Garden designWater & wellbeingPlanting design3D & virtual realityDesign & buildWedding gardens
Garden design
How I Design
Designed for Life. Designed for Wellbeing.
Every garden I design is completely individual.
I don’t believe in imposing one particular style onto every space. Instead, I look at the character of the house and landscape, listen carefully to the people who live there and create a garden that feels as though it truly belongs.
My approach
About my gardens
There are, however, some principles that run through all of my residential garden design work.
I love creating gardens with four-season interest, layering trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, perennials and bulbs so there is always something beautiful to notice as the garden changes throughout the year.
Sustainable garden design is considered from the very beginning, from planting and water management to permeable surfaces, materials, wildlife habitats and long-term maintenance.
And wherever it suits the garden, I love introducing water. Water has become one of the distinctive elements of my work, bringing movement, sound and life into a landscape and completely changing the way a garden feels.
Water & Wellbeing Gardens, and what water can do in yours
Above all, my gardens are designed to be lived in:
- Beautiful enough to inspire you.
- Practical enough for everyday life.
- Relaxing enough to make you want to stay outside.
- And personal enough to feel unmistakably yours.
My process
Step 1 of 8
Initial Complimentary Online Consultation
Our first conversation is an online consultation about you, your garden and what you would like your outdoor space to become.
Using photographs of your existing garden, I begin to understand how you currently use the space, what works and what doesn't, your design preferences, the atmosphere you would like to create and any features that are particularly important to you.
During the consultation, I can also show you relevant examples from my previous garden design projects, helping us explore ideas, styles, materials, planting and features that may suit your own garden.
We also discuss practical considerations such as your approximate timeframe, priorities and investment level.
You do not need to arrive with all the answers. Some clients come to me with a very clear vision. Others simply know that their garden is not working for them and need help discovering what might be possible. That is where the design journey begins.
Step 2 of 8
On-Site Design Consultation
The next stage is an on-site design consultation, where I can experience your garden properly and begin exploring its possibilities with you.
Walking through the space together allows me to understand how the garden relates to your home, where the important views are, how you move through the space and where there may be opportunities that are not obvious from photographs alone.
We can discuss potential layouts, planting, water features, entertaining areas, screening, materials and other design ideas while standing in the garden itself. I also consider practical factors such as sun and shade, privacy, levels, drainage, existing planting, neighbouring properties and the wider landscape.
This is often when the first really exciting ideas begin to emerge.
Step 3 of 8
Garden Survey
Before detailed design work begins, the garden needs to be accurately surveyed.
The survey records the information required to create the design, including the dimensions and levels of the garden, boundaries, buildings, existing features, significant trees and other relevant site information.
For smaller or simpler gardens, an appropriate survey can sometimes be carried out as part of the design process. For larger, sloping or more complex sites, I may recommend a professional topographical survey to ensure the information I am working from is accurate.
Once the survey is complete, I have the technical foundation needed to begin developing your garden design.
Step 4 of 8
Initial Design & Photorealistic 3D Presentation
This is where your new garden begins to come to life.
Using everything I have learned about you, your home and your garden, I develop the initial design as a detailed 3D garden model. Rather than simply presenting a flat plan, I can show you photorealistic views of your proposed garden so you can understand how the finished space could actually look and feel.
You can see the relationship between different areas, the scale of structures and planting, important views from the house and how materials, water, lighting and landscaping work together.
We review the design together and discuss anything you would like to refine.
Step 5 of 8
Final Design
Following the initial design presentation, we can fine-tune the design and planting scheme together based on your feedback until we are both completely happy with the final result.
Because the garden has been developed in 3D, we can explore changes and make informed decisions about the layout, planting, materials and individual features before construction begins.
Once the design is finalised, I will provide you with Photorealistic 3D Garden Visualisations, giving you a clear picture of the garden we are working towards. If necessary, we can also consider phasing options that accommodate your investment level and timeframe without compromising the overall design vision.
The aim is to create a complete, coherent garden design, whether you choose to build everything at once or bring it to life gradually.
Step 6 of 8
Master Plan, Landscaping Pack & Planting Plan
Once the final design has been agreed, I prepare the detailed information needed for a landscaping team to transform the design into reality.
The full design package can include a Master Plan, landscaping specifications and a detailed Planting Plan, providing the landscapers with clear information about the layout, materials, dimensions, planting and other important elements of the garden.
You will also receive a detailed plant list with photographs and information about each plant, together with a planting schedule specifying the varieties, quantities and positions required.
This ensures that the planting scheme you have seen in the design can be recreated accurately in the finished garden.
Step 7 of 8
Transforming Your Garden Into Reality
A beautiful garden design is only successful if it can be beautifully built.
Once the design and technical information are complete, the landscaping work can begin.
I am happy to work with your preferred landscape contractor, or I can introduce you to trusted landscapers, electricians, water specialists, gardeners and other professionals with whom I have successfully worked before. I also have access to specialist and trade-only plant nurseries, helping me source high-quality, well-established plants at competitive prices and at the right time for your project.
I remain in close contact with both you and the landscaping team throughout the construction process. I am a very practical and hands-on designer, and I like to stay closely involved, checking progress, answering questions, resolving details and helping to identify potential issues before they become problems.
This continued involvement helps ensure that the garden we carefully designed together is translated as faithfully as possible into the finished landscape.
Step 8 of 8
Watching Your Garden Grow
A newly completed garden is really only the beginning.
Seeing a garden move from the first ideas and 3D design to a place where a family can finally sit, relax and enjoy it is still one of my favourite parts of what I do.
I often think of the gardens I design as my babies, and I love seeing how they mature and develop over the years. Plants establish, trees grow, wildlife discovers the garden and the relationships between different plants and spaces become richer with every season.
I love staying connected with my clients after the garden has been completed, and I am always happy to answer questions or suggest adjustments and improvements as the garden evolves.
After all, a garden is never completely static. It grows with you, becoming more beautiful, established and personal with every passing year.
Let's talk about your garden
A free conversation about your space, with no obligation.