‘Our parched lawn is now a lush haven’
Using clever design and planting Pauline Hamilton has transformed a featureless space into an elegant, contemporary garden, complete with cutting patch, pond and tranquil areas to sit and relax
Clever planting in a smart contemporary scheme
When Pauline Hamilton was looking for a new home six years ago, some things were non-negotiable. ‘The house had to be a renovation project and the garden a blank canvas, facing south,’ she says. ‘I wanted a place that got the sun.’ She found it in north London, and set about the work. ‘The garden was just a stretch of lawn with an old apple tree in the middle,’ says Pauline, who had her heart set on a contemporary design where she could indulge her love of plants.
Having studied garden design a few years earlier, Pauline drew up a plan that the contractors built within a couple of weeks – then she planted. A wide, angular path leads through the space with deep beds, while tall plants veil parts of the garden beyond. Sandstone paving and rendered walls create a sleek look, enhanced by a restrained colour palette.
‘The builders were horrified by the black fences,’ says Pauline, ‘but once they were finished, they loved them – they’re such a contrast to the plants.’ These include glossy evergreens, airy grasses and lots of flowers, especially dahlias, to which she’s devoted an entire bed in a cutting patch. ‘I love having flowers in the house,’ she says. Dahlias are at their best in late summer and this year Pauline will open her garden, under the National Garden Scheme, on Sunday 5 September. Instagram @paulinesplantsandposies
Water feature
Pauline included a pond more for its aesthetic appeal than for its wildlifeattracting properties, although she’s thrilled that dragonflies regularly drop by. ‘It’s lovely to sit and watch the reflections on the water,’ she says.
WHAT I’VE LEARNED “Don’t be afraid to dig up plants and move them – or even to replace them if you don’t get it right first time. It’s better to act quickly than to wait and see”
Social space
‘I inherited the teak garden furniture from my parents years ago when they moved into a flat,’ says Pauline. ‘I repaint it every year to keep it looking fresh.’
A private spot
This little seating area by the house gets full sun all day and is not overlooked. ‘It’s a great place for a morning coffee with the newspaper or to sit in the evening with a gin and tonic,’ says Pauline.