Spring has firmly arrived, and with it, the unmistakable energy of the growing season. In the Three Shires (Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire) this is the month when our gardens truly wake up, and for those who are beginning a home renovation or extension, it is also a critical window for garden design.
If you are currently planning an extension or reimagining your ground floor, you might be dreaming of a seamless transition between your new kitchen and the patio. However, achieving that "indoor-outdoor" lifestyle requires more than merely putting in a patio door; it requires a unified vision between architecture and landscape.
Bring the outside in with a garden design that works with your home renovation
The Power of Vistas
A successful extension should not just look out at the garden; it should draw the garden into the home. I look for potential vistas - the specific views you see from the moment you enter a room or sit at your kitchen island.
By involving a garden designer alongside your architect, we can ensure that your structural openings are perfectly aligned with planned focal points in the garden, whether that is a favourite tree, a water feature, or a stunning cottage garden border. Without this coordination, you may find your brand-new bi-fold doors frame a lovely view of the bins or a neighbor’s shed.
Imagine looking out of your kitchen window and gazing upon this stunning framed view!
Mastering the Threshold
One of the most sought-after features in modern British renovations is the flush threshold. This is where the internal floor and the external paving sit at exactly the same level, separated only by a discreet drainage channel.
Achieving this requires precision. If the garden is an afterthought, you may find that your damp-proof course or existing ground levels make a flush finish impossible without expensive remedial work. Early planning allows us to coordinate the build of your patio with that of your flooring.
Here’s a good example of a streamlined design where the large patio doors open directly onto the patio and gorgeous pergola - when the doors are open the garden really feels like an extension of the house.
Why Early Collaboration Matters
Many homeowners wait until the builders have finished to "deal with the garden." By that stage, several opportunities are often lost:
- Integrated Services: We can plan for outdoor lighting, irrigation pipes, and gas lines for outdoor kitchens before the new floor is poured or the patio is laid.
- Access Logistics: Large specimen trees or heavy landscaping materials are much easier (and cheaper) to bring in before an extension closes off side access.
- Budget Efficiency: Retrofitting a garden to fit a completed building often leads to compromises. Designing both simultaneously ensures the palette of materials - from the stone underfoot to the timber on the fences - is cohesive.
A renovation is an investment in how you live. If you are starting your architectural journey this spring, now is the perfect moment to start the conversation about the landscape. Drop me a message today!
Working on the garden at the same time as the house renovation makes it far easier to transport heavy equipment or features where they’re needed.