The Brief: The clients were undertaking an ambitious house renovation which included a contemporary kitchen extension looking out onto a small garden. They were keen to create an attractive garden to bring the outside in and to create a space that both adults and children could enjoy.

The Solution: The contemporary garden design aimed to maximise the space and complement the architecture. A deck with a bespoke oak pergola was designed to offer some privacy and shade at the end of the garden and to double up as a play frame with detachable play equipment and an adult swing seat (once the children have grown, it will still be an attractive, useable space). Near the house, a beautiful limestone patio with full width step echoed the colour of the internal flooring to provide a seamless transition. A garden storage unit was designed to also accommodate a table top barbecue with a zinc countertop for food preparation. Slatted cedar screens along the sides accentuated the size of the garden and pleached trees at the rear boundary provided additional privacy. The lawn and planting scheme softens the whole garden.