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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Garden
  3. Type: Formal Garden

Shabby-Chic Style Formal Garden Ideas and Designs

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Portfolio
Portfolio
Apple Blossom Landscape Concepts, Inc.Apple Blossom Landscape Concepts, Inc.
Inspiration for a large shabby-chic style back formal full sun garden in Chicago.
A Cotswold garden in Stow on the Wold
A Cotswold garden in Stow on the Wold
Joanne Alderson DesignJoanne Alderson Design
A traditional Cotswold garden of rooms. This is the side entrance with topiary & a rope swag covered in clematis. The designer is Jo Alderson Phillips
Witherspoon Rose Garden
Witherspoon Rose Garden
Witherspoon Rose CultureWitherspoon Rose Culture
A stunning rose garden in a free form shaped bed makes an excellent focal point in this yard. The brick path surrounding allows for the garden to be enjoyed from all sides. Rose Garden planted and maintained by Witherspoon Rose Culture.
Rail Fences
Rail Fences
Split Rail Fence Co Denver COSplit Rail Fence Co Denver CO
Design ideas for a medium sized vintage back formal full sun garden for spring in Denver.
Edible and Cut Flower Sculpture Garden
Edible and Cut Flower Sculpture Garden
Wild Craft PermacultureWild Craft Permaculture
Herb Spiral. Mark Wolfe Photogrpahy
Large romantic back formal full sun garden for summer in Toronto with a vegetable patch.
Containers
Containers
Glen Gate CompanyGlen Gate Company
Distressed containers are overflowing with lovely green ferns.
This is an example of a medium sized shabby-chic style back formal partial sun garden for summer in New York with a potted garden and natural stone paving.
Bluestone Flagstone
Bluestone Flagstone
Finley's Tree & Landcare, Inc.Finley's Tree & Landcare, Inc.
Landscaping with new lawn and new planting.
This is an example of a small vintage back formal partial sun garden in Los Angeles with natural stone paving.
Bedstuy, Brooklyn - Planter Installation to Backyard
Bedstuy, Brooklyn - Planter Installation to Backyard
Dragonetti Brothers LandscapesDragonetti Brothers Landscapes
Medium sized romantic back formal partial sun garden for summer in New York with a potted garden.
Private villa landscape
Private villa landscape
DalDesignDalDesign
Large vintage courtyard formal full sun garden for summer in Other with a climbing frame and natural stone paving.
Expansive Hidden Gardens Property
Expansive Hidden Gardens Property
Scenic LandscapingScenic Landscaping
A private seating area amidst the garden space
Medium sized vintage back formal partial sun garden for summer in New York with concrete paving.
Myrtle Cottage
Myrtle Cottage
Aralia: Innovation in Landscape DesignAralia: Innovation in Landscape Design
Small romantic back formal garden in Hertfordshire with a garden path and brick paving.
Jardín
Jardín
HAPPYNESTHAPPYNEST
María de Miguel, revista Mi Casa
Design ideas for a medium sized vintage back formal partial sun garden for spring in Madrid with natural stone paving.
Sandpiper Cabins
Sandpiper Cabins
Focal Point Landscape Solutions Ltd.Focal Point Landscape Solutions Ltd.
Photo of an expansive shabby-chic style sloped formal and private partial sun garden for autumn in Vancouver with decorative stones.
Large Landscape Project in Sevenoaks
Large Landscape Project in Sevenoaks
Oakmore Green LtdOakmore Green Ltd
Log wall to divide two parts of the garden above a wildlife garden and below a formal garden.
Inspiration for an expansive vintage back formal garden in Kent.
Back yard wedding | Artistry Landscaping Design
Back yard wedding | Artistry Landscaping Design
Artistry Landscape DesignArtistry Landscape Design
Rustic themed containers with annuals with variegated leaves or white flowers. Some containers were vintage ceramic pipes tied with burlap bows. The client painted garage window frames with a metallic copper.
Edible and Cut Flower Sculpture Garden
Edible and Cut Flower Sculpture Garden
Wild Craft PermacultureWild Craft Permaculture
Mark Wolfe Photogrpahy
Photo of a large shabby-chic style back formal full sun garden for summer in Toronto with a vegetable patch.
Avant Après jardin
Avant Après jardin
Dessinatrice d'EspacesDessinatrice d'Espaces
Conception de jardin, créer des zones de vie dans le jardin pour profiter au mieux des différents espaces
Inspiration for a large romantic sloped formal full sun garden for spring in Paris with a flowerbed, natural stone paving and a wood fence.
Little Eden
Little Eden
Aralia: Innovation in Landscape DesignAralia: Innovation in Landscape Design
his rural hertfordshire property plays host to a Grade II listed house and a separate period outbuilding which have both had various architectural additions over the century, resulting in the creation of a narrow, empty corridor; prompting the need for an external garden design. The challenge for Aralia in this herts garden design was to unify the two opposing buildings and overcome the difficulties posed by numerous access points, all in the space of a small courtyard of less than two hundred square meters. The clients request was to create a garden which blurred the strong geometry of the buildings through a curvilinear design, whilst incorporating multiple opportunities for seating to relax and unwind. The garden very much holds a traditional feel through the choice of materials and planting in order to be sympathetic towards the architecture, surrounding landscape and local aesthetic. Upon first entering the property, visitors are greeted by a pair of beautifully crafted Iroko gates, framed by two heritage brick planters which house a lush beech hedge, concealing elements of the journey ahead. Three sizes of autumnal riven sandstone are used to negotiate the curves and create a subtle flow and legibility to the journey, whilst naturalistic perennials and grasses soften the space and create narrative. Plants such as Astrantia, Perovskia, Deschampsia and Echinacea are used throughout the borders to create rhythm and repetition whilst green Oak arches frame snippets of these views, anchoring the path between the buildings as the garden progresses. The culmination of the garden is signified by a circular terrace which is controlled and held in place by the beautifully weathered curved oak seats, housing cut logs underneath to create pattern and shape. Two small water chutes bubble away in the background creating a relaxing atmosphere whilst the user can sit and take advantage of tranquil views across the rest of the garden.
Sharpe Ranch/ Vegetable Garden
Sharpe Ranch/ Vegetable Garden
Newhaven Builders Inc.Newhaven Builders Inc.
Design ideas for a large vintage back formal partial sun garden in Santa Barbara with a potted garden and gravel.
Carmel-By-The-Sea Cottage
Carmel-By-The-Sea Cottage
Granitecrete Inc.Granitecrete Inc.
Inspiration for a shabby-chic style courtyard formal garden in San Francisco with a water feature.

