Enjoy a multi-zoned, sophisticated garden designed to suit the whole family
With spaces for eating, socialising, alone time and hobbies, these homeowners have created a garden everyone can enjoy
The homeowners' previous garden at their four-bedroom Victorian house in north London, consisted of a patio, lawn, path and a tumbledown shed. ‘I wanted more interest, and a crisp, architectural feel,’says the homeowner.
‘As our grown-up children live at home, it was about creating a relaxing, low-maintenance, adult space for everyone. Another must-have was a shed for me to keep my sewing machine and fabrics.’
Discover more makeovers and inspiration and check out our garden ideas
Acting on a recommendation, the homeowner and her partner Sakura Gardens Ltd. ‘My partner and I already had ideas about the planting and other things we wanted, like the water feature,’ says the homeowner.
‘Sakura’s designers pretty much hit the brief first time, with just a few small tweaks needed here and there.’
Multi-zoned garden makeover
The garden has three sections – the top patio, which is bathed in morning sunshine, the central seating area and the bottom deck with a water feature, and homeowner’s ‘she shed’ for her crafting activities.
The movement of the sun, from the patio to the far end of the garden, helped dictate the new layout. The seating was placed centrally, where it would enjoy almost all-day sunshine. Its linear design was carefully measured to give the illusion of regular, straight lines, as the garden is not quite a perfect rectangle.
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
The seating also contains the majority of the planting, which was chosen for its height, movement and structural shapes.
Banquette seating
Benches have been built into the concrete planting troughs to make them look as if they’re floating above the ground. White gravel underneath them emphasises the effect.
The homeowner makes her own cushions, which soften the stone seating and add to the sense of a comfortable, outdoor room. Foliage prints pick up the leafy surroundings and crisp black-and-white stripes give edge and contrast.
Buy now: The leaf cushion cover, £8.99, H&M, has a similar look
Concrete raised beds
Planting troughs are integrated into the bench seats, so the plants create a semi-transparent screen at eye-level. ‘We’ve planted white flowers, like alliums and lilies, but it’s mostly about textures and greens.'
'I love the palms and grasses we chose, especially the variegated and blue-toned ones,’ says the homeowner.
Patio dining area
A round dining table maximises space on the raised patio, which has a full view of the whole garden. Steps lead down to the stepping-stone path. ‘We discussed using artificial grass,’says the homeowner, ‘but I’m glad we went for the real thing – it’s authentic and natural.’
Get the look
Buy now: Jakta garden table, £319, La Redoute
The ultimate she shed
The homeowner turned her shed into an inviting retreat for sewing and relaxing. The bespoke design incorporates insulation, double-glazing and a storage area for the garden seat cushions. The shed’s dark interior and bright coloured accessories reflect the homeowner's unique, adventurous style.
Buy now: For similar try the Dante pod hanging chair, £399.99, John Lewis
Buy now: The full rattan coffee table, £80.15, Only Home, is similar
Water feature idea
The water feature is built into the deck at the end of the garden. A twice-yearly treatment with protective teak oil keeps the yellow balau hardwood looking smart and glossy.
Ready for another inspiring plot? Before and after: enjoy this gorgeous garden makeover with fab she shed!
‘In all, we spent £30,000 on the garden, including the shed,' says the homeowner. The work was an investment, but it’s made the outdoor space much more usable and enjoyable, as well as improving the flow and the feeling of space in the ground floor of our house.’
The homeowner is delighted with the new garden space. 'It was definitely money well spent, as well as an enjoyable project,' she says. 'Everyone loves the garden now and we’re out here all day in summer.'
Tamara was Ideal Home's Digital Editor before joining the Woman & Home team in 2022. She has spent the last 15 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, both now at Future PLC. It’s with these award wining interiors teams that she's honed her skills and passion for shopping, styling and writing. Tamara is always ahead of the curve when it comes to interiors trends – and is great at seeking out designer dupes on the high street.
-
Can you sleep with an electric blanket on? Five things to consider before sleeping with an electric blanket
The expert advice you need to follow
By Zoë Phillimore
-
How to treat rising damp - experts explain the key steps you need to take to prevent further damage
Rising damp can be tricky to treat, so we’ve pulled together all of the information you need to know
By Lauren Bradbury
-
I got a preview of Aldi's Christmas specialbuys - The homeware products to watch out for and the dates they're dropping
Get ready to shop the middle aisle, some hidden gems are about to land
By Rebecca Knight
-
Mum saved £600 on this lovely garden-themed bedroom for her daughters
Budget-savvy choices helped keep costs down in this perfectly pretty scheme
By Laurie Davidson
-
This tired patio was transformed into a dreamy al fresco spot with second hand buys
From uninviting to enticing
By Laurie Davidson
-
Clever mum saves £2,200 on garden makeover by doing it all herself
Hard work and savvy shopping helped keep costs down
By Laurie Davidson
-
Structural planting, clever lighting and built-in furniture transforms an unloved outdoor space
A professional makeover was required to create this cleverly zoned, easy to maintain outside room
By Ruth Corbett
-
See how a city garden was turned from jungle into an urban oasis with raised beds and mature trees
A neglected jungle of a city garden was transformed into a design that combines structure and functionality
By Ruth Corbett
-
Before and after: enjoy this gorgeous garden makeover with fab she shed!
An uninspiring rectangular plot has become a multi-purpose area for leisure, working and entertaining
By Amy Cutmore
-
Before and after: making good use of an unloved garden space
An awkward suburban outdoor area has been turned into a family garden room fit for chilling out and alfresco entertaining
By Tamara Kelly
-
Enjoy this multi-level garden makeover with clever planting and banquette seating
This smart makeover takes garden style to new levels...
By Annabelle Grundy