Garden

Nothing beats fresh-cut culinary herbs for your cooking creations. Just a few steps off the kitchen patio, this raised herb garden is a good example of permaculture zones. By growing food closer to the place you will use it, chances are you'll be more invested to keep the plants thriving and love the ease of snipping a few sprigs here and there!

The pergola will semi shade the patio in the Summer

Within this garden we wanted to create a space which was not only on numerous levels, but also had various points of interest. This garden is on a slope, but is also very wide. Firstly, we broke up the space by using rustic sleepers to create several raised beds,as well as steps which lead to differennt zones. This helps to give the garden a more traditional, country edge. The sleepers were also used to create a winding path through out the garden, marrying together the various areas. The path leads up to the impressive sunburst pergola and circular stone patio. This is the perfect spot to view the whole garden. At the other end of the garden another pergola sits amougnst a bustling flower bed, and will be used to train vining flowers. Along the back wall of the garden a raised bed is home to a stunning display of wildflower. This plot is not only a fabulous riot of colour and full of rustic charm, but it also attracts a whole host of insects and animals. While wildflowers looks great they are also very low maintenance. Mixed gravel has been used to create a variety of texture. This surface is intermittently dotted with colour with lemon thyme, red hot pokers and foxgloves. Stone has been used to create a warm and welcoming patio area. Flower beds at the front of the garden can be used for veg and other leafy plants. Overall we have created a country style with a very contemporary twist through the use of gravel, modern shape and structural landscaping.

The clients of this Highgate Garden contacted London Garden Designer in Dec 2011, after seeing some of my work in House and Garden Magazine. They had recently moved into the house and were keen to have the garden ready for summer. The brief was fairly open, although one specific request was for a Garden Lodge to be used as a Gym and art room. This was something that would require planning permission so I set this in motion whilst I got on with designing the rest of the garden. The ground floor of the house opened out onto a deck that was one metre from the lawn level, and felt quite exposed to the surrounding neighbours. The garden also sloped across its width by about 1.5 m, so I needed to incorporate this into the design.

Container gardens sit next to a concrete paver driveway and modern home just nextdoor.

The exposed front yard has regular passersby on the sidewalk with a full view of the new water feature and shade garden entry garden. A new privacy fence mimics the historic iron fence.

Photography By Joe Dodd

Path lighting using WAC balance, and accent up lights on Japanese Maple, Phormium and Cordyline Pot provide drama

Landscape Architect: V3 Studio Berzunza / Photography: Jeri Koegel

Lake home has easy access to the dock and lake. Paver patio is under the upper deck, a raised bed disguises the sell, and a set of steps and landings in the side yard provide easy walking access all around the property. There's even a paver walkway that connects the paver patio to both sets of granite steps at the lake.

Our inner-city client in Redfern had a small outdoor courtyard which was impractical and he never used it for entertaining. Vogue and Vine were called in to create a liveable outdoor room and maximise space for seating and entertaining. We put down a new concrete floor and created built in bench seating and garden beds. We broke the space up using different materials and a modern colour palette. We used outdoor sofas and built in cushions to add a touch of glamour and warmth.

This garden was overgrown and not used at all by the property owners. The homeowners wanted a contemporary courtyard that was family friendly and modern. To achieve this, materials were chosen to match the stylish interior of the house. Also by using lighter coloured material we were able to brighten up the garden. The printed porcelain paving gave a contemporary modern feel whilst introducing added interest. Cedar batten fencing was used to clad the boundaries to minimise the oppressive feel of the high boundaries and to introduce more light into the garden. The cedar timber floating bench now provides a place to sit and entertain. It is also the perfect height for the clients’ children to use as a play bench. To brighten up the dull and dark corner by the french doors, the original steps were clad in beautiful blue and grey encaustic tiles to add much needed colour and interest in an area that had been previously neglected. This contemporary courtyard is now bright and welcoming and used by the property owners and their children on a daily basis.

Modern courtyard garden for a barn conversion designed by Jo Alderson Phillips @ Joanne Alderson Design, Built by Tom & the team at TS Landscapes & photographed by James Wilson @ JAW Photography

These Queen Anne homeowners had completely remodeled their home and were looking for a low maintenance, enjoyable yard that would accentuate their views and provide outdoor space for their dogs. Another important goal was to attract birds and pollinators to the garden, in part for photographic opportunities. A series of Corten planters create planting space along the back property line while leaving plenty of room for artificial turf that the family dogs can enjoy. A recirculating urn water feature creates a pleasant sound, a focal point and most importantly, attracts birds to the garden. Privacy screens designed using OutDeco panels create interest on both sides and focus views to the mountains in the background. Front and backyards were completely redesigned for ease of maintenance.

This garden was overgrown and not used at all by the property owners. The homeowners wanted a contemporary courtyard that was family friendly and modern. To achieve this, materials were chosen to match the stylish interior of the house. Also by using lighter coloured material we were able to brighten up the garden. The printed porcelain paving gave a contemporary modern feel whilst introducing added interest. Cedar batten fencing was used to clad the boundaries to minimise the oppressive feel of the high boundaries and to introduce more light into the garden. The cedar timber floating bench now provides a place to sit and entertain. It is also the perfect height for the clients’ children to use as a play bench. To brighten up the dull and dark corner by the french doors, the original steps were clad in beautiful blue and grey encaustic tiles to add much needed colour and interest in an area that had been previously neglected. This contemporary courtyard is now bright and welcoming and used by the property owners and their children on a daily basis.