Shabby-Chic Style Formal Garden Ideas and Designs

A beautifully designed shabby-chic style garden is as important as the emphasis we place on the designs of our interiors. After all, our grounds (however modest) frame our homes and contribute to first impressions not only of our houses, but also of the households within. Options for garden designs can be as elaborate or low maintenance as your lifestyle and preferences permit – consider both your aspirations for how it should look and how much time you can invest in garden maintenance. Consulting a gardener or landscape designer will ensure you have a garden that suits your lifestyle, the local climate and soil conditions. But don’t forget that with Houzz your first stop can be collecting images of garden ideas and designs you love in order to inspire your garden plans and potentially share them with a landscape gardening professional.

How do I come up with a shabby-chic style front garden design?

The priority for a front garden is kerb appeal. Begin by considering the area immediately around and leading up to your front door. You may want to opt for front garden designs that blend well with the style of your home – for example, abundant foliage and flowerbeds will perfectly complement a period property, whereas man-made materials, geometric shapes and contrasting textures are great ideas for a contemporary garden design. Even if your front garden is a small space, keep it tidy – if you have more space, make the most of it with garden ideas and features such as a manicured lawn, gravel driveway, water feature or garden fencing. If you don’t have the time or commitment to devote to gardening, then neatly pruned hedges, statement paving, hanging baskets, garden benches and outdoor lighting are all decorative, low maintenance garden ideas for your shabby-chic style front garden design.

How should I design my shabby-chic style back garden?

Back gardens typically offer more space than front garden designs and serve a more recreational purpose, so it’s important to know how you want to spend time in your garden before you design it in order to build in the features that you will enjoy. If you love relaxing in the garden and dining al fresco, think about patios, decking, garden furniture and BBQs. For the more horticulturally-inclined, incorporate flower beds, greenhouses or vegetable garden designs. Your landscape gardening professional can help you install structures such as sheds, pergolas and gazebos that complement your garden design, and artfully-placed garden ideas such as lawn edging and lighting will add definition to your chosen design.

How do I create a low maintenance garden?

The great news is, gardens aren’t exclusively for the green-fingered. Whether you’re not horticulturally-inclined or simply don’t have the time for a bit of landscape gardening, you can still have a shabby-chic style garden design that looks the way you want by making some smart design choices. While many of us favour low maintenance gardens like urban gardens, roof terraces and patio gardens, lovers of greenery don’t need to sacrifice grass for paving slabs. Whatever you want from your garden, there are a variety of gardening solutions that can be built in to make life easier. For example, labour intensive features such as vegetable patches, greenhouses and flower beds can be optimised with an automatic irrigation system. These can be offset with fuss-free garden ideas such as hard landscaping, including gravel, paving or decking, and hard-wearing evergreens that require minimal upkeep. You might even consider replacing your garden fencing with slow growing hedging, which can be maintained less regularly than wooden fence panels. If having a lawn is important, there are different types of grasses in varying degrees of durability and maintenance. You may choose to take a more relaxed approach to your lawn – “wild” garden designs can have great charm if the grasses and flowers are chosen carefully. If you prefer a manicured lawn, it’s a good idea to invest in a “mulching” lawn mower that will recycle clippings and remove the need for cleaning up. Finally, there isn’t a more low maintenance garden lawn than artificial grass which can look highly realistic and keep your garden looking green. Garden ornaments are a great way to add interest to your low maintenance garden design – go for smart garden ideas such as solar garden lights which are both decorative and functional. Find some of the most popular design ideas on Houzz.
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