Study 01
A Garden in SW London
East-facing · Narrow terrace · Indoor-outdoor planting
The challenge: A narrow, east-facing London garden that had been neglected by the previous owners and left damaged by building works. High walls and overlooking neighbours made the space feel exposed and unsettled; pleasant enough on paper, but without any real sense of privacy or calm in practice.
The approach: The layout was kept clean and uncluttered, with distinct zones for seating, a barbecue area, and storage for bikes and scooters – without making the garden feel divided or small. Everything was designed to flow.
Layered planting did much of the heavy lifting: grasses, ferns, and shade-tolerant perennials chosen for their gentle movement and soft texture, creating a sense of screening that feels natural rather than constructed.
Inside, the client’s living room was given three statement plants – a large-leafed Bird of Paradise, a Dieffenbachia and a Monstera – to carry the green palette through the threshold and into the home.
The result: A private, settled garden that feels generous despite its size. Inside and out, the planting speaks the same language.