Client: Private | Completed 2022

The clients were refurbishing their much loved west London family home but struggling with their garden which had become rather overgrown and neglected. South facing and relatively private but shaded by houses and a neighbouring sycamore, they were looking for an outside space that would be an extension of the house, look good year round from indoors and provide a relaxing place to spend time. They wanted predominantly green, sculptural planting, and perhaps unusually, were not overly concerned about flowers with a dark palette for the hard landscaping

Clay pavers in a herringbone pattern form the dining terrace at the junction with the house echoing the dark parquet flooring. A simple gravel path leads through planting to a decked area with a bespoke timber garden store, and pergola with a ‘secret’ seating area cocooned amongst the greenery. Evergreen climbing Trachelsopermum surrounds the terrace in foliage and evening scent. Amelanchier and Cornus kousa trees are underplanted with sculptural Yew domes and grassy foliage from Libertia & Hakonechloa with bulbs emerging throughout the year for seasonality

Photographs by Alister Thorpe