Original Designs

Inspirational Ideas

Creative Transformations

Original Designs

Inspirational Ideas

Creative Transformations

Original Designs

Inspirational Ideas

Creative Transformations

Original Designs

Inspirational Ideas

Creative Transformations

Styling the outdoor room
March, 2023

Styling the outdoor room

Imagine this: you've just completed the dream transformation of your garden, the lads you've been making copious...

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Room with a view
February, 2023

Room with a view

This month we revisit the ongoing trend for garden rooms. They've been around for quite a while now but their...

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2023 garden trends
January, 2023

Eco-garden trends

Weather-wise, last year was a bit of a mixed bag: scorching heat for some, fires and floods for others. Climate...

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July, 2020

Multifunctional garden living

Lockdown gave us all an opportunity to get out into our gardens and really appreciate that extra outdoor space....

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Patios for outdoor living
June, 2020

Patios for outdoor living

In preparing to write this blog, I decided to look up the meaning of the word patio. The word has its origins in...

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May, 2020

Distance garden design

Lockdown has probably made those of us with a garden, however big or small, value it like never before. Perhaps...

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Bluebells
May, 2020

Spring-spiration

There is no question that we are living in uncertain and worrying times. With many of us self-isolating, shielding...

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Christmas wreath
December, 2019

Seasonal circle of life

It's that most wonderful time of the year and while you could be forgiven for thinking Christmas has become all...

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November, 2019

Designing with Bulbs

One of the easiest ways to add a splash of colour to your garden borders from winter through to early summer is to...

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Plug-and-play water features
October, 2019

Plug-and-play water features

With so many different types of plug-and-play water features available to buy in the average garden centre, as...

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Autumn vibes
September, 2019

Autumn vibes

It's now officially autumn and seemingly overnight we're facing the onset of darker mornings and the prospect of...

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Garden firepit
May, 2019

Firing up the garden

With many of us wanting to extend the time we spend in our outdoor space, ways to make them more inviting and...

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Outdoor Kitchens
April, 2019

Outdoor kitchens

With last summer's amazing weather, many of us took to cooking and eating al fresco on a more regular basis. While...

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Decking
March, 2019

Decking

Having a garden is a responsibility that needs both time and effort dedicated to it to keep it looking its best....

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Hamamelis Jelena
February, 2019

Bewitching witch hazels

Finally, the days are starting to get a little longer (although the dark mornings can still be a bit of a drag!)....

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Garden design trends for 2019
January, 2019

Garden design trends for 2019

Many of us will have already made resolutions for the year ahead - and some of us may just be keeping to them!...

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October, 2018

Late summer perennial daisies

Summer is now behind us and what a summer it was...the hottest in recent memory. And while autumn feels like it's...

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Garden buildings
September, 2018

Garden buildings

Hand in hand with the trend of treating the garden as an outdoor room is the growth in garden buildings. Until...

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Art in the garden
July, 2018

Art in the garden

We recently visited the Henry Moore Studios & Gardens in Perry Green, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire. As well as...

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Beauty in the border
June, 2018

Beauty in the border

If you planned your borders last year, you'll be enjoying the fruits of your labour with succession planting for a...

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May, 2018

Gourmet gardening

Last month we looked at ideas for creating stylish vegetable beds so it seems only natural that this month we...

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April, 2018

Stylish vegetable beds

Growing your own food proves ever more popular not just because you can be sure of its provenance but because it's...

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March, 2018

Water in the garden

Water can be a very effective element in the garden, providing the combined qualities of movement, sound and...

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February, 2018

Customer service award win

We are delighted to have been awarded a Best of Houzz Award for Customer Service for the second year running. It...

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January, 2018

Totally tropical garden style

If you're one of the lucky few who overwinters in warmer climes stop reading now! For the rest of us, this post is...

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Lighting in the garden
December, 2017

Lighting in the garden

The desire to make more of our gardens means it's increasingly seen as an extension of our home. Perhaps one of...

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Front Garden
November, 2017

Front garden kerb appeal

Front gardens are the first impression for visitors and passers-by alike yet so often they are the second class...

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Small sloping garden
October, 2017

Gardening on the slope

Working in and around the Chilterns means that many of the gardens we design and build are on sloping ground. The...

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Timber and gravel path
September, 2017

Inspiring gardens

If you are stuck for ideas and in need of inspiration, be nosy and go take a look at other people’s gardens. A...

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bluebells
May, 2017

In praise of the native bluebell

If you went down to the woods at the weekend you may have been lucky enough to be treated to a glorious sight at...

