Gardens & Exteriors
Outdoor spaces, beautifully made
Project 01
Leyton Garden
We transformed this space into a beautiful, useable oasis with plenty of space for barbecues, pizzas and entertaining. This was a total renovation that involved design aided by the Japanese dictionary of colour as well as AI visualisations. There was a full clearance of the old astroturf, fencing and rubble, followed by a build of two substantial raised beds, two planters and two storage cupboards. We also laid a wonderful porcelain terrace. A low maintenance sanctuary to enjoy year round.
The tiled terrace was laid across the centre of the garden. Preparation began with digging out tonnes of rubble and soil, before laying five tonnes of sub-base which was then levelled and compacted. The Mandarin Stone tiles were selected for aesthetic and practical reasons, being incredibly hard wearing and easy to clean.
The fence panels were replaced or repaired, then painted in a subtle green shade from Little Greene in exterior eggshell. This tied them together visually and added a key accent colour which was mirrored on the low key, but generously sized, storage cupboards — used to keep garden items tucked away neatly on solid tiled bases.
The long planters were built bespoke for the space and coloured in a complimentary shade of plum to fit with the planned colour scheme. These were filled with tall grasses, evergreen fatsia japonica, wallflowers, tulips and trailing pelargoniums. The plants selected are all perennials and will, of course, grow and spread into the space. The climbing plants will eventually cover the fences using the wires which we installed. The clients love to cook outside so I commissioned a bespoke pizza table for them, fashioned from recycled wood.
The raised bed to the rear was built from substantial repurposed antique railway sleepers which were treated with linseed oil. This was filled with jasmine, hops and grape vines alongside evergreen shrubs, palms and trailing ivy to provide interest throughout the year. In the shadier area ferns, daffodils and Virginia creeper filled the side raised bed which was built up and stained to match the other wood within the garden. Two potted olive trees are paired with the new planters at opposing corners.
Thank you again, I really love it - it's amazing. It turned out better than I could have imagined
Project 02
Leytonstone Garden
The garden we started with was an unloved mess, full of broken concrete, rubble and astroturf. The project required significant hard and soft landscaping.
Having a compact city garden didn't restrain our ambition on this project. We needed plenty of comfortable space to relax, eat and socialise in, along with raised beds for growing an abundance of flowers, fruit trees and vegetables and we needed multiple zones so different areas could be enjoyed for different purposes.
The first step was to remove all the waste material, before aerating the soil and adding several tonnes of well rotted manure and topsoil to form a nutrient rich base for the raised beds, which were made with huge reclaimed oak sleepers. The existing walls were solid but lacked charm, so we opted to paint them along with the fence on the remaining side to tie it all together.
Original London stock bricks were sourced for the patio terraces, which were then laid at the front and the back of the garden. They are joined together by a matching brick path with rows of lavender planted either side in gravel beds, a collection of pots provide changing flowers throughout the season. Dining happens at the antique cast iron dining set or there is a marble table with cast iron legs too. There is also a comfortable reclining sofa, perfect for sunbathing in the afternoon.
The rear terrace features a grand pergola, making it a beautiful secluded area away from the house and cool shade on hot summer days. A large Sissinghurst bench, chiminea and a hand made wood store complete the space. The side alley, with separate access into the house, needed attention. It was levelled, then tiled with beautiful original Victorian quarry tiles in a checkerboard fashion and now looks original. Huge planters provide space for shrubs, vines, flowers and herbs.
Willow trellises were erected across all walls and fences so the climbing honeysuckle, jasmine, hops, passion flower and a grape vine had plenty to grow on. Behind the trellises went reed screens for added privacy with a softer look. A large overhanging lime tree was cut back during these works.
The larger raised bed has raspberry bushes to provide height close to the fence and their flower and fruiting season lasts for months. The in-bed frame has hosted runner beans, cucumber vines and squash plants, whilst the cold frame has given an abundant harvest of rocket and lettuces.
The bug hotel and all the flowers have combined to create a garden that is abuzz with bees, birds and butterflies.
Beautiful planters have been made and bought to enhance the fences and walls and to provide additional planting space. They spill over with strawberries and tomatoes, begonias and campanulas, geraniums and trailing ivy. Careful attention has been paid to successional planting so the ground is full of early spring bulbs and there is never a moment without colour.
Project 03
Leytonstone Exteriors
The front door to the house had been made beautifully but was dilapidated in the extreme. The glass was damaged and all the furniture needed to be replaced. We remade the main window lights based on the original Victorian design — but used a triple glazed unit made by Tenby and Penny, a family firm based in Walthamstow. The stained glass artist reimagined and remade the broken scene before installion. Antique brass door furniture was sourced and new locks were fitted.
The original wooden sash windows — and glass — were still extant to the front of the property, designed with an elegant curve to the top on both of the double bays. They were in dire need of attention but our team were able to take them back to the wood and sensitively restore them all, inside and out, before painting.
The stone work was also addressed and the window sills were repaired, as was the plinth to the base of the building. The front garden was repaired and painted for a clean finish and a huge wooden planter was made bespoke for the top of the wall. It houses a beautiful selection of plants and flowers — which even won a community front garden award.
The rear of the house was covered in failing paint and there was an outside toilet which needed to be removed. The masons from PGS Stone used the DOFF steam cleaning method to remove the paint without harming the London stock brickwork. A full height scaffold went up so the paint and all the old pointing which had been done — incorrectly — in concrete could be removed. They then completely repointed in the proper lime mortar with a stunning result.
Reclaimed bricks were sourced and we were able to lay a full brick patio. The side alley was re-tiled with salvaged Victorian quarry tiles in a diagonal checkerboard pattern. The plinths were repaired and repainted. A roofing team completely rebuilt the roof of the side bay which had fallen into ruin. It now has new gutters and Welsh slate tiling.