Inside outside gardens
Stunning gardens are too good to think of as simply an accessory to a house… instead they are increasingly designed to feel more like living spaces in their own right.
Functionality and styles traditionally used inside are now being brought to outside spaces, both to enhance quality of life and boost property values.
The popularity of outdoor kitchens, for example, begins with barbecues, work surface areas and pizza ovens, expanding in the most sophisticated cases to include outside sinks, fridges and even dishwashers.
Outdoor rugs, garden mirrors, even standard lamps, outside speakers and fireplaces are featuring in some gardens.
Garden seating is becoming increasingly lush, with luxurious soft cushions, and powder-coated aluminium furniture that can be left outside all year.
See our pinterest page for more inspiration.
Inside outside checklist
Here is our guide to making the most of your outdoor space, with planting to create zones within the garden to accommodate your favourite style.
Firstly, determine the position, direction and outlook of your garden as a whole. This will dictate how you can best use the space. Consider where and at what times of day different parts of the garden get light and sun. Think about access and what you will use various areas for – eating alfresco, lounging with friends, extravagant planting or even growing vegetables.
Also think about how you see the garden. If it is all year round from picture windows, the design needs to have four-seasons appeal.
Plan how you will divide your garden. You might erect a structure, for example a pavilion or perhaps fencing or walls, or alternatively use planting to create avenues or different zones. This could be through hedging, tall grasses or perennials (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foester' / Veronicastrum).
A “hedge on stilts” offers screening with more transparency, with a line of pleached trees showing bare trunk for the first 6ft but providing full leaf cover higher up. Living walls are becoming more popular, providing a great way to embrace vertical planting and create maximum drama in your outdoor space, with Country Living pointing out: “A living screen in the form of climbing plants is one of the best options.” Another idea is espaliered fruit trees, such as apple, pear and quince. They can make for beautiful and productive edible screens, with pretty spring blossom as well as the joy of growing your own fruit.
Partitions don’t have to be tall – a low wall or hedge can be just as striking. Hard landscaping features can help give a solidness which is softened by soft landscaping. They might include a low bench of Portland stone, gravel for paths and stone slabs for seating areas.
The 21st century “Room Outside”
The concept of the “Room Outside” was actually introduced nearly 40 years ago by John Brookes MBE in a book of the same name. It is even more relevant to 21st century living. In fact at the age of 12, Alaster admired John’s work so much that he wrote asking him to design his parents’ garden. When John sent back his costs, Alaster’s parents flatly refused, so instead he took on the project himself!
John died in 2018 but is still known as The Man who Made the Modern Garden. Some of his best-known work includes the College Green Garden at Westminster Abbey, Fitzroy Square, Barakura English Garden in Japan and the English Walled Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Please get in touch to see how we can help you with your garden. You can reach us on 0207 305 7183 or email at enquire@alasteranderson.com
