Following the completion of a modern extension with large patio doors, which allow light to flood into the back of the house, the clients wanted to introduce a Mediterranean feel to their garden, allowing for seamless use of their indoor and outdoor space.
They also wanted to connect their garden, visually, with open countryside beyond their boundary, and to create different areas where they could see and appreciate different views. They specifically wanted to enjoy sunsets on their patio.The steeply sloping garden was transformed with the introduction of terraces and levels.
Two upper terraces, and lawns on two levels, create zones which are connected by the hard landscaping, in colours which echoed and connected to the new extension. The paving chosen is grey porcelain. While it looks very similar to slate, it’s not porous, which has two key benefits - one is that it doesn’t split as it wears, and the second is that it doesn’t allow for a build up of algae and moss. Altogether this means that it is a much lower maintenance option, while still looking attractive. Around the edge, stepped fencing ensures both privacy and good neighbourly relations.
Wooden structures, including an open fronted timber summerhouse and a log store, and curved edges move the eye around the garden, and provide a mixture of heights, texture and colour. The summerhouse at the back of the garden provides useful covered space for pottering and outdoor entertaining, and the logstore houses the fuel for both the indoor log burner, and the outdoor fire pit which means the garden can be used into those chillier evenings. Planting was designed to need minimal attention, with olive trees and lavender continuing the Mediterranean theme, and providing splashes of colour, around a lush lawn, perfect for family games.
