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The combination of black painted backdrop of the walls with pale grey flooring really makes the play on textures pop in this garden. Our client loves texture, and wanted everything to feel like it was meant for the outdoors. In other words, they wanted elements to have a natural, organic patina, creating a robust setting for relaxation and recreation. They didn’t want indoorsy cushions or a bbq that looked like a shiny outdoor showpiece.

The clever mix of cobblestone and timber-look ceramic tile flooring defines the two areas in the garden while also complementing nicely, and the level change is the greatest trick in the book, when you want to create the feeling of entering a new space. The pleached olive trees add to the effect of entering a new room acting as sentinels watching over the space.

We distilled the client’s brief and took a holistic approach to bring this dream of a garden together; colours, lighting, furniture, planting and paving.

The conifers at the rear were existing, and we wanted to preserve them, however they were looking very thin and wasted at the base. Being mature, they could cope with being pleached and this fresh ‘haircut’ has given them a whole new lease of life and they provide an intrinsic, structured and architectural feel to the space. The rest of the plant palette is soft, blousy, textural and organic.

The site is south facing so required plants that could take this shady aspect and palette that was light in colour.

 Photography Natalie Hunfalvay

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