6 of the Best Before and After Garden Transformations
Let these dramatic redesigns inspire you to boost your own outside space
Kate Burt
24 July 2020
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and various magazines. I'm now excited to part of the editorial team at Houzz UK & Ireland, bringing the best of British and Irish design, interiors and architecture to Houzz.com.
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and... More
If you feel your garden is a lost cause, these tricksy transformations might lift your soul. From the plot that doubled as a car park but is now a sleek entertaining space to a steep, rocky slope that appeared to be unusable, these gardens show just how skilful their designers have been in transforming them into tranquil, functional spaces that are also gorgeous to look at. Feast your eyes and be inspired.
The parking space transformation
This 7m x 5m urban garden had previously doubled as a car parking spot. When the owner called in Tom Howard of Tom Howard Garden Design & Landscaping, she asked him to create something low maintenance but pretty – and good for socialising in.
Tom’s solution was ingenious – and budget-friendly. Rather than remove the big gates seen here, he simply screened them. This also meant the council would see it could still be used as a parking space and not remove the dropped kerb outside – a useful selling point if the owner ever moves.
This 7m x 5m urban garden had previously doubled as a car parking spot. When the owner called in Tom Howard of Tom Howard Garden Design & Landscaping, she asked him to create something low maintenance but pretty – and good for socialising in.
Tom’s solution was ingenious – and budget-friendly. Rather than remove the big gates seen here, he simply screened them. This also meant the council would see it could still be used as a parking space and not remove the dropped kerb outside – a useful selling point if the owner ever moves.
Stylish grey screening now hides the gates to the street – though you’d never know it.
Tom also built beds around a decked area, and a bench on which you can either face the planting or the firepit, which makes the garden useable for socialising into the autumn.
Tom varied the heights of the beds, putting the lowest one at the front. “If you build beds too high in the foreground, you risk dissecting the garden, so we made this one at the front lower,” he says. This ensures there’s a full view of the garden from the house, too.
See around the rest of this chic entertaining space.
Tom also built beds around a decked area, and a bench on which you can either face the planting or the firepit, which makes the garden useable for socialising into the autumn.
Tom varied the heights of the beds, putting the lowest one at the front. “If you build beds too high in the foreground, you risk dissecting the garden, so we made this one at the front lower,” he says. This ensures there’s a full view of the garden from the house, too.
See around the rest of this chic entertaining space.
The rocky slope transformation
The steeply sloping, 270 sq m plot attached to this Victorian terraced house was dangerous and unusable before Simon Orchard of Simon Orchard Garden Design worked his magic on it.
Now the family of five who live here have multiple zones to enjoy for different activities, moods and times of the day.
This ‘before’ photo shows the bottom of the sloped garden, and the roof of an existing outbuilding.
The steeply sloping, 270 sq m plot attached to this Victorian terraced house was dangerous and unusable before Simon Orchard of Simon Orchard Garden Design worked his magic on it.
Now the family of five who live here have multiple zones to enjoy for different activities, moods and times of the day.
This ‘before’ photo shows the bottom of the sloped garden, and the roof of an existing outbuilding.
Simon’s solution was to build a series of five terraces. This photo is taken from the top one, which is next to the back of the house and includes a patio for dining.
The next level down is a lawn and deck that now houses a spherical daybed big enough for three. Below that is a play area with a sunken trampoline, and then another seating area. At the bottom, there’s a gate to the street and a small courtyard in front of a new studio, constructed as part of the renovation.
Check out photos to see how all the levels fit together.
The next level down is a lawn and deck that now houses a spherical daybed big enough for three. Below that is a play area with a sunken trampoline, and then another seating area. At the bottom, there’s a gate to the street and a small courtyard in front of a new studio, constructed as part of the renovation.
Check out photos to see how all the levels fit together.
The boring square transformation
Tracey Parker of Tracey Parker Landscape Design says her clients, who have young children, needed to incorporate play equipment in their garden, and have planting that would stand up to footballs being kicked around, but they wanted a space they could enjoy, too. The garden they inherited from the previous owner just wasn’t cutting it on either score.
This ‘before’ image shows how the shrubs were overgrown and the plants had self-seeded in the space.
Need some help with your outdoor space? Find local landscape contractors and gardeners in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Tracey Parker of Tracey Parker Landscape Design says her clients, who have young children, needed to incorporate play equipment in their garden, and have planting that would stand up to footballs being kicked around, but they wanted a space they could enjoy, too. The garden they inherited from the previous owner just wasn’t cutting it on either score.
This ‘before’ image shows how the shrubs were overgrown and the plants had self-seeded in the space.
Need some help with your outdoor space? Find local landscape contractors and gardeners in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
The clients were having a kitchen extension with a large picture window built, so creating a good view from it was key.
In her redesign, Tracey placed a pergola opposite the extension. “There was a bed there before with a path through it not leading anywhere,” she says. “Now it’s possible to look through the picture window all the way down to the pergola [which will eventually be] covered in roses.”
Tracey positioned the children’s play equipment at the back of the garden. “I wanted it away from the prime view,” she says. It also allows the garden to change as the kids grow. “In future, that area might contain a kitchen garden,” she says.
See more of this peaceful space.
In her redesign, Tracey placed a pergola opposite the extension. “There was a bed there before with a path through it not leading anywhere,” she says. “Now it’s possible to look through the picture window all the way down to the pergola [which will eventually be] covered in roses.”
Tracey positioned the children’s play equipment at the back of the garden. “I wanted it away from the prime view,” she says. It also allows the garden to change as the kids grow. “In future, that area might contain a kitchen garden,” she says.
