to partake in a little amateur dramatics!

We worked with the client to select a landscaper whose work we knew to be meticulous, as the detailing on the build needed to be exact. Even the bespoke storage shed and bin stores would needed to be perfectly polished. We specified a beautifully smooth, contemporary porcelain paving that we knew would always look clean and fresh and would provide the perfect foil to the lush green evergreen plantings we planned. The strong structural planting of Yew hedging was key to delineating the spaces and bringing a sense of formality in a more contemporary style. As a contrast to these horizontal clean lines we injected plantings of Miscanthus, a large textural grass and added hints of colour and contrasting spires such as the purple Salvia Caradonna and towering Veronicastrum plants. A large specimen Acer palmatum was selected to provide balance in height to the pergola and other trees offered seasonal blossom or screening from neighbours. A layer of spring bulbs brings an injection of unexpected orange in the form of Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ whose form and colour contrast with the spheres of Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ bringing early colour and drama to this charming garden.

Credit: Annie Green-Armytage Photography