A garden designed to be lived in & shared with friends
In this case study we share how the garden was designed to suit how our Clients, a busy, professional couple with children and with little gardening experience or knowledge. They wanted areas to relax as a family, gather around a fire, enjoy cooking meals outdoors and from time to time, to entertain larger groups of family and friends.
We always strive to make a garden look and feel special, but designing a space that works for parties and bringing together friends and family is about much more than choosing the right plants.
Just eighteen months after implementation, our clients had the perfect opportunity to put those ideas to the test when they hosted a garden party to celebrate a significant birthday! And what stunning weather we had this summer!
The images shared in this case study were taken the day before the party and show the garden dressed and ready for entertaining guests.
Ideas for designing outdoor spaces for entertaining & parties
We share our ideas that were considered behind the garden design – important when detailing features for different zones of the garden.
A successful garden design should work hard behind the scenes by creating spaces that feel effortless to use, comfortable to spend time in and adaptable to the occasions that matter.
From quiet evenings around the fire to summer parties beneath a marquee, this garden was designed to make outdoor living feel natural.
An outdoor room for entertaining
The bespoke pergola creates another destination within the garden: an outdoor room that provides shelter and a sense of enclosure while making the most of the views towards the rolling moors.
Creating gardens that work elegantly, requires detailing choice of materials, how they are constructed together and how they will look. Considerations included:
- The deck, designed to be level with the adjacent patio, allows an easy transition between the house and garden.
- Decking was selected for this space to offer a more comfortable surface under bare feet compared to stone or paving.
- Composite decking by Millboard was selected for its longevity and contemporary appearance.
- Surrounding the space, the gabion walls provide a strong architectural framework and year-round enclosure, which is particularly important on this exposed site.
- The height of the gabion walls was carefully considered so that they can double as informal seating / leaning against when entertaining, whilst also providing a convenient surface for placing drinks and plates during parties.
- The scale of the bespoke pergola means that planting needs to work hard to balance the structure. The trees around the pergola were selected to mature in proportion to its size, gradually softening the huge structure and sit more naturally within the wider landscape.
The result is a space that feels architectural without becoming disconnected from its surroundings.
Designed for everyday life
One of the key considerations throughout the design was flexibility. The location and size of the entertaining spaces were carefully considered alongside the architecture of the house, allowing the garden to work equally well for everyday family life, as well as larger gatherings.
Beyond the structured entertaining areas, the garden opens out into expansive lawns and woodland, creating a sense of space and allowing the landscape to remain the backdrop rather than competing with the architecture.
A place to gather around a fire
Sitting around a firepit is perfect for relaxing with friends and family. This firepit sits within a sunken circular space, creating a more intimate area within the expansive garden.
Every element of the space was considered around comfort and practicality. Considerations included:
generous room to maintain a safe distance from the flames and allow people to circulate comfortably
seating for eight or more people to gather.
reclaimed stone used for the walling was chosen to complement the character of the house, while also giving new life to stone already found within the garden.
The seating itself combines timber with the stone walling. Timber provides a warmer and more comfortable surface to sit on, with sufficient depth behind the seat for cushions.
Rather than creating a vertical wall, the stone backrest was designed to have a shallow reclining angle to provide a more comfortable sitting position.
A gravel surface around the firepit can be raked over and refreshed, making it more forgiving than a paved surface, as staining and spills are inevitable. Another practical consideration is gravel being a permeable surface – important for sunken areas.
Our clients also wanted somewhere firm to rest their feet, so paving was detailed beneath the seating to combine practicality with comfort.
Curved hedging helps to enclose the space and provides protection from the breeze, while still allowing views out into the garden.
Bringing the design to life
A garden design is always a collaborative process, and this project was brought to life through the skill and creativity of a brilliant team.
