East facing, partly shaded courtyard.

A scrubby lawn, way too much ivy and a sad raised bed, was transformed into a smart and easy-to-maintain space with lots of personality. The only thing we kept was the rather lovely weathered old fence, which was sensitively repaired and moved where necessary.

Colours featured in the living room décor were used to create a flow from inside to outside. The simple scheme of silvers, greys and warm wood tones holds the whole thing together. Rough wood used for the beds will ‘silver’ with age and blend with the old fence. The castellated tops of the beds allow Geraniums and Vinca to scramble through the gaps, contrasting well with strong architectural planting behind.

'Just a brief note to say how truly delighted I was with the work that you have done on my garden. Your imaginative design has totally transformed the space and the planting was everything I had hoped for. I can now look forward to years of pleasure watching it grow and develop. Thanks again.' Alex.

A dramatic Dicksonia dominates the shady bed in the corner and a lovely Prunus ‘Umineko’ provides a focal point with dazzling white blossom in spring and good autumn colour.

The key to a successful build was precision and attention to detail. The fence adjacent to the house was repositioned to allow easier access to the garage and so the angle worked with the design.