A Contemporary Secluded Garden in Lower Earley
Modern garden aesthetics come together to create this secluded and contemporary oasis.
This recent design was all about creating a beautifully contemporary and secluded garden in an L-shaped space. The sharp geometric layout, structural planting and minimalist colour palette work together to achieve the modern garden our client was after.
Our Client’s Brief
To create a private outside space using beautiful contemporary materials and planting to achieve this result.
The Garden Before:
Before we started, the garden was overgrown with large shrubs encroaching on the space and blocking out light. The patio was in need of an update. The shed, although useful, felt like the main feature of the garden.
Design Features:
Katie, our designer has created a bright and modern garden. Here are some of the key features, which make the design work so well:
- A series of attractive raised brick beds enclose the main seating area. The beds are at different heights to bring depth to the garden and plenty of room for the planting.
- Contemporary slatted trellis screens placed behind the raised beds are an attractive way to provide greater privacy from neighbouring houses as well as hiding the shed. They also bring the focus back into the garden.
- A minimalist planting scheme using structural plants will create seasonal colour and year round interest. Some of the plants have been chosen for their height and will grow up to create a sense of enclosure and vertical interest in the garden.
- As always, the plants have been chosen carefully for their position and the light levels within the garden. In the photo to the left, you can see some shade loving ferns, Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ and Heuchera – ideally suited for this more shady corner.
- Two built-in seats facing each other have been built using Millboard composite deck boards in ‘rustic oak’. They provide extra seating in a garden which is short on space for garden furniture and are the perfect spot to sit and enjoy all the new plants.
- Along the back of the garden, a standard hedge of Photinia ‘Red Robin’ has been planted to grow above the top of the existing fence.
- Photinia ‘Red Robin’ is an evergreen hedge that boasts red, glossy leaves in the spring and summer before maturing to lush dark green foliage later on. It’s a great choice for privacy and screening.
- Pale silver ‘Modena’ porcelain has been laid for all the new paving, which looks very modern and bright. It contrasts beautifully with the red brick walls and gives definition to the colours and texture of the plants.
- The light colour of the paving, reflects light around the garden and makes the whole space look so much brighter.
- Smart porcelain ledges finish off the look of the raised beds as well as providing more seating for visitors.
Before and After:
Take a look at these before and after sliders to see what a difference the new garden has made:
