Creating a Family graden in Wallingford, Oxford with a contemporary twist

I March i received this email.Dear KatrinaI came across your website today and I have left a rather garbled message on your voicemail this afternoon – sorry for that!In the meantime, until we have the opportunity to speak on the phone, I thought I might drop you a note to tell you more about what I am looking for. Your website and style used in the portfolio of projects has inspired me and and I am very excited about the prospect of a professional planning such an important part of our home and would welcome your thoughts on what is possible.We have been thinking about a garden design for some months now and in an ideal world it would be wonderful to have someone visit but I’m afraid that I don’t think our budget will not extend to that and as we are keen (and capable DIYers) I am mostly interested in the postal design planning service as featured on your website.The garden is 33m long by 12m wide. The patio area is a little lower than the lawn and flower beds – at the moment is accessible by two steps and is very traditional in layout and not very imaginative. We have lived here for about 4 years and in the meantime I made some attempts with the end of the garden but despite spending endless weeks trying to work out how to fit my ideas together I cannot come up with a plan. A attach a couple of photo’s of our garden to give you an idea.The two sheds are quite important as we have no garage and would be cumbersome to move (I wonder whether you could work around these) – it would be good to hide them. I built a live-willow wigwam when we moved in (shame to loose it now as it has become quite established) and included a bark circle around the swing/trappese and treehouse.I would like a contemorary looking garden, and admire the “rooms” that you have created in gardens for other clients using wooden structures/walls. I don’t like the shape of our patio or the shape of the steps but do like the size (we have a very large patio table) but its current location is not particulaly in the best place so would be good to have two seating areas.We plan to put in glass bi-fold doors across the back of the house (6 metres) so should give you an idea of the style we are after. Features I would like to see in my perfect garden would include lots of different textures (decking, paving, bricks, low walls, wood, pebbles, sail shades, and plenty of things that bring the inside out (and the other way round)).A path from the house to the sheds is also essential.We do have two children (12 and 9yrs) – so garden toys are becoming less of an issue but it is important the style and design are quite robust!I have been collecting pictures of things I like from articles, magazines, Internet but do of course appreciate that not all of these ideas might be possible or even appropriate for our garden and am happy to be guided by an expert – I am not sure if this makes your job easier or more difficult!Sam called Earth Designs a couple of months ago as her garden need new life breathing into it to bring it up to the same level as the interior refurbishments that she and her husband Neil were planning. Matt and I visited them in April to discuss the garden and what they wished to do with the space. They live in an 18th century Oxfordshire cottage and whilst their garden is perfectly serviceable they wanted to add some more structure and bring it up to date with the contemporary style their interior had been treated to.Sam and I discussed their likes and dislikes, she was very clear on what they wanted and they planned to do it as a self build, so we needed to bear then in mind when looking at the complexity of the design an dskill level required to build it. Having said this – they were both keen DIYers and fancied a challenge so we briskly drew a garden sketch pooling all of Sam and Neil’s requirements as well as drawing inspiration from the mood board they had put together detailing some of the ideas they liked.Sam and I discussed their likes and dislikes, she was very clear on what they wanted and they planned to do it as a self build, so we needed to bear then in mind when looking at the complexity of the design an dskill level required to build it. Having said this – they were both keen DIYers and fancied a challenge so we briskly drew a garden sketch pooling all of Sam and Neil’s requirements as well as drawing inspiration from the mood board they had put together detailing some of the ideas they liked.Once we had agreeed on the layout and Matt had finished the garden survey we left ready to complete the tailor made design service we had quoted Sam.In the interim, we sent her and Neil some dimension drawings, so they could be sure of the layout of the space.A few dimensions tweeks and a bit further clarification on certain areas and materials we were ready to proceed with getting producing the full drawings and delivering to Sam and Neil a garden they could not only build themselves, but be proud of.The gardencreates a space for the whole family. The patio area directly from the back of the house will be laid to formal lay stretcher course Indian Sandstone. A cut out planting bed in this space will be filled with either Elegia tectorum, Equisetum hymale or Elegia Capensis.To the left of the space a ‘room outside’ will be constructed form Railway Sleeper stained dark brown, with intermittent shelving for the client to add accessories and other object d’art. Cited within this area will be a table and chairs allowing for an optional sail to be placed over this space to keep both sun and rain off. To the right of the garden a curved tapered wooden wall, sees an opportunity to not only provide screening from the garden beyond, but also to allow for some extra seating or loungers. Long ‘gankplanks’ made from hardwood decking bisect this area and become a recurrent motif through the garden. two large circular lawns help to divide the garden into two sections and allow of a better platform for planting. To the corner of the pergola structure there is a level change and a pathway to lead you down the garden via the children’s play area. This is currently in position and is to be retained. The pathway then leads third seating area to make the most of the morning sun. A circular decked area bisected again by decking, allows for sun loungers or a cafe style table and chairs. Mesh screens, help to hide the two sheds, but also frame the attractive wall at the bottom of the garden, where a focal point in the form of a sculpture of specimen plant can be cited in time.To see more drawings please visit the full article at http://www.earthdesigns.co.uk/blog/generalchitchat/creating-a-family-graden-in-wallington-oxford-with-a-contemporary-twist

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