Contemporary, family gravel garden, Essex

April 2025

“A truly stunning visual and scented display.”

“Brilliantly designed concept.”

Date: April, 2025

Location: Essex contemporary family home

Client brief: The client aspired to extend their contemporary and modern home into the garden to create a beautiful, connected outdoor entertainment and relaxation space. The dominating neighbouring conifer hedge required addressing. An imaginative planting design was required using a variety of plants of an appropriate scale for the space delivering cross-season interest.

Site: 10 x 12m rear garden (120sqm) laid to lawn with dominating rear conifer hedge

Design concept & response: A contemporary design of terraces and entertainment spaces using linear lines and modern materials. The planting design was inspired by the organic shapes of the inlets and vegetation of the Essex marshes. The design is centred on the idea of ‘Sundowners’; creating a perfect space to relax, unwind and socialise with friends and family. The planting is loose and open to ensure the entertain space is clear of plants but still delivers colour, year-round interest and fragrance. There is a strong indoor-out connection, a vital element in the brief. A variety of shapes and forms deliver visual interest and aromatic leaves add a strong sense of smell. Naturalistic and flowing in style delivering a very organic look and feel.

Discuss Your Project

The Masterplan

The entertainment and relaxation spaces are unified through the planting design concept. Drought tolerant species create a low maintenance garden without compromising on colour, interest, fragrance and beauty. A garden for family and friends to enjoy.
The Inspiration

The Essex marshes provided the inspiration for the planting design. The irregular shapes of vegetation and water provided the inspiration for the loose and open planting style. Plants were chosen of similar heights to deliver a uniform and coherent feel across the garden but with cross season colour and interest.
Indoor - outdoor living

The porcelain terrace seamlessly links the inside and out. The contemporary and modern feel of the home is continued into the garden. The naturalistic planting adds the dynamism to the garden creating a beautiful, calming space for family and friends.

Before

The garden was laid to lawn with a dominant conifer hedge at the rear. An old shed was positioned in the left hand corner against traditional trellis topped fencing. Narrow terrace leading from the house into the garden. Lacking functional space to entertain and enjoy.
Planting Design

The modern linear layout of the garden is softened through the naturalistic planting design inspired by the irregular shapes and forms of the Essex marshes. Collections of plants create beautiful and interesting groupings across the garden. The planting is loose allowing the space to breathe, creating an open feel.
Completed Garden

The functional terraces are surrounded by loose gravel planting. Birch trees create height and hide the dominant neighbouring conifer hedge. Slatted walls create a sense of depth to the garden. The planting is low maintenance, drought tolerant; perfect for modern family living.