Hi Auntie S! the wall I'm planning to grow it up is my neighbour's side wall, so no windows to trim around, and it can grow all the way up as far as I'm concerned. It'll look awesome if it does.

That’s sounds perfect Sam :-)

Yarden fun today.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2628075637254951&id=100001576206997

Exciting! :-D

Can't wait to see the update shots Sam!

End of play Friday. Only had to ask them to re do two things so far. The raised bed wasn't big enough for my water butt fishpond, and the thing I thought was a gravel drainage sump for the tap was actually a 'detail' (no, me neither) and therefore not under the tap. It's gonna look awesome though. Thanks all for your fab ideas. You are all invited to a barbecue when it's done. If it ever stops raining.

That paving is fab. Great choice. How many Houzzers can you fit in Sam's yard???!!

All of us Jules! :-D

Looking really good Sam! So you have goldfish in your water butt? Interesting! :-D

Hi Sonia,
You all fit in my pocket so you'll have loads of room in my yard!
The water butt is getting sliced in half and it will have a pump powering a bubbly water feature, to oxygenate it. Then I'll put some water plants in it and 2-3 fish. I saw a version of this in Dobbies recently (see photo) , and was inspired to create a diy version, so I got a waterbutt off freecycle. It'll slip inside the triangular raised bed, and the top will be level with the top of the bed, so I can have land plants around it in the corners too, and it won't look like a water butt any more. Then I'll put an upcycled mirrored door or window (suggested by Jonathan I think) behind it.

Yarden progress. So slooow, but taking shape. Weather's been awful.

Oops pic didn't upload

I really like that paving Sam - Looking great! :-)

Sam that looks fab! Love the paving, love the brick walls. Can’t wait to see the finished article. Well done.

Wow! Big improvement! Looks great. ever thought of painting the downpipes black? Not that you need any more to do. But just in case you get bored, some day...

I had the downpipes painted black at the back of my house and it was a real improvement.

Carolina, fab idea! On the list... The long... long list. I'm planning to paint the yard walls white too which I think was your idea.

Yarden is looking great Sam:-) Love the water butt fish pond idea, and the paving looks fab. Can’t wait to see it finished.

Got this a while ago.

What's the little gravel pit for?

AMB it's under the tap. So that water can drain away.

I wonder if you could make the water butt sit more comfortably in the garden by painting it with a textured stone like paint?

Hi Jonathan. The butt will be cut down so it only reaches the top of the sleepers. It'll be invisible.

Is it too picky, do you think, to ask them to redo this bit where the edges don't align across the manhole cover?
Or have they done the best that's possible with it?

It looks nice and level which is good, and they’ve followed the lines of the big top paving slab to follow on, but the two small triangles don’t look right. It’s not awful and you could always put a pot on it to disguise it, but if it’s bothering you then get them to remove the little triangles and put in pieces that follow the correct lines. Up to you.

Tell them I want it doing again

Ooer. Have emailed. Wrote it. Took out the grovelling apology for asking. Put in a self deprecating quip instead. Took that out. Pressed send. Now they'll think I'm a horrible nightmare client. Am hiding under my desk.

No they won’t Sam. You should see some of the clients my brother dealt with. The worst was one who insisted some paving slabs wobbled (they didn’t) and he kept finding faults with my brother’s work where there were none. The worst was the texts he sent to my brother, full of the F-word. Good grief! It was horrible to read. He was glad to finish that job! You have to be firm but polite, no apology, its not your fault, it’s theirs.

They're going to change it. Thanks Sonia and Jonathan

Don't think that painting the walls white was my idea, but I do like it. In which case I'd probably paint the downpipes to match the wall. Not sure if I'd keep one wall brick, because I do like the character.

Ah yes it was Colourhappy who recommended painting the walls. Carolina, which wall would you leave brick? The gate wall is new so that's probably got the least character, so I'd like to paint that.

I can't wait to see it all planted Sam. It's going to be lovely when all the plants are spilling over the edge. :)

Probably the long wall? The one on the right when you come into the yard through the gate

Lovely examples Carolina. A lot like what I'm aiming for. Thanks I haven't seen those before

You're welcome :-) Love how you're turning your home into a lovely, unique, warm and personal space.

Aw shucks, thanks Carolina. I feel like I'm on the downward slope and there's less to do now than has been done. Still a long list but getting there, thanks to the Houzz massive!

That’s better Sam. I love your paving it looks so much like mine and so pretty when it’s wet. All those lovely planting pockets waiting for plants, the best bit. I bet you’re well chuffed!

That looks fantastic for a small space, the design works so well and now the greenery is there it’s completes the look, well done.......oh and you could possibly look at one of those outdoor rug for the seating area as that would zone that nicely, they aren’t out of the way price either.

Amazing job- well done. I hope Jonathan the fish will be very happy there.

Thanks both. I'm really happy how it's turned out. Still lots to do, including a water feature cascade sculptury thing which may be where we include the mirror, but it will wait til spring. We were advised to let Jono and his pals stay at the garden centre till March, when we will move him in. His pond is currently full of brick dust.

It looks great Sam, you must be really pleased.

Looks great Sam. I bet you can’t wait for those long hot summer days! I’ve got an outdoor rug and it’s great. Made of recycled plastic bottles so very hardy. Got it from Houzz shop. By next summer the plants will be burgeoning all over the place, if that’s the right word! Here’s my rug last year:

I'm liking the idea of a rug when I get to the dressing/decorating stage. I also need to paint the canopy woodwork, or stain it.

Looking fab Sam.

From springtime onwards it will only start to look even better.

I can‘t quite remember, but do you (still) have plans for a water feature?

Hi ED, Thanks! Yep the eye of faith is crucial with winter garden makeovers! It'll be loads more plant dominated in a year or two.
There's already a pump in the pond, which works as a standalone fountain, but can be adapted to power a cascade on the wall behind. We're having all sorts of whacky ideas like building a 'marble run' style sculpture incorporating all our favourite things, (archaeology, sci fi etc) or a commissioned metal sculpture that looks like a steel version of Virginia creeper.

Ha, I had to google Virginia Creeper. Believing it was someone outlandish like The Grim Reaper I was a little disappointed that it is in fact just a trailing plant... :-)

It’s looking really good Sam! I’m really impressed at how you have created such an inviting space in such a small area! Have the plans you have for what else you’re going to do! Love the marble run idea

It's beautiful!

Well done. Looks beautiful. Another example of the excellent teamwork on here.

A triumph indeed, enjoy your beautiful new space.. well in about four months now <3