Q&A with Gary and Tish

Any cost-cutting tips? Do it yourself if you can – it’s cheaper and so rewarding! You can also stretch your budget by buying second-hand on Gumtree or OLX.

Any other tips? Don’t rush; use Google, get quotes and take it slowly. Once you’ve found a good supplier, stick to them. Where did you get your ideas? We were inspired by hours of sitting in the back garden and imagining the outdoor spaces as an extension of our home. What do you enjoy most about your new garden? We love the flow, the size of the patio and the contrasting textures of wood and tiles. We also enjoy relaxing under the dappled shade of the trees. It’s low-maintenance, which means we can simply lock up and go – and that we can potter in the garden and it doesn’t take all day. What would you do differently next time? Nothing! We love our space.

An awkward strip of garden (below left) has been covered in balau decking and is now level with the patio. For Gary, the braai pit (below right) was a must-have; he bought the bench from a street vendor.

Trellises (right) mounted against the perimeter wall – five altogether – form a pretty focal point in the back garden.

Blossoms Lipstick cushion