Leyton Garden
We transformed this space into a beautiful, useable oasis with plenty of space for barbecues, pizzas and entertaining. Total renovation including removal of astroturf, and fencing, clearing rubble, building two substantial raised beds, planters and storage cupboards. We also laid a beautiful outdoor porcelain terrace.
A low maintenance sanctuary to enjoy year round.
The tiled courtyard was laid across the centre of the garden, after digging out the area and laying five tonnes of sub-base which was then compacted and prepared. The Mandarin Stone tiles were selected for aesthetic and practical reasons, being incredibly hard wearing and easy to clean.
The fence panels were replaced or repaired, then painted in a subtle green shade from Little Greene in exterior eggshell. This visually tied them together and added a key accent colour which was mirrored on the low key, but generously sized, storage cupboards used to keep garden items tucked away neatly on solid tiled bases.
The raised bed to the rear was built from substantial repurposed antique railway sleepers which were treated with linseed oil. This was filled with stunning jasmine, hop and grape vines alongside evergreen shrubs, flowers, bulbs, palms and trailing ivy to provide interest throughout the year. In the shadier area ferns, campanula, salvias, daffodils and Virginia creeper fill the side raised bed which was built up and stained to match the other wood tones within the garden. Two potted olive trees are paired with the new planters at opposing corners.
The long planters were built bespoke for the space and coloured in a complimentary deep burgundy shade to contrast with the salix green. These were planted with several tall grasses, evergreen fatsia, wallflowers, tulips, lavender and trailing geraniums. The plants selected are all perennials and will of course grow and spread into the space, trailing plants will spill out their containers and climbing plants will eventually cover the fences. The clients love to cook outside so I commissioned a bespoke pizza table for them too, fashioned from recycled wood.
Leytonstone Garden
The garden we started with was an unloved mess, full of broken concrete, rubble and astroturf that had cut all moisture, light and life out of the soil for many years. The project would require significant hard and soft landscaping and a full planting plan to achieve everything we needed to.
The first step was to remove all the waste material, before aerating the existing soil. We then added several tonnes of well rotted manure and topsoil as a nutrient rich base for the raised beds, made with huge reclaimed oak railway sleepers. The 1980s brick walls on the east side and at the rear were solid but lacked charm, so we opted to paint them along with the fence on the remaining side in 'County Cream' which tied them all together. The reclaimed brick patios were then started, laying hundreds of bricks at the front and the back of the garden, joined together by a matching brick path. The rear patio features a pergola and is a beautiful secluded zone, away from the house and which features a large Sissinghurst bench, a chiminea and wood store.
Willow trellises were erected across all walls and fences so the climbing honeysuckle, jasmine, hops, passion flower and grape vine had plenty to grow on and establish themselves. They also proved useful for runner beans, roses and several clematis. Behind the trellises went the reed screens for added privacy with a softer look.
The larger raised bed has raspberry bushes to provide height close to the fence, their fruiting season lasts for months. The central wooden frame has hosted sweet peas, cucumbers and squash plants, whist the wooden cold frame has given an abundant harvest of lettuces. There are dozens of herbs grown in a huge antique pot too.
The cherry, nectarine, pear, plum, apple and fig trees as well as the grapevine grow well with the sunny aspect and there are flowers throughout the beds. The wood bug hotel and all the flowers has meant the garden is always buzzing with bees, birds, butterflies and bats.
Beautiful wooden planters have been both made and bought to enhance the fences and walls. They spill over with strawberries and tomatoes, begonias and campanulas, geraniums and trailing ivy. The olive tree on the patio flowers and fruits abundantly, as does the Gertrude Jekyll rose. Careful attention has been paid to successional planting so the ground is full of early spring bulbs and there is never a moment without colour.
Leytonstone Exteriors
The front door to the house had been made beautifully when the house was built in 1880 but was dilapidated in the extreme. The glass was damaged and the locks, letterbox and pull handle needed to be replaced. We remade the main window lights based on the original Victorian design - but done in a triple glazed secure 'future unit' made by Tenby and Penny, a family firm based in Walthamstow. The stained glass artist reimagined and remade the broken scene before the units were installed by their glazier. Antique brass door furniture was sourced and new locks were fitted.
The original wooden sash windows - and glass - were still extant to the front of the property, designed with an elegant curve to the top on both of the double bays. They were in dire need of attention but our team were able to take them back to the wood and sensitively restore them all, inside and out, before painting.
The stone work was also addressed and the window sills were repaired, as was the plinth to the base of the building. The front garden was re-laid and painted for a clean finish and a huge wooden planter was made bespoke for the top of the wall to house a beautiful selection of plants and flowers.
The rear of the house was covered in failing paint and there was an outside toilet which needed to be removed. The masons from PGS Stone used the DOFF steam cleaning method to remove the paint without harming the London stock brickwork. A full height scaffold went up so we could remove the paint and all the old pointing which had been done, incorrectly, in concrete. They then completely repointed all the bricks in the proper lime mortar with a stunning final result.
Reclaimed bricks were sourced to match those from the outhouse and we were able to lay a full brick patio. The side alley was re-tiled and plinths painted to match the rest of the garden. A roofing team completely rebuilt the roof of the side bay which had fallen into ruin. It now has new gutters and Welsh slate tiling.