19/08/2026
Before: a garden with no purpose. Just a concrete path to the shed and nowhere to sit or entertain.
My clients were frustrated. There was nowhere to sit, nowhere to entertain, a sloped garden that didn’t work for them, and a very ugly raised manhole cover.
The brief: a level dining terrace near the house, a small seating area at the rear to catch the last of the sun, and a raised bed for edibles and annuals.
The solution: we turned the garden at a 45 degree angle to the house to make the most of the available space. This created a generous level terrace, deeper planting borders and a layout that feels inviting rather than restrictive.
Stone setts within the paving highlight the angle and add subtle detail. A small seating area at the back now catches the last of the evening sun (perfect for a cheeky G&T), while generous steps and a clear pathway encourage you to explore.
This is now a garden you can walk all the way around to explore and stay curious. With four different seating areas, it offers space to relax, socialise and enjoy the outdoors from morning to evening.
And that ugly raised manhole? Lowered and transformed into a hidden recessed drain within the paving. Win win … or should I say chin-chin?
