What a great picture, and a design that could easily be adjusted for your site, in terms of both hard landscaping and soft landscaping for a Cheshire site. The elements of slabs, wooden boards, rendered walls, low hidden water feature and lush low-maintenance planting can be achieved on a small budget. Water features surprisingly cost quite a bit, even a simple rill such as in the picture with small bubbling jets and lighting. To keep the cost down, you could look for concrete slabs, and use a softer wood and then stain it to the colour you want, rather than going for an expensive Iroko wooden board. Of course, once you start staining you will need a regular care schedule of cleaning it and re-staining it. Perhaps if the budget will allow, you could spend more on say composite decking boards and a stylish piece of furniture, and then use cheaper products elsewhere. A good Internet search will reveal some great products, but don't get carried away. Stick to your idea of how the garden should look and be strict with yourself. Failing that, appoint a garden designer. Regards Mark

I might get overruled on that one! (Although my husband is obviously wanting to watch it for different reasons!). I'm pleased that you're happy with it! That's great that they're washable, so handy, and that the dog likes it!! No Xmas took over... I need to look at it urgently as damp has now appeared in one room, I feel like I've cursed it :( we went to Bruges last week and I admired numerous houses, as you do (!), and I'm now thinking of slightly less traditional colours.... I just can't make my mind up, i wish whoever hadn't rendered it in the first place as it would be so much easier!

Hi I know not many have fake grass but it's becoming a really good option. Aesthetically it looks like grass but you don't have to worry about muddy patches, shady areas or cutting it. It does of course require some maintenance and needs to be laid on a good base. I actually wouldn't be so quick to level the garden out, having a step up makes the eye go upwards towards the sky. See this [Article on steps[(https://www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/10-excellent-ways-to-incorporate-steps-into-your-garden-stsetivw-vs~77446744) which was posted recently on Houzz. The area in front of the windows could be paved, gravelled or lay decking squares across it. The boundary walls are lovely and could easily have some climbers on them, using tensioned wires, helping to highlight this feature yet provide more green without making deep planting beds. The tree at the back is possibly a bay tree and might be worth keeping as it gives something of height and structure as long as it's in good condition. Mature trees can be costly so worth keeping it possible. Hope that helps!

I'm considering putting down composite or hardwood deck tiles to cover an ugly concrete path and patio until I can afford to have the concrete removed and the area landscaped. Can anyone recommend any brands available in the UK, please? Ideally they'd need to interlock on slightly uneven concrete. Any other ideas to hiding/ camouflaging the path would be great! thanks