See more of this peaceful space.
The inaccessible space transformation
The owners of this Bristol garden were lucky to have such a generously sized plot, and one with views across fields on one side. However, the layout posed problems for one of the couple, who uses a wheelchair, and also wasn’t ideal for their six-year-old daughter.
“It was an established garden with a lumpy lawn and very compromised pathways, where roots had lifted up some sections,” says Terrey Maufe of Outerspace Creative Landscaping of the plot when she first saw it. “There were trip hazards everywhere and, even for an able-bodied person, it wasn’t easy to get around or look after.”
Since then, Terrey’s vision for a beautiful yet accessible new design has transformed the garden into something the whole family can enjoy safely.
The owners of this Bristol garden were lucky to have such a generously sized plot, and one with views across fields on one side. However, the layout posed problems for one of the couple, who uses a wheelchair, and also wasn’t ideal for their six-year-old daughter.
“It was an established garden with a lumpy lawn and very compromised pathways, where roots had lifted up some sections,” says Terrey Maufe of Outerspace Creative Landscaping of the plot when she first saw it. “There were trip hazards everywhere and, even for an able-bodied person, it wasn’t easy to get around or look after.”
Since then, Terrey’s vision for a beautiful yet accessible new design has transformed the garden into something the whole family can enjoy safely.
A central, circular lawn is the focal point, with a wheel-friendly ramp hugging its curves. Fanning out, there are vegetable beds climbing the slope, accessed by shallow steps.
In addition, there’s a large patio with a barbecue area, on which it’s easy to manoeuvre a wheelchair; a small lawn near the house for children to play on, and a secret, wilder zone they can get messy in at the top of the garden.
Terrey also created another, smaller circular lawn “perfect for picnics” at the top of the slope, and added a bench at the far end, down another neat path.
Take a tour of this impressive and functional garden.
In addition, there’s a large patio with a barbecue area, on which it’s easy to manoeuvre a wheelchair; a small lawn near the house for children to play on, and a secret, wilder zone they can get messy in at the top of the garden.
Terrey also created another, smaller circular lawn “perfect for picnics” at the top of the slope, and added a bench at the far end, down another neat path.
Take a tour of this impressive and functional garden.
The unusable slope transformation
Lots of Houzz commenters told us they had struggled with their wide, shallow gardens, so this tour was a big hit.
The garden in Yorkshire measures around 10m x 30m. “The difficulty with wide, shallow gardens is you don’t really have a direct focal point,” designer John Brennan of Yorkshire Gardens says of the plot, “so you have to send the eye left or right.”
The space had the added challenge of being on a steep slope, so John created a terraced design, with a journey along it through pretty planting. He also added two pergolas at either end to provide focal points.
Lots of Houzz commenters told us they had struggled with their wide, shallow gardens, so this tour was a big hit.
The garden in Yorkshire measures around 10m x 30m. “The difficulty with wide, shallow gardens is you don’t really have a direct focal point,” designer John Brennan of Yorkshire Gardens says of the plot, “so you have to send the eye left or right.”
The space had the added challenge of being on a steep slope, so John created a terraced design, with a journey along it through pretty planting. He also added two pergolas at either end to provide focal points.
The terraces are created from wooden sleepers, bringing structure to the garden, but with a natural feel.
Tapping into his client’s love of three different styles – Japanese, Mediterranean and cottage gardens – John skilfully combined elements of them all in his planting.
Read about the total transformation of this garden and see more photos.
Tapping into his client’s love of three different styles – Japanese, Mediterranean and cottage gardens – John skilfully combined elements of them all in his planting.
Read about the total transformation of this garden and see more photos.
The too-bright kitchen transformation
This ‘before’ shot shows what is probably a familiar scene to anyone who’s had a kitchen extension: a battered garden, bruised from being a builder’s yard for months, and a giant drop from the kitchen patio to the rest of the garden.
In this example by Simon Orchard of Simon Orchard Garden Design, the kitchen – newly upgraded to feature lots of glass – was also rather bright, as the garden is south-facing. Simon came up with solutions for all of this and more.
This ‘before’ shot shows what is probably a familiar scene to anyone who’s had a kitchen extension: a battered garden, bruised from being a builder’s yard for months, and a giant drop from the kitchen patio to the rest of the garden.
In this example by Simon Orchard of Simon Orchard Garden Design, the kitchen – newly upgraded to feature lots of glass – was also rather bright, as the garden is south-facing. Simon came up with solutions for all of this and more.
To solve the glare, Simon built a contemporary slatted pergola. “It did the job of creating some shade in the kitchen and in the new seating area outside the bifold doors,” he says.
To tackle the drop and link the spaces, he created chunky, diagonal steps, with a 20cm shadow gap between each level to give the illusion they’re floating.
“I wanted to make a nice, gentle transition from top to bottom, especially as the owners have young children,” Simon says. “I also wanted to do something a bit different. The steps are designed to lead you down and then diagonally across the garden.”
See more of this understated family space.
Tell us…
Which garden transformation is your favourite? Let us know in the Comments.
To tackle the drop and link the spaces, he created chunky, diagonal steps, with a 20cm shadow gap between each level to give the illusion they’re floating.
“I wanted to make a nice, gentle transition from top to bottom, especially as the owners have young children,” Simon says. “I also wanted to do something a bit different. The steps are designed to lead you down and then diagonally across the garden.”
See more of this understated family space.
Tell us…
Which garden transformation is your favourite? Let us know in the Comments.
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Our outdoor stoves would look fantastic in this lovely space
The rocky slope transformation is the best. Deserves a standing ovation👏🏻🙌🏻
looks great. :)