Contemporary garden inspiration
Garden project: an inspiring space
Thoughts turned to improving the garden as a blank canvas.
Our client had just completed work to turn a barn into a music studio when his thoughts turned to improving the garden. Many people find that when the builders move out is a good time to think about how the garden can be changed to make the most of the new building works. As is often the case when extensions to the house are finished, the garden is left as a blank canvas, a 20m x10m rectangular space. There were lots of good aspects to the garden, the cottage itself is very pretty and is south-facing.The client wanted two separate patio/terrace areas to capture sun at different times and a relatively low/easy-maintenance year-round planting scheme. He was hoping that with a nice garden, he would be inspired to do a bit more work in it!
As the client is a musician and very open to suggestions and different ideas, Jamie decided to give the garden a musical theme with the design and was inspired by the inside of the client's boudoir piano. The winding path, clipped shrubs and flowing hedging emulate the inner workings of a piano. This theme continues with the harmonious, rhythmic pattern of planting to run throughout the year. The secluded seating area was designed to pay homage to the client's cello, continuing the up and down flow of the hedging and constructed with the same oak as used in the new building. When designing gardens we try to use some aspect of the building to create a flow from the house to the garden.
Garden after
Carry the musical theme
Although the building is an old cottage the garden is a charming mix of bold, sharp design with traditional planting used in a contemporary way so the house and garden blend seamlessly. This is a garden for quiet contemplation. In summer it buzzes with wildlife and in winter the evergreen planting and landscaping structure carry the musical theme....shhh!
Project images
