Coastal Courtyard Garden
I designed this small garden for friends who have just moved to Devon.
It was a pleasure to work with them on this project and the resulting new garden looks beautiful!
Let me tell you more about it…
The site
It is a small L-shaped back garden attached to a terraced house.
The house sits on a slope and directly overlooks the neighbouring property below.
As a result, the lower level of the house faces the bedroom windows in the house opposite, which is less than ideal…
Design Brief
The Clients’ brief was centred around three main requirements:
- improved privacy for the house and garden,
- low maintenance of the planting and hard surfaces,
- and a space for entertaining guests as well as cooking outdoors.
These priorities were to guide every design decision while reflecting the coastal setting of the garden and the Clients’ love for Mediterranean landscapes.
Inspiration
I like to anchor the design in either the garden’s surroundings or a specific type of landscape I want to evoke.
In this case, the design reflects both the nature of the surrounding area as well as features of a Mediterranean scenery.
The plants of our native coastal habitats are threaded through more exotic planting creating a rich tapestry of texture and colour.
The same applies to paving and other surfaces where contrasting features make for a simple but interesting combinations reminiscent of a coastal landscape.
both locally and abroad, and provided a source of inspiration and a way of organizing ideas for this particular project…
Design Concept
Taking into account the Clients’ requirements, the garden is designed as a simple, yet elegant courtyard-like space.
The dining terrace is softened and sheltered by beautiful drought tolerant, largely evergreen and easy to maintain planting.
A simple outdoor kitchen is positioned nearby, but far enough as not to interfere with the relaxed atmosphere of the terrace.
The garden’s coastal setting is reflected both in the plant choices, as well as in the sandstone paving combined with sparse gravel planting.
A slatted extension to the low back wall, a small evergreen tree and a minimalist pergola increase privacy without blocking the view of the garden.
Finally, strategically positioned outdoor lighting extends the enjoyment of the garden long into the evening.
The spotlights highlight the main garden features so that they can be viewed from the house regardless of the weather or season.
Gallery and testimonials…
“We really couldn’t be happier with our new garden or thank Kasia enough for her design. She really listened to our wants and desires and delivered a design beyond our imagination and expectation! We received guidance and advice throughout the process and Kasia was more than happy to answer our many questions along the way.”
If your garden is quite small, or having a lawn is simply not practical for some reason, the courtyard-style garden might be the answer you are looking for…
Below I list some great gardens worth visiting if you are considering using gravel planting or drought tolerant garden plants in your project:
You will also find a wealth of useful information provided by RHS on drought tolerant gardening below:
If you like what you see here, please read on…
And if you would like to discuss your project, please don’t hesitate to contact us!