The garden began as a simple composition: a generous patio, an immaculate lawn, and a shed converted into a bar. With only a single point of access via a 900mm-wide gate, the first stage of the transformation was purely logistical. Fence panels were removed, the gate dismantled, and machinery carefully guided through the narrow opening to begin the rebuild.
The existing patio, laid over a concrete slab, was lifted and broken out entirely. In its place, a new screed bed was laid to receive 800 × 800 Schellevis paving slabs in anthracite. These substantial, large-format slabs — each weighing close to 80kg — demanded both precision and endurance to install. The effort, however, was rewarded with a surface of striking clarity and calm, setting the tone for the garden’s contemporary Japanese-inspired aesthetic.
A strong sense of geometry runs through the design. Schellevis kerbstones in the same anthracite tone, measuring one metre by 300mm, were laid diagonally at a 45-degree angle from the upper decking. Gravel fills the negative space between them, punctuated with Anemone sylvestris, intended to form a soft, white flowering carpet each spring — a delicate counterpoint to the strong architectural lines.
The planting scheme balances structure with elegance. Prunus laurocerasus topiary balls provide evergreen formality and rhythm, while multi-stemmed Zelkova trees introduce height and movement, their branching silhouettes echoing the refined form of Japanese maples.
Multi-stemmed Cercis canadensis brings a moment of seasonal theatre: white blossom erupting on bare stems in early spring, dramatically framed against the black boundary fencing. Callicarpa adds another layer of visual poetry — light and graceful in summer, then transforming in autumn with soft pink stems and jewel-like berries.
The emotional centrepiece of the garden is the reimagined bar pavilion. Once a purely functional shed, it has been reborn through shadow-gap timber cladding and a bespoke façade inspired by traditional Japanese tea houses. The client envisioned the structure as a place of ritual and gathering, and great care was taken to ensure the design felt authentic rather than pastiche. Through James’s exceptional craftsmanship and joinery, the building now sits confidently within the landscape — contemporary, restrained, and quietly expressive.
Surrounding planting softens the architecture. The result is a space that feels both serene and celebratory — a sophisticated outdoor room designed for hosting, entertaining, and lingering long into the evening.
This is a garden that balances discipline with delight: sculptural, modern, and deeply atmospheric.
