5 DESIGN ELEMENTS

1 Highs and lows

Helen’s detailing is evident in her approach to hard landscaping and plants. Here, making a connection between the verticals and horizontals of both. Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Album’ has an upright habit with lateral foliage, while multi-stemmed Prunus serrula, with its prominent bark rings, draws attention to the parallel lines of the contemporary holding wall and the old brick wall behind.

2 Muted tones

The muted reds of Hylotelephium ‘Matrona’ and Anemanthele lessoniana, and blue foliage of Santolina chamaecyparissus echo the weathered brick, which along with the wider countryside sets the tone for the garden’s colour palette. Greens are used in broad brush strokes, while seedheads add warm tones and further texture to a pleasantly low-maintenance scene.

3 Changing levels

Although the ground slopes from the swimming pool towards the bedrooms, Helen has avoided using traditional stairs or terracing. Decking connects both spaces, stacked in blocks as low seating, or used as chunky steps.

4 Private areas

Private areas are mapped out with individual gardens outside each windowed room, or with water, or both. This canal-like pond outside the study is the width of the window, with narrow, upright planting between water and wall. Although there are no barriers from the rest of the garden, it is defined as a private space.

5 Green routes

Green planting helps to lead visitors around. Lining the steps toward the front door, clipped Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’ gives the only touch of formality to this garden, along with a low hedge of Prunus laurocerasus around the space for parking. These formally denote the public areas.