Recent Project Profile - N5 Secluded Family Garden Design - 9 months on

I've been busy over the last few days, photographing my most recent projects. The brief for my N5 Secluded Family Garden was to design a low maintenance space, suitable for a growing family with a recently acquired puppy.


The existing space was dark and uninviting, mainly due to a large Bay tree which dominated the right side of the garden, and a large Ceanothus (Californian Lilac) and Phyllostachys Nigra towards the back. My design, based on 45 degree geometry, seeks to create a private garden, through the use of pleached Carpinus trees and a feature Betula tree which is elegant and easy to maintain.

The 45 degree format creates triangular raised beds which bring the planting into the centre of the garden and create seating areas with flexible additional seating provided by the raised bed porcelain coping.

Horizontal batten fencing, painted dark grey contrasts with the fragrant climbers including Trachelospernum jasminoides (evergreen Jasmine) and Rosa d'Adelaide. Large fuschia planters provide a pop of vibrant colour, which pick out the purple foliage around the garden.

A custom L- shaped oak bench will eventually become the main dining space surrounded by the Japanese inspired planting on two sides.

The planting has a muted, constrained colour palette of greens, white and pinks, contrasting beautifully with the dark grey fencing.
Thank you to all my collaborators on the project:
Landscaping by Acacia Gardens Ltd
Lighting by Nicholas Turner Electrics
Planters from Europlanters
Plants from Provender Nurseries




Thinking about exploring everyday food and cooking traditions, I find the smaller practical questions more interesting than a quick conclusion. An ingredient can carry a story about the place or family that uses it. For Atasteofitalybypompeo, I would use food and cooking ideas as a starting point for a closer discussion of the subject. I am still thinking through the practical side, because the context can change what seems useful. Which part of a recipe would you ask someone to explain beyond the written measurements?
The idea of enjoying the small details of cafe culture gives me a reason to slow down and consider the details. The pace and atmosphere of a place can matter as much as what is in the cup. I would connect Auntiesteashop with cafe culture and coffee through an ordinary example rather than a broad claim. It leaves me curious about the steps between understanding an idea and putting it into practice. Which small details make you want to sit for a little longer?
When it comes to building confidence through manageable learning goals, one clear example can stay with me longer than a long list of general points. A clear first step can make a difficult subject feel more approachable. That is why the connection between Barryhymer and practical learning skills makes me want to think through an example. I can imagine different responses depending on the situation, which makes the question more interesting. How do you decide what to practise when a topic initially seems too broad?
For me, thinking about style through everyday choices becomes more engaging when there is room for questions as well as explanations. A useful outfit needs to work with the day someone is actually planning. The name Beachbodyshop gives this theme a memorable reference point, while personal style ideas keeps the subject in focus. I would rather explore one useful example carefully than pretend that the whole subject is already clear. How would you balance comfort, personal taste and the occasion when choosing what to wear?
Considering finding a comfortable rhythm in home baking, I would want to understand a few concrete details before deciding what matters most. Changing one detail at a time makes it easier to understand why a recipe behaves differently. That is why the connection between Astonparishbakery and home baking ideas makes me want to think through an example. I would rather explore one useful example carefully than pretend that the whole subject is already clear. What would you write down after a first attempt before trying the recipe again?