Total Garden refurbishment ideas please!
We are looking for ideas for our square garden. We moved in last August and so far have removed overgrown trees and shrubs, but unsure what to do next. We have lovely views of mountains and sea and neighbours garden, but ours is a bit rubbish. We have thought of removing the hexagonal patio slabs and concreting straight across to where the bins are, using the area behind the garage and oil tank for bins, coal bunker and moving washing line over to there as well. The raised beds at the sunroom have peonies in them which I’d quite like to move somewhere so I could use that space for herbs, rosemary, lavender.
The end of the garden falls away towards the fence with the neighbouring primary school. We have a dog and two children, aged 9 and 11, so plenty of cycling around in circles for the kids and chasing a ball for the pup at present in lockdown. It is proving reasonably practical! I’d like a it to be a bit more charming and include somewhere for eating outside. Big ask, all ideas welcome. I love the notion of a wisteria covered pergola, a bank of hydrangea, some herbs, maybe a fire pit or chimney but not sure where to start. Oh and it’s about 21 feet by 21 feet I think.
thanks in advance
Stephanie
S
Comments (16)
PROOWLarchitecture.com
4 years ago
steph_grant7
4 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (10)Thank you for your comments and suggestions. Very much appreciated. Appologies for the poor quality drawing. I thought it would be a bit clearer than that. I'm not very good technically! You are right JenP, when the extension was added they moved the window to the back and made it into interconnecting bedrooms as they had a disabled child. So that room now has no window. The bathroom window is also facing into the extension. Not ideal but we thought we could install a light catcher in the roof and reduce the size of the window by installing some opaque glass blocks to borrow some light from the extension. The current lounge was actually two rooms when built, the one on the left with the bay window was the lounge as it has a fireplace with back boiler and the other a bedroom. We were thinking the same about making the lounge into two bedrooms so that we have our living areas at the back. Seems logical. We do like your idea JenP of the U shape living area that seems do able but the issue we have with the rear of the bungalow is the very limited space. We had considered maybe knocking down the excisting non matching extensions and rebuilding it a bit larger but that maybe to costly. We have a couple of local builders lined up to give us quotes but we are still undecided as to what is our best option. Kiwimills..yes, we are lucky to have Ikea and I can't wait to be able to go shopping. Thanks again Debbie...See MoreGarden ideas please!
Comments (16)@Angie Hi Angie, thank you for you response! I too think that Jonathan's ideas and the Pergola might be a viable option! I also think bringing more curves and making the space as bright as possible will help too. Yes, we will want to try and create as much privacy as possible but I do believe there are some restrictions in the title deeds that I will have to navigate so natural screening will likely be the best option. The design is based on the 'Edinburgh Colonies' which have always been very community-focused, so I guess the idea is to try and re-create the spirit of them in the 21st century (Likely, a very difficult task!) There's a little article about the design of the original houses https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/history-edinburgh-colonies-how-name-18059666 Thanks again! M...See MoreFull refurbishment advise please
Comments (10)Hi Jonathan, Thanks for all your advise, as usual , worth it's weight in gold I am usually at home only on the weekend and as my day job is rather hectic, combined with an L5 slipped disc, will restrict what I could do physically to help out. I would rather divide the refurbishment jobs into those which are like A) ‘destruction’ or just ripping things out. Versus those which need B) re-construction or as you mentioned, the finishes. I would also divide the available tradesmen into A) Those with no reviews, who can start work at a short notice and are cheaper and B) Those who are expensive, have a web presence/reviews and would take 1-2 months to start a job Using your timeline which you gave me in August, I would list the jobs in the following chronological order Jobs A) to be done by a builder who has no reviews and can be available at a short notice 1) Strip out the house. I would strip out carpets, skirting boards, wall cladding, partition by the stairs, kitchen, unwanted curtains, internal doors and architrave, the fire hearth, I will need a gas engineer too to disconnect the fire and hob. 2)-- Dispose of all the stuff, using 6/7 skips. 3)General builder to take down the wall between the dining room and kitchen. As it’s a non-weight wearing wall, I would persist with my cheaper builder A? 4) My dining room and kitchen ceilings will probably come down at this stage?? Again, persist with my cheaper builder A?. 5) heating engineer and electrician to start rewiring and central heating. —I have shortlisted a couple of electricians, who have excellent reviews and could start work in 2-4 weeks. 6)Consider TV/broadband/alarm at this time for a tidier result—Will have to contact Sky 7) replacement windows and internal doors, will give this to the established builder B- Hopefully by this time, it will be like 4 weeks down the line and he should be available to start work 8) external repairs such as roof tiles and gutters- Again builder B. 9)/ additional insulation to the loft- Builder B 10/ plaster boarding where necessary, coving, plastering. - ** Here I have a query, do I give this job to the good builder? Or try and outsource it to another plasterer? Is plastering more difficult or important than painting? 12/electrician - ceiling lights, second fix sockets. 13/ joiner- new doors, architrave, bannisters, skirtings. If wood floor skirting to be fitted after. 14/ decorator - emulsion ceilings and walls, woodwork primed and finished with eggshell, external decorating as necessary. My tradesmen would do this 15/ floors fitted, radiators hung 16/ kitchen installation Plan to get the raw materials/ design from Wren and then get an independent kitchen fitter to fit it. Unless the independent kitchen comes up with a better alternative. Have emailed a couple Builder B, or the established one, to do all the works as mentioned in the survey, plus the RSJ on the padstone and the conservatory, along with a new roof. I probably leave the plastering to him, including the doors, carpets and new floors Does this sound like a plan? to recap It would leave at least 20-30K worth of jobs to be done by the main builder B I could get some no- interest loan from Wren for their kitchen Use the builder A for stripping and ripping things out, Tradesmen such as electrician and heating to do individual jobs Any advise would be much appreciated Regards Mel ps regarding the conservatory roof, switching over from a glass to an all year round. Do I have to get building reg permission prior to starting work? How long does it usually take? Also, if the original roof is removed, would it not leave the building exposed to rain etc, until the new roof is installed?...See More
PROGerbera Designs (Garden Design)
4 years agosteph_grant7
4 years ago- PRO
Gerbera Designs (Garden Design)
4 years ago 
E D
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agosteph_grant7
4 years agoarc3d
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoHi Steph,
I think the first step would be to level your garden from the back. You have some great views but the eye is drawn away by the buildings in the foreground. The bright primary colours on the nursery really draw the eye.
A level garden is more usable and will give a great starting point for the designs sonia has posted.
From what I can see I would (very roughly) guess that you could raise the back by a meter.
If you want to work it out more accurately. Then you can use a spirit level and a long straight piece of wood. Start at the highest point, make the wood level using the spirit level and note down the difference in height. Move the wood along and repeat until you have covered the length of the garden. Finally add up all the differences in height and that will give you the difference in height between the front and back of the garden. (You can buy a laser measuring tool but that's a slightly more expensive approach)
Also if the retainer wall is less than 2m you won't need to have it designed by a structural engineer.
I noticed the football in the picture. Football is way more fun if your're not on a slope!
I wont suggest any gardening tips as I'm clueless about plants. Sonia and ED have the best suggestions for that!
Sloped site:
Level site:
rachelmidlands
4 years agosteph_grant7
4 years agosteph_grant7
4 years ago- PRO
Gerbera Designs (Garden Design)
4 years ago steph_grant7
4 years ago
Sonia
4 years agoE D
4 years ago
Sonia