Upstairs, downstairs – modern, rich and practical family garden
Photographed in its second summer, this garden was designed as part of a major renovation of a family home, (Charlton Brown Architects). The clients wanted easy access from the first-floor kitchen and living space was essential, blossom trees, rich and colourful, seasonal planting with roses, plenty of lawn space for football loving boys and a basketball court hidden to the rear. A linear design was preferred, the existing terrace was to be retained and focus given to the roof terrace outside the kitchen and the rest of the garden. Neglected pleached hornbeam hedges had developed into huge trees completely shading the garden and needed rationalising and new front entrance and driveway were required.
The garden was designed with particular consideration for view of the garden from above but also through to the rear of the garden from the family room below. Steps were designed with staged landings for ease of descent and the opportunity to pause to view below.
Proportional rectangles jut into the lawn at staggered intervals giving pace, proportionality and provide plenty of space for alternating, remaining Hornbeams with blocks of reflected planting.
Rich magentas, purples and textural planting pale to distant whites and blues.
In the front, crisp York stone is teamed with tumbled basalt cobbles for contrast with shade tolerant pink, blue and white planting and smart wooden planters painted to match the paintwork on the house.
Photographs: Fred Yardley for the Garden Builders