It’s a shame to waste space in a
garden, but so often there is an area beside the
house that becomes redundant, especially if it’s
close to a wall. We like to see maximum use of all
the space available and this design really illustrates
how this can be achieved.
The Challenge
Our brief was to use a wide variety of different
materials – you should find plenty of ideas here.
Our client wanted to create an area to sit in, and
relax, an outdoor room. It needed to look interesting,
and attractive from the dining room, where they
spent a lot of their time.
Designing the Garden
We decided to really push it with this design. Normally
we would advise you not to over complicate things
by using too many different materials. However this
client wanted variety – so variety they got! We
opted to use decking, flagstones, slate, concrete
block, brick and water!
We thought that this outdoor room would work best
built into the bank, as this offers more privacy
and a greater sense of seclusion. Deck planks laid
at angles add interest to the eye.
We also had the idea of a small waterfall falling
into a pond below. This adds the sound of trickling
water. Water is such a great medium to work with
– whether still or moving, it gives so many possibilities.
Construction
For the waterfall feature we used a series of slate
shelves embedded in to the wall. In this garden
the walls were built using concrete blocks which
were then rendered and painted. They were finished
off with brick headers. Attractive, without being
nearly as expensive as solid-stone or brick.
Duckweed on the surface partially obscures the light,
alluding to another world lurking beneath the ripples.
Tips from the Design Team
- This project involved the excavation of over
60 tons of material. Before you consider this
type of design make sure that your access allows
entry of a mechanical digger. Digging out by
hand would add hugely to the cost and be extremely
hard work. - Check on the suitability of the bricks for
use in the garden, prior to ordering. Some can
suffer from frost damage, when water gets into
the surface, freezes and expands.
