The details of the garden design make all the difference between a regular garden and a garden with a “wow factor”.
In the town’s gardens, top designers Charlotte Law and the river boreal zone reveal how roads, levels and seating areas can feel large, magical, and flaunt the planting.
Charlotte Law and Kawauchi are designed by Charlotte Law Garden in a beautiful contemporary garden they designed.
This private garden is located on the edge of London and features three different gardens. It has a front yard, an incredibly spacious side garden and an upward facing backyard. So Charlotte and Tomoko had to create very different spaceworks. Then they had to link the spaces to create a harmonious “trip.”
Back and back – the backyard in front of a stunning garden makeover.
Side gardens were once a space where people passed through. There’s a reason to stop and sit now.
The secret to making it work is in the details of the garden design. And lessons apply to any garden, whether large or small.
Here are the important principles these use, and how to apply them to your garden:
First, think about the features
Before you choose any plants or ingredients, decide how your garden will work. Want a quiet, relaxing area?
Action Points: Write a short list of ways you and your family want to use your garden. This helps guide all your design decisions. Charlotte and Tomoko always place features first, then decide on the level, patio and terrace to suit their needs.
Charlotte and Tomoko say “first decide on a practical area.” Where do you sit, eat, or take the trampoline? Next, you will decide on your garden journey and how you can travel from space to space. You can take out the trampoline shown in the photo above and convert the space into a fireplace with a seat.
If you’re starting to renovate your garden design, don’t miss out on the advice of Charlotte and Tomoko with 5 top tips + 2 mistakes!
You can also enjoy how you design your garden.
Create a garden trip
A well-designed garden, with paths leading to seating areas and destinations, allowing you to explore. Tomoko says they should think about different ways to approach it, such as an arbor or dining area. You can then choose the most interesting routes or connect them.
If you can’t see the garden at once, it will feel big. So creating a journey is a key element in turning your garden from a small space into an adventure.
Action Points: Think about how people move logically from A to B. Limited space means that the lines are probably the most practical and visually satisfying. “The curves work well in larger country gardens that feel more natural.
Travel through the garden. If you can’t see the entire space at once, it will feel big. Charlotte recommends using straight lines, but she softened them by stomping and using them as planting shelves.
You can find the materials for the garden path here.
Work on levels and don’t flatten them
Level changes can be expensive and often reduce the number of characters.
Tomoko explains that if there is a slope rising behind the house, it can be very expensive to flatten it and steal the soil. You too will lose the light. “And it’s going to look like a squash coat,” warns Charlotte.
Action Points: Keep existing levels as much as possible, and keep design paths, ramps, or terraces that flow with them. Approximately 130mm-150mm is considered height. And it is essential to step on the same height and step stool through a series of steps. Irregular step measurements are dangerous!
Charlotte and Tomoko advise to “work on the level.” The slopes are well-structured to plant.
You can find out about planting on the slopes here.
See this for more sloping garden tips.
Choose details for harmonious garden designs
Hard landscaping sets the tone. Natural stones, gravel and brick ages elegantly tie planting.
Charlotte likes stones to porcelain, as she feels, and looks more natural.
Action Points: First decide on the main pavement material, then match the gravel and other surfaces with tones. For example, bricks used on benches and steps create a sense of unity and calm. A mix of pavement and gravel can be used to keep it softer and make rainwater draining easier.
Harmonize hard landscaping materials, as well as this matching stone or gravel.
Also check out 12 professional tips for landscaping your garden
And if you want to be as environmentally friendly as possible, take a look at eco-friendly garden designs. Things you need to know before spending money.
Use planting to soften the structure and structure and display planting!
Structure is essential, but planting brings it to life. And the opposite is true.
“When people come to this garden, they say they immediately love planting,” says Charlotte. “But without the structure, planting doesn’t look that good. If you have limited space, such as a town garden, you can’t create a good garden just by planting.”
Action Points: Mix height, texture and seasonal colors. Use tall grasses, perennials and shrubs as punctuation marks. If possible, add multi-stem trees to protect existing trees and to attract attention throughout the year.
Trees add structure and interest to the town’s gardens. Charlotte and Tomoko, especially leaving the planting room, are elegant and should not grow as high as a single trunk version.
There are more advice on choosing trees for the town garden to the best trees for small gardens.
Scale furniture into space
When Tomoko and Charlotte design the space, they assume the size of the furniture they have there.
If you’re adding a new seating area, terrace, or patio, consider the furniture you need and how big it will be before laying your pavement or deck!
And don’t hesitate to put big generous furniture in small spaces. Charlotte says buying small pieces or pots for a small garden is a typical amateur mistake.
Action Points: Buy the best you can get your budget and choose neutral colors that you won’t date. Quality outdoor furniture is an investment. Cheap sets rarely last more than a few seasons. Charlotte says the trends in outdoor furniture are more refined. “A few years ago, everyone had the same teak dining table and nice chairs. But now people are interested in some of the well-designed garden furniture in Spain, Belgium, or other parts of Europe.
This private garden furniture – strong design shape, comfortable level neutral color that matches your style.
See how to choose the best garden furniture for your garden.
Keep garden design details easy
The powerful design comes from restraint. Tomoko says that excessively decorative features and materials can clutter the space and make you feel less.
This garden has two different areas: a backyard and a side garden. They are in different shapes. The backyard is sloping and the side gardens look quite shady. The furniture in the two seating areas is very different, but all styles with simple shapes and neutral colors come in style.
And stones, pavement, stackers and gravel run through both garden areas and the front garden. There are many interests, but it is a strong arcing design.
Action Points: Limit to small palettes of material and stick to it. This is how the details of the garden design reduce the busyness of the space and therefore make it bigger. In modern spaces, linear lines often work best, as planting provides softness and flow.
This bench shows how to harmonize a variety of materials. The bench itself is made of wood and is set on a wall made of natural stone paved bricks called “stuckers.” Both the wood and stackers are in similar shades to the stone pavement on the terrace, with stackers lines installed on the pavement, drawing together details of all garden designs.
Also, see how to connect indoor and outdoor spaces well.
Front gardens require a variety of rules
Your front yard should be visually connected to your home, says Tomoko. Charlotte adds that it is important to have good drainage and follow local rules.
Action Points: Keep your vestibule as permeable as possible with gravel or planting beds to reduce the risk of gravel flooding. Whether traditional or modern, it matches the pavement and planting styles with the building’s features.
This front garden shows how well a contemporary approach to garden design works with traditional architecture. The simple black on the front entrance and gate work together, with a slightly central pavement design that sings the planting of the front pass.
Pins to remember the details of your garden design
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