February 2023
The right design for a garden will deliver a well planned layout, creating areas that are tailored for a use that works with your lifestyle. Gardens can be both functional and stylish and are now firmly established and known as the outside room. A garden provides the home with, often untapped, extra usable space.
The importance of being outside has been widely acknowledged in modern society and we now place more value in our once neglected outside plots. Good design can unlock the potential and transform garden spaces into the perfect place to host gatherings of friends and family throughout the year alongside offering a tranquil retreat for everyday use.
Creating a connection
A well designed garden will link seamlessly with the house, creating an exterior room that is designed to compliment the interior. The end result of good design is both a practical and functional garden. The starting point for connectivity is to create an inviting connection from the house to the garden. This can be done by either levelling the garden up so it can be stepped straight out into or by creating steps down into the garden. This design detail will entice the onlooker out into the space.
As the garden is an ideal space to entertain, an inclusion of a designated dining area, lounge space, a firepit or a bar area should be considered . For a project in Kingston, in a confined patio space, we “dug down” and developed a sunken area.
A place to entertain
Including elements such as a sunken entertainment area, such as one designed by Bloomingplaces, ensures getting the most out of a smaller space. It increases the usability, with the steps down doubling up as a seating area. This enabled the space to accommodate larger gatherings around a firepit, and also offered the ideal place to cook and eat. With this design we maximised use of a small space to entertain and interact and developed an inviting spot for lingering long into the night.
A place to contemplate
We also introduced a covered area that could be used whatever the weather. An addition of seating to this space made for a wonderful intimate snug, ideal for a quiet moment to enjoy a glass or two whilst looking at the stars.
The lighting touch
We enhanced the seating area by introducing a colour changing lighting scheme. The lights change colour to celebrate different occasions or to simply enhance the mood.
The personal touch
A bespoke bar, hosting party nights and the covered seating area for those blissful moments of tranquillity.
Planting Plan
The colour palette was kept cool and simple to add to the tranquil feel in the garden. Flowers were chosen for their scent, colour and yearly repeat blooming performance. Plants were positioned to compliment each other taking into consideration colour, shape and flowering season. Flowers were showcased against a planted evergreen backdrop, making it an inviting space all year round. Repeat planting in groups and using a small variety of specimens ensured the garden was not cluttered and the sense of space was retained.
Bloomingplaces 