Outdoor living / Design concept
The everyday backyard
Room for dinner, a stretch of lawn, and a garden that softens the edges.
Inside the design
The brief
Turn an underused backyard into a comfortable place to gather, without filling every inch with hardscape.
The decisions
- A dining terrace close to the house keeps meals outdoors easy.
- Layered planting frames the seating area without enclosing it.
- An open lawn leaves flexible room for play and everyday use.
Material direction
Limestone-look paving, timber furniture, mixed shrubs and perennials.
Final paving, drainage, and planting choices would follow a site visit.
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Front garden / Design concept
A more welcoming front door
A clear route, softer edges, and planting that gives a modest home room to breathe.
Inside the design
The brief
Create a welcoming arrival by simplifying the route from sidewalk to porch.
The decisions
- A generous path gives the entry a clear focal point.
- Low planting keeps the porch visible from the street.
- Repeating a few plant groups brings order without rigid symmetry.
Material direction
Pale stone path, brick-house context, shrubs and flowering perennials.
A real plan would account for setbacks, sightlines, shade, and winter access.
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Planting / Design concept
A border with a longer season
Color, texture, and a softer transition from the lawn into the garden.
Inside the design
The brief
Add layered seasonal interest to a narrow border, with enough structure to look considered between flowering periods.
The decisions
- Grasses give the planting shape and movement.
- Flowering perennials add moments of color rather than a uniform carpet.
- Room between plant groups allows for mature growth and access.
Material direction
Coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, ornamental grasses, natural mulch.
Species and spacing would be selected for the actual soil, light, and maintenance needs.
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