C H O O S I N G M A T E R I A L S F O R Y O U R G A R D E N
The best time to think about redesigning your garden is in winter when plants are dormant and you can see the blank space that you’re working with. Or even if it’s just to revamp the current surfaces in time for summer.
Using a mix of materials to create paths, fences, outdoor kitchens and walls add structure and character to your outside space. The materials chosen for a landscaping project can really make or break the finished design of a garden. As a garden designer we play a vital role in helping you choose the right materials with knowledge and experience to suit your requirements.
It is important to strike the right balance between functionality and aesthetic. Keeping the diversity of materials to a minimum, we’ll call it the rule of three, with occasional exceptions. Working with the theme of your home, garden and your personal style, it’s important to consider what materials can be sourced locally. Considering environment impacts, building with local materials and which wood or stone suits your area. We also use materials that will have mixed warm and cool tones colours within them that will pick out features in existing materials.
We consider various things when presenting with options for your design project.
Your personal style- Are you contemporary/ traditional/ minimalist? Mixing and matching materials, creating small details or large crisp and clean patios.
Your house - Would using a mix of older natural materials or potential contemporary modern materials suit the style of your home?
Examples-
A matching brick detail in your new garden will tie a seamless link between the garden and a characterful brick built house.
A cotswold cottage, rustic materials could be advised. Maybe you would prefer a mixture of contemporary or classic material to bring a sense of modernity to your rustic garden.
A coastal garden that would suit timber, weathering (corten) steel and gravels. Timber will silver eventually, but there is still a degree of warmth and coolness creating wonderful character over time.
Your Budget - Budget is an important factor in sourcing the right material. Would a specialist craftsman be needed to install sections, such as joiners or stonemasons. Reclaimed materials can sometimes be expensive, but always bring an instant striking visual impact to your garden. There are always materials that could suit a modest budget too.
When we have a short list of materials, we will sort out samples, so you can see the fencing/stone/decking/cladding in person, feel the textures and see the materials wet and dry, before making your final decisions. Seeing all of the chosen materials together can really help you see and understand your vision that the garden designer has proposed.
You have to feel confident in what you’re investing in and we’re here to help you through every design phase.
Please free to get in touch if you’re looking to have your garden re-designed or guidance on what materials in your garden, and have a read through the design process on my website to put your mind at ease.
Based in Winchcombe, Cheltenham & Malmesbury, Wiltshire and also covering Cirencester, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Bath & The Cotswolds.
Garden Designer Cheltenham. Garden Designer Winchcombe. Garden Designer Cotswolds. Garden Designer Malmesbury. Garden Designer Cirencester.
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