Today we present to you a modern terraced garden that has been re-landscaped to create an attractive outdoor space for a young couple while providing a relaxed,social outdoor lifeto enable. The design relies on black lacquered wood, which is highlighted by rich green and warm materials such as natural stone and Corten steel.
After renovating the old house, the owners decided to recreate the garden, which had not been used for a long time. They turned to landscape architect Neil Jones to give the place a new look to match the home's interior. The garden design and the choice of materials were influenced by the copper-colored kitchen, which overlooks the garden. “I wanted the outside to merge with the inside,” says Neil Jones. In the garden he also used other elements made of Corten steel, which shine in warm ocher tones like copper.
About the project
Who lives here: a young couple
Where: Winchester, UK
Size: 11 x 6 m plot (66 sqm)
Landscaping: Neil Jones Design
Year of project completion: 2018
Project cost: 10,000 – 25,000 GBP (approx. 10,950 – 27,380 euros)
The Garden Before
During the renovation of the house, the garden was used as a warehouse. “During construction, it looked more like a garbage dump: the paths were destroyed, there was no lawn and no flowerbeds. We cleaned everything up and started from scratch,” recalls the designer.
Design idea for a modern terraced house garden
Two recreational areas were planned in the narrow terraced house garden: a terrace located directly at the house and a pergola with a fireplace and outdoor dining room at the other end of the garden. Black flooring was used for the terraceWPC deckingselected. The composite material is durable and does not fade in the sun. “This flooring allowed us to place the patio higher than the garden but at the same height as the kitchen door,” explains Neil.
Herb garden in raised bed made of Corten steel
On the right side of the terrace, a raised bed made of Corten steel was built, where fragrant herbs play the main role. With two wooden boards, the raised bed can also serve as a bench. The seating area on the left is perfect for breakfast on the terrace or for a cozy end to a summer evening.
Herbs between concrete slabs
A walkway made of large concrete slabs leads from the terrace to the outdoor dining area. Thyme and low-growing ornamental flowers were planted between the panels. The owners love plants in white, purple and pink tones, so the designer chose fragrant jasmine, allium and lavender to plant the garden.
A thin strip of concrete paving stones runs through the garden and divides it into two lawns. “Dark gray is another important accent in the garden, so I chose the darkest pavers I could find for this walkway,” said Neil. If you want to save yourself the hassle of mowing the lawn, you can toouse artificial turf. This means the garden always looks perfectly maintained and beautiful.
Climbing plants beautify the privacy fence
The pergola at the back of the garden is designed as a place of privacy. The privacy fence on this side is also intended to create an optical illusion. On the one hand, the black slats are attached horizontally to the fence and in this way make the garden appear wider. On the other hand, deep black visually enlarges the room and connects with the WPC terrace.
“We maximized the space at the other end of the garden to create a relaxation area and pergola,” says Neil. Inserts made of Corten steel form the roof of the pergola and also serve as a climbing aid for climbing plants. The material matches the black wood perfectly and gets better over timean even more beautiful rust patina. Fairy lights were also draped on the pergola for atmospheric lighting in the evening.
Outdoor fireplace and space for storage wood
Next to the pergola, a niche was created for a fireplace made of the same reddish Corten steel. There is also a covered area on either side of the wood stove where firewood can be stored and dried. “At first we wanted to build a concrete fireplace here, but from a budget perspective it was better to find a ready-made outdoor fireplace.”
Example of a beautifully designed city garden
On the Neil Jones Design websiteYou can also discover other exciting garden design ideas!
