The Brief

The aim of this project was to create a contemporary garden that would feel like a natural extension of the home, providing attractive and practical spaces for both everyday relaxation and entertaining family and friends.

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The design needed to make the most of the available space, incorporating a generous seating area for socialising, a more intimate dining area close to the house and an open lawn to maintain a sense of space. Privacy was also an important consideration, with planting and screening used to create a secluded environment without making the garden feel enclosed.

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The overall appearance was to be modern and elegant, combining clean lines, contemporary materials and carefully selected planting to provide structure, colour and seasonal interest. Lighting was another key element, allowing the garden to be enjoyed after dark while creating an attractive view from inside the house.

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Our approach was to bring all these elements together in a cohesive design, ensuring that each area had its own purpose while the garden as a whole remained balanced, welcoming and visually appealing.

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The Design

One of the most striking features of this garden is the raised seating terrace, positioned towards the far corner of the lawn. Finished with large-format, light-coloured porcelain paving and contrasting dark edging, this area creates a contemporary focal point while providing a generous space for relaxing and entertaining.

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A large corner sofa offers comfortable seating, while a central fire feature creates an inviting atmosphere and encourages the garden to be enjoyed well into the evening.

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The raised terrace is framed by low rendered walls, with contemporary horizontal timber fencing providing an attractive backdrop. Pleached trees positioned along the rear boundary introduce height, greenery and additional privacy without overwhelming the space. This combination of structured planting and natural timber creates a beautiful contrast against the clean lines of the paving.

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Lighting plays an important role in this design, transforming the seating terrace into an atmospheric outdoor retreat after sunset. Carefully positioned uplighters illuminate the timber fencing and pleached trees, creating a warm glow that highlights the textures and structure of the garden. The lighting also provides depth, drawing the eye towards the rear boundary and making the garden feel inviting when viewed from the house. Combined with the gentle flicker of the fire feature, the illuminated planting creates a welcoming setting for relaxing or entertaining on summer evenings. This attention to lighting ensures the garden remains an attractive feature long after daylight has faded.

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Closer to the house, a second paved seating area provides a more intimate setting for outdoor dining or enjoying a morning coffee. Positioned directly outside the French doors, this space creates a natural connection between the house and garden, making it convenient for everyday use. The light-coloured paving complements the property's brickwork and white doors, creating a fresh, contemporary appearance. The clients' choice of traditional-style garden furniture adds character and provides an attractive contrast to the modern landscaping.

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The combination of the two seating areas gives the garden flexibility, offering a choice between a quiet spot close to the house and a larger, more sociable space at the far end.

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The central lawn provides an important sense of openness, balancing the hard landscaping and creating a generous green space between the different seating areas. Rather than using a conventional rectangular layout, the lawn has been shaped to create gentle changes in direction, helping the garden feel more interesting and spacious. The aerial view particularly highlights how the different elements work together, with the paved areas, lawn and planting carefully arranged to maximise the available space.

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Decorative gravel borders and neatly defined planting beds provide attractive transitions between the lawn, paving and boundary features. A reflective stainless-steel sphere adds a contemporary focal point, bringing an additional dimension to the planting and reflecting the surrounding garden.

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The planting scheme combines structure with softer, more natural forms to create a garden that feels established and inviting. Pleached trees provide an attractive green backdrop to the main seating terrace, introducing privacy while maintaining a relatively narrow footprint. Clipped evergreen specimens and ornamental topiary add structure and year-round interest, while flowering perennials and softer planting introduce seasonal colour and texture. The combination of different heights, foliage shapes and flowering plants creates visual interest without detracting from the clean, contemporary design. The planting also helps soften the boundaries and paved areas, ensuring the garden feels welcoming rather than overly formal.

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This project demonstrates how a carefully considered design can make the most of an outdoor space, creating several distinct areas that work beautifully together. From the intimate seating area beside the house to the impressive raised terrace with its fire feature and atmospheric lighting, the garden offers something for every occasion. The contemporary paving, structured planting, timber screening and flowing lawn create a balanced design that feels both elegant and practical.

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During the day, the garden is bright, green and inviting. As evening falls, the carefully positioned lighting transforms the space into a warm and welcoming retreat. The result is a beautiful contemporary garden designed for modern outdoor living, providing the perfect setting for everything from a quiet morning coffee to an evening entertaining family and friends. A garden that combines contemporary elegance, comfort and atmosphere — designed to be enjoyed from morning until night.