REAL GARDEN
Laura and Chris turned a basic plot into a boho space
SOMEHOWOF over a period
several years, Laura and Chris had ended up with three overflowing sheds in a garden that they rarely used. The couple had upgraded their house with a singlestorey extension, and as the garden had become a complete mud bath from the building works, it made sense to revamp the outside at the same time.
As an interior designer and decorator, Laura often paints furniture for customers, so the sitting room had ended up as her workshop. Before they even started the renovations, the couple had a major clear-out and replaced the sheds with a large summerhouse with windows, where Laura could both relax and paint furniture. The garden had previously been divided up into several areas, which made it feel small, so the couple opened it up into one space. Here, Laura explains how they created their dreamy, boho-inspired scheme.
PRETTY PLANTING
‘Once the extension was finished, we dug foundations for the raised beds. We built them from breeze blocks, which we rendered and painted. Chris lined the sides with membrane and put gravel in the bottom for drainage before filling with compost and leaf mulch. The last big job was laying black limestone slabs between the beds.
‘Chris’s company, Distinguished Gardens, did our planting. Chris is passionate about planning carefully so that you have colour throughout the seasons. It’s quite exciting when plants and bulbs pop up that we forgot were planted!’
LAYING FOUNDATIONS
‘In such a small plot, it was important to make the layout work visually. We settled on quite a formal-looking design with a shed at the back and symmetrical raised beds to frame a dining area. Ahead of the building work, we put in new fencing, gates and a concrete base for the shed. I couldn’t find the perfect colour for the fence so I mixed my own with Urban Slate and Smooth Pebble from Cuprinol Garden Shades.’
AL FRESCO DINING
‘The centrepiece that completes the space is the fantastic weathered wooden dining table, which I found on Ebay for £80. I removed the paint, then scrubbed bleach into the top and left it out in the sun. I washed the table top then repeated the same process several times, finally sealing it with clear matt exterior varnish and painting the legs to match the summerhouse.’
A SHED FOR ALL SEASONS
‘Once the landscaping and planting work was completed, I painted the summerhouse. I furnished it gradually in a boho style, using treasures from Pedlars Place, Ebay and car boot sales. We had an electrician put power and lighting in here, as well as festoons across the garden and remote control uplights in the beds. Tastes evolve but I can’t see myself ever getting bored of this look – anything natural and earthy is timeless to me. It’s such a great space that we use all year round.’
PERFECT SYMMETRY
‘The garden was so uninspiring and unused, but now it’s a real extension of our home. My job as a decorator and designer has taught me about layout and creating balance. I love symmetry, and in such a small space, that was really important to make it work visually for me. We’ve enjoyed so many celebrations with friends and family here, and it’s also proved to be a fantastic space for me to work. Gardens as small as this can be tricky, but we’ve achieved everything that we wanted.’
SHOPPING LIST
Fence panels and trellis, Crowthorne Fencing. Limestone slabs, London Stone. Garden shed, Woodcraft Timber Buildings. Shed external and feature walls painted in Railings, Farrow & Ball. Floor painted in Brilliant White, Johnstone’s. Desk upcycled in Graphite Chalk paint, Annie Sloan, with knobs from Anthropologie. Cushions, floor cushions and stool, TK Maxx and Homesense. ‘Mask’ print by Pati Robins, Nickie Kelly. Festoon lights, Cox & Cox