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Best of Houzz
February, 2017

Best Of Houzz 2017 Service Award

January saw us over the moon to receive a service award from Houzz, the leading online platform for home...

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Small Garden, big impact
September, 2015

Small garden, big impact

When it comes to gardens, few of us can boast rolling acres but that that’s all the more reason to make the most...

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Foliage
April, 2015

Foliage plants for a high impact, low maintenance garden

Recently, we’ve been asked to create planting schemes for clients that feature a high proportion of bold,...

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Garden Design
February, 2015

Garden design tips for home improvers - part 2

Although sometimes an afterthought in the grand scheme of home improvements, with a little forward planning and...

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Garden Design
January, 2015

Garden design tips for home improvers - part 1

So, you’ve successfully completed a major renovation or extension to your home. Finally, you sit back, take in the...

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Seeds
November, 2014

Seeds of change

Don't be too hasty cutting back spent flowerheads, seedheads and grasses in the garden. Yes, it's great when the...

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Show garden
April, 2014

Free garden design advice

This weekend sees the start of one of the best shows for home and garden inspiration, Grand Designs Live London,...

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Outdorr Room
February, 2014

Creating a stylish outdoor room

According to recent research by Origin Easifold Doors, people feel uplifted when they see a beautiful view. The...

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Magnolia
February, 2014

Low maintenance gardens

The desire for a low-maintenance garden is often top of our clients' wish-lists when discussing the design brief...

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January, 2014

Community gardening

One of the gardening trends predicted to continue growing in popularity this year is that of community gardening....

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December, 2013

New Year Gardening Resolutions

With the last few hours of 2013 ticking away my thoughts are already turning to the new year and all the potential...

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Euonymus red cascade
December, 2013

Berried treasure

The holly wears the crown, or so the carol goes. And nothing says berries at Christmas quite like the holly....

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What to plant for bees
July, 2013

What to plant for bees

Seems not a day goes by without a new piece of evidence, or counter-evidence, on the effect of neonicotinoids on...

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Hampton court highlights
July, 2013

Hampton Court highlights

Finally made the annual pilgrimage to what is easily one of our favourite events of the year, the RHS Hampton...

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Planting for Exotic effect
June, 2013

Planting for Exotic Effect

When it comes to planting themes, there are a variety of styles to choose from: traditional English cottage,...

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Show garden wins Grand Designs Garden Designer of the Year Award
May, 2013

Show garden wins Grand Designs Garden Designer of the Year Award

My show garden at the recent Grand Designs Live event in London demonstrates just what can be achieved in a small...

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Show garden at Grand Designs Live London
April, 2013

Show garden at Grand Designs Live London

Preparations for building my first show garden at Grand Designs Live London are now underway. Entitled Glow - a...

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Sculpture in the garden
March, 2013

Sculpture in the garden

We are big fans of outdoor art and while few of us could run to a Henry Moore in our backyard, we firmly believe...

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Late winter and early spring bulbs for your garden
February, 2013

Late winter and early spring bulbs for your garden

It's that 'inbetweeny' time of year. The days are getting longer so we know winter will soon be over. But it's not...

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Ornamental bark in the garden
January, 2013

Ornamental bark in the garden

With the plethora of plants that provide interest through their flowers, fruit and leaves, you could be forgiven...

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Plants for winter interest and fragrance
December, 2012

Plants for winter interest and fragrance

When it comes to winter, most of us want to just keep warm indoors. But you'd be missing out on a host of plants...

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Drought-beating gardening tips
April, 2012

Drought-beating gardening tips

Our increasingly dry and mild winters mean our water reserves are at an all-time low, especially in the south...

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Trees and shrubs for autumn colour
October, 2011

Trees and shrubs for autumn colour

Enjoy all that the autumn season has to offer, especially when it comes to colourful autumn leaves. If you’re a...

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Best late-flowering perennials
August, 2011

Best late-flowering perennials

The best of the summer may be over but that doesn't mean your garden need be drab and dreary. There are plenty of...

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Top five spring-flowering perennials
April, 2011

Top five spring-flowering perennials

Many of our favourite plants are perennials. Unlike annuals, that often need to be replaced once or twice each...

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Pergolas and arches
March, 2011

Pergolas and arches

A pergola or arch is an easy way to add a new dimension to your garden. They can fit easily into almost any size...

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Top plant picks for winter fragrance
November, 2010

Top plant picks for winter fragrance

We mostly tend to think of the summer months when it comes to fragrance in the garden with all-stars such as roses...

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Design tips for the long, narrow garden
October, 2010

Design tips for the long, narrow garden

The challenge with a garden that is both long and narrow is almost always how to add interest and intrigue and...

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