APL award-winning listed barn conversion cottage garden, Berkshire
This APL award-winning garden was designed to complement a grade two listed barn conversion in Berkshire. The design and build project encompassed every area of Artscape’s expertise in garden design, hard landscaping and planting
The project consisted of three distinct zones: a new front garden, a courtyard and the main garden, which required a sun terrace, new lawns and planting.
Some elements of an English cottage garden style we’ve used here include a profusion of low-maintenance perennial plants that spill over pathways. The informal, colourful and scented flowerbeds are framed by low formal hedging the lawn. Planting is informal and fluid with a mixture of heights. Pathways in traditional stone and brickwork are a key feature of a cottage garden style and crisp grey paving was used in the front section of this particular garden.
Front garden: creating an appealing entrance
The first task was to create a clearly defined and welcoming pathway leading to the front door of the original house. A low decorative gate and soft, colourful planting scheme delightfully guide guests and visitors to the entrance.
Courtyard: designing a shady dining terrace
The dining terrace, sited close to the kitchen, was built to entertain family and friends. This particular spot is a shaded area so our design and landscaping focused on increasing the sense of light. We achieved this through the use of materials in pale tones such as the grey stone paving, and metallic furniture to reflect sunlight into the garden. The gorgeous planting scheme features lush foliage and white flowers, such as white hydrangea and agapanthus, which will thrive in dappled shade. Highlighting the area with white flowers gives the illusion of light, and is especially attractive at dusk. A once gloomy corner is now an utterly chic seating spot that makes a refreshingly inviting respite from summer heat.
Main garden: planting in a cottage garden style sun terrace
This is a garden design that combines a successfully eclectic mix of traditional materials and modern style, reflecting the owners’ taste. Old brick and natural stone paths with well-defined borders and straight lines are softened by informal wildlife-friendly borders and structural planting for year-round interest. Grasses add movement to the scene, while topiary bay trees bring in traditional formality to the garden. Topiary adds evergreen structure to a garden and mixed with informal planting as shown here provides attractive accent points.
The sun-bathing deck, secluded from neighbouring properties, was positioned so the owners could make the most of the sun throughout the day. The black posts and timber beams echo the black timbered architectural features of the building behind. Lounging on the terrace surrounded by borders of billowing plants is a magical, cocooning space to relax in the sun while appreciating the medley of colours and aromas.
