Projects

Garden

A Sussex Haven - Five Years On

This garden was given a face lift in 2014.  Essentially a beautiful family home in East Sussex   with amazing views to the South, it had a slightly tired look due to a series of 1960's design additions to the house that needed to be brought more into the overall scheme.  With a growing family and business, it was decided to make more space around the old outhouses and amalgamate them into the new design. Two of the main problems with the site where the strong south westerly winds battering the back of the house and terraces but also the noise from various roads in the distance which was dependent on the direction of the wind.  The main terraces had beautiful York stone slabs which were reused but to extend the areas panels of contrasting slate or herringbone brick were added.  New walls were built with reclaimed bricks to create sound barriers in different parts of the garden and specific sitting areas were designed for comfortable outdoor living.

The Makeover

This is  a 2/3 acre of an acre garden with views across an AONB crammed full with hidden treasures in all senses of the word. . Old roses, exuberant planting and luxuriance within a strong design create a garden that visitors refer to as harmonious, tranquil and evoking memories of childhood. The design was done in .  Over time plants have been encouraged to self-seed and passions have developed so areas are  constantly changing. David Newman sculptures are integral to the design, further enhanced by Victorian church stonework.

A Plantsman Garden

This is a garden where it is all about location! The newly built sandstone houses is situated in the middle of an open grassland clearing within its own  woodland. The house has been  carefully placed to make the most of the views. One approaches it by winding down the driveway between stately individual oaks and Spanish chestnuts that  frame the house in the distance. The site lies on neutral-acidic soils over Tunbridge Wells Sandstone and, Wadhurst Clay so some areas are light and sandy whilst other areas are heavy and poorly drained. The overall layout of the scheme ensured that the detached garage, swimming pool and pool house, tennis court and associated landscaping formed a  compact arrangement to ensure that the natural parkland and wooded setting were unspoiled.  Simple landscaping around the actual house ensured that the house was 'in' its landscape rather than 'on' its landscape.



Starting from Scratch

Secluded Contemporary Sussex Garden

The recently moved in owners of this garden in Newick wanted a soft naturalistic light contemporary cottage garden that would complement their home and living style whilst ensuring that more space was provided for parking and for sitting in various parts of the garden. Planting was to be kept to the minimum so they did not become slaves to the garden. Thus the design aimed to create a natural flow around the garden connecting and encircling specific areas and  playing on the main features such as the mature purple beech, the pergola, and the pond. Old beds and overgrown hedges had to be ruthlessly brought under control.  Having drastically cut back and cleared old overgrown shrubs and falling down sheds and Indian stone (Raj) path edged with setts was laid to gently lead one from the enlarged circular parking area to the front door and two sitting areas either side of the door. The sitting areas play on the patterns created with stone setts to give a feeling of individuality and intimacy to the different areas.   The inviting curves of the lawn and paths serve to open up the views within the garden whilst creating focal points for sculptures and plantings.

Sinuous Curves – Old to New

Peace To Eat – A Rural Windswept Garden With Magnificent Views

Tucked away in a lovely Sussex village is a family house looking out on beautiful pastoral views to the West and then  to the South East  peaceful views of their pond. The aim of the design in this cases was to pull together the different areas of the garden making each area flow into the next whilst also providing some tucked away areas to sit and contemplate and dream or alternatively to have large spontaneous al fresco meals. There was also the small matter of making an attractive entrance to the conservatory that two large Labradors could charge down as they headed for the hills.

Time to relax

This was an exciting project done for Court Lodge Organics in Wartling, East Sussex when they were converting some old pig houses into a self-catering holiday cottage and a rest room for all their yogurt makers. The Harding family were named as the SE regional winner of the RSPB's Nature of Farming Awards last year for the outstanding work they do helping wildlife on their farm. The farm provides habitat for declining and threatened wildlife including lapwings, fen-raft spiders, herons, barn owls, and a range of dragonflies. The Hardings have also planted rare black poplar trees in their woods, and are attempting to recreate an area of reedbed to encourage rare and elusive species like bitterns and marsh harriers. Yellowhammers, linnets and skylarks are found in good numbers on the farm, despite UK populations plummeting by half over the past thirty years. Thus with the Harding's love of wildlife it was an excuse to go with nature and create a hidden away retreat for holiday makers in their self-catering holiday cottage. 

The Birds and the Bees

Bamboos and Orange - A Small Contemporary Garden

In this Uckfield garden our customer, who had just downsized to a smaller space, was keen to create an outdoor living space that blended with her interior but at the same time had its own peaceful and colourful ambience. The aim was to create a private retreat –an oasis of calm with year round allure.  Contrasting slate paving was laid in horizontal stripes to form an allusion of space whilst at the same time being low maintenance.  Soft plantings of bamboo, climbing hydrangeas , viburnums, roses and honeysuckles cover the walls and fences working well with the stylistic combination of grays, oranges, peaches and maroons that our customer loves.  Select but strategic plantings of two trees provide screening of nearby houses whilst also providing food and shelter for the local birds. The raised sitting area, enclosed within a pergola with rattan sofa and coffee table, create a traditional spacious mini room ideal for entertaining friends  whilst carefully chosen slate and fiberglass pots and bespoke planters provided extra interest and little cameos from different rooms in the house.

Family garden at one with nature

This is a beautiful family garden totally at one with nature. Tucked away in a hidden  valley in East Sussex with the sound of the Bluebell railway in the distance. The garden was actually created from scratch 10 years ago when the house was renovated and driveways and out houses were formed. The owners are particularly environmentally aware and were careful to use local materials and crafts man. Rainwater tanks and geothermal heating was installed.

A Family Garden at One With Nature

The winds of change blew through in this garden. Our clients here had moved from London and built their dream home on a family plot.The old house was taken down and the new house re-positioned to sit further back in the garden thus meaning that  one was essentially starting from scratch. The garden had been much loved by the previous owner but many of the plants had to be sacrificed to the new building and the garden opened up and  light let in. A feeling of space and light was paramount. The inside of the house is beautifully light with low windows that ensure that as you walk though the house or sit in your favourite chair you have clear views of the garden. Colour schemes inside the house needed to be complimented by the outside planting.   Like all good projects dreams were many and a staged program had to be devised. Priorities were given to forming levels within the garden and  creating the fundamental footprint to ensure the house was sitting within its space. Terraces,  lawn,s paths and driveways were formed and then the attention to detail could start. An ancient olive tree from Italy was bought in and a hidden walled garden created. Wild flower meadows were sown and .

New England

This is a beautiful family home in East Sussex that has over 15 years changed from a small family home into a larger traditional house - gradually growing and changing as the family expanded and needs changed. When the family moved in there were no children but as the family grew the focus changed and different spaces in the  garden were dedicated to family living. A small outdoor eating area by the farmhouse kitchen, a swimming pool and tennis court and then new rooms added to the house made one rethink both the front entrance and the back terrace. Gradually the eye moved out and beyond and hedges were cut so that views to the west and the setting sun were incorporated. Despite the changes happening over time  the design ensures that the flow is right. All the garden spaces link and glimpse of tiled roof tops, glades  and meandering paths lead you out to them from the house. The house and garden are at one - both in function but also in form with enticing views and opening doors leading you out of the house and into the garden.

Water and Views

Barn Conversion - Stripes & Grasses

Barn Conversion- Stripes and Grasses

Glimpses Of Gardens

Contemporary Town Garden

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