Garden Tour: A Modest Plot With Space For Two Seating Zones
Black and copper combine with pretty, low-key planting to create a relaxed space for outdoor entertaining
After an extensive renovation, the owners of this Victorian property were left with quite a dilapidated garden, so they called in designer Neil Jones to help give their outside space a makeover to match the interior.
Some careful design choices and thoughtful space planning enabled Neil to create a garden his clients could enjoy from inside and out, all year round.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Some careful design choices and thoughtful space planning enabled Neil to create a garden his clients could enjoy from inside and out, all year round.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
“The couple had made an effort to restore the house, so then they turned to the garden,” Neil says. “It was a dumping ground during the works – there was broken paving, no lawn and overgrown plants. We took everything out and started again.”
Need help with your garden makeover? Read reviews of local landscape architects and garden designers.
Need help with your garden makeover? Read reviews of local landscape architects and garden designers.
The couple like to entertain friends, so Neil planned the space to incorporate two seating areas. Next to the house is a decked terrace, while at the back is a patio with a firepit and dining table.
The black decking is a composite material, which is durable and won’t fade. “The decking enabled us to bring the terrace up to the same height as the door threshold,” Neil explains.
Composite decking, Millboard.
The black decking is a composite material, which is durable and won’t fade. “The decking enabled us to bring the terrace up to the same height as the door threshold,” Neil explains.
Composite decking, Millboard.
To the right is a raised planter, filled with herbs. “I think it’s nice to have a lot of casual seating where people can perch with a drink,” Neil says, “so we built a seat onto the edge of the planter.
“The planter itself was off-the-shelf, but we made an internal frame to support the seat,” he explains.
“The planter itself was off-the-shelf, but we made an internal frame to support the seat,” he explains.
A pathway leads up to the rear seating area. “It’s natural stone paving, which has been sealed so it won’t stain,” Neil says. “We positioned the slabs within the flowerbeds, which helps to slow your journey.”
Low-level thyme and ornamental flowers are dotted along, and spiked downlighters subtly lead the way. The couple were drawn to plants in shades of white, purple and pink, so Neil went for scented varieties such as jasmine and lavender and added some euphorbia for its zesty lime tones.
Natural stone paving, London Stone.
Low-level thyme and ornamental flowers are dotted along, and spiked downlighters subtly lead the way. The couple were drawn to plants in shades of white, purple and pink, so Neil went for scented varieties such as jasmine and lavender and added some euphorbia for its zesty lime tones.
Natural stone paving, London Stone.
A row of small clay pavers cuts through the pathway and separates the two lawn areas. “Black is another accent colour in the garden, so I chose the darkest pavers I could find,” Neil says.
Clay pavers, CED.
Clay pavers, CED.
As well as space for entertaining, the owners requested some high screening for privacy at the back of the garden.
“I designed this slatted fence and painted it black,” Neil says. “The horizontal lines help to make the garden feel wider and the recessive black colour visually elongates the space.”
Neil planted pleached trees in front to add a high ‘hedge’ along the top without concealing the feature fence. These trees have uplighters below to accentuate their shape in the evening.
Fence painted in black, Sadolin.
“I designed this slatted fence and painted it black,” Neil says. “The horizontal lines help to make the garden feel wider and the recessive black colour visually elongates the space.”
Neil planted pleached trees in front to add a high ‘hedge’ along the top without concealing the feature fence. These trees have uplighters below to accentuate their shape in the evening.
Fence painted in black, Sadolin.
The couple needed to replace the fence. To create a symmetrical frame for the garden, they consulted with their neighbours to change both sides so the fence panels match.
“These featherboard fences were made on site and will go a lovely silver colour over time,” Neil says.
Want to change your fence? Check out this essential guide to choosing and installing a garden fence.
“These featherboard fences were made on site and will go a lovely silver colour over time,” Neil says.
Want to change your fence? Check out this essential guide to choosing and installing a garden fence.
“We made the most of a recess at the back of the garden to create a seating area and pergola,” Neil says. The pergola is made from a square black frame with thin Corten steel rods positioned along the top. “The rods give support without the need for chunky beams, and they will rust down over time,” he says.
The floor of the seating area is laid with a permeable, self-binding gravel, which hardens to a crust with a little loose material on top. “It doesn’t get displaced like loose gravel, and it won’t green up too much” Neil says.
Selfbinda path gravel, Allgreen.
The floor of the seating area is laid with a permeable, self-binding gravel, which hardens to a crust with a little loose material on top. “It doesn’t get displaced like loose gravel, and it won’t green up too much” Neil says.
Selfbinda path gravel, Allgreen.
The Corten steel firepit behind is flanked on both sides by tall log storage. “We’d originally intended to build a bespoke concrete fireplace,” Neil says. “However, it was more cost-effective to source an off-the-shelf one.”
The logs on either side add another earthy layer beside the black fence and enhance the overall feel of this relaxed garden.
Corten steel garden fire, Adezz.
Tell us…
What do you like about this sociable garden? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
The logs on either side add another earthy layer beside the black fence and enhance the overall feel of this relaxed garden.
Corten steel garden fire, Adezz.
Tell us…
What do you like about this sociable garden? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? A professional couple
Location Winchester, Hampshire
Property A Victorian townhouse with three bedrooms
Garden dimensions 11 x 6m (not including the firepit recess at the back)
Garden designer Neil Jones of Neil Jones Design
It was the copper finishes in the kitchen of this Victorian home that kicked off some of the material choices in the garden. “I wanted the outside space to blend subtly with the inside space,” Neil says.
He used Corten steel surfaces around the garden, which replicate those same warm, earthy tones.