For my second blog in this series on the ways a garden designer can help you solve problems with your existing garden, I'm going to focus on the common complaint of no dedicated seating areas for dining, entertaining or relaxing.
Frequently, the existing patio is not large enough to comfortably accommodate a dining table or is in the wrong position. Often no consideration is given to alternate seating areas, perhaps in the shade or for morning coffee. The following examples show how my designs have addressed these issues, creating the perfect spaces for my clients to enjoy their gardens.
The photo below shows a 'before' shot of my E11 Industrial Style Family Garden. The sunniest part of the garden, at the back, housed a storage shed and the patio nearest the house was not wide enough to fit a dining table and seating.
My solution was to extend the existing concrete patio down the left hand side and build in an L-shaped concrete bench/planter which creates a secluded family dining space, supplemented with a striking yellow table and bench, mirroring the colours in the geometric floor tiles. An additional concrete patio, in the sunniest part of the garden was created for relaxation in the sunshine.
The existing patio in my E8 Urban Sanctuary Garden, was not wide enough to house even the smallest bistro table and was lower than the rest of the garden.
My design solution was to level the garden nearer to the house, with the design based on a 45 degree angle which allows for triangular shaped flower beds and a larger limestone patio, with ample room for the existing furniture and flexibility for a larger table or bench in the future.
The 'before' photo below highlights the lack of entertainment/dining space in my N12 Dog Friendly Garden. The space outside the patio doors was considerably lower than the house and crowded by doors and sheds.
My design creates a large hardwood deck will ample space for a 6 person table and surrounding planters. A bespoke L-shaped oak bench under the mature Apple tree also provides alternate seating in the dappled shade.
So if you've got nowhere to sit and relax in your existing garden, contact me today for a consultation to see how I can help.