Garden Tour: A Chic London Retreat with a Restaurant Terrace Feel
This leafy garden in north London is the ultimate spot for relaxed lunches and sophisticated alfresco dinner parties
If you lust after green space but live in the city, then you’ll know how important a well-thought-out garden can be to your sense of wellbeing. This modern outdoors retreat in London has the lot – a landscaped area for civilised alfresco dining, an abundance of lovely, uplifting leafiness and plenty of privacy to boot.
To zone out a suitable dining area, the answer was laying decking, ensuring it was perfectly positioned to catch the last of the evening sunshine for those lazy, end-of-day drinks. “The decking adds definition to a garden in the same way that internally you use different flooring materials,” Andrew explains. “It’s also set at a different level to add more interest.” The decking material is standard softwood.
Next Andrew installed a modern slatted fence that helps create the feel of an “outdoors room” and “to provide privacy in this part of the garden without building a solid wall”. The linear structure, also made of softwood, has an almost Japanese simplicity that’s both calming and chic. “It’s a very on-trend way to add fencing to a garden, rather than going for a more traditional fence,” says Andrew.
A beautiful climbing rose spreads in front of the partition. “Over time, the screen will also be covered with fragrant jasmine to add another element to the garden design,” he says. A pink skimmia brings a splash of colour in front of the dining area, while the structural pointy phormium to the right of the fence adds interesting shape and texture.
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Next Andrew installed a modern slatted fence that helps create the feel of an “outdoors room” and “to provide privacy in this part of the garden without building a solid wall”. The linear structure, also made of softwood, has an almost Japanese simplicity that’s both calming and chic. “It’s a very on-trend way to add fencing to a garden, rather than going for a more traditional fence,” says Andrew.
A beautiful climbing rose spreads in front of the partition. “Over time, the screen will also be covered with fragrant jasmine to add another element to the garden design,” he says. A pink skimmia brings a splash of colour in front of the dining area, while the structural pointy phormium to the right of the fence adds interesting shape and texture.
Find a local garden designer on Houzz today.
The new garden is teeming with beautiful greenery – much of it recycled. “The existing planting in the garden was mature, but tired in many places,” Andrew recalls. Rather than clearing plants, he took advantage of what was there, supplementing where needed.
“We reused many of the existing mature climbing shrubs to ensure a finished look could be achieved quickly. We managed to salvage many of the existing plants and retrain them. Following the renovation, a gorgeous clematis was discovered, which is now in flower.”
Andrew had to be extra careful during the process of replanting – both to protect vulnerable roots and shoots, and the local wildlife. “The ground was very dry, so to ensure the plants remained healthy, we installed a discreet watering system. We were also conscious there were lots of birds nesting in the garden, so we couldn’t just rip everything out and start again.”
“We reused many of the existing mature climbing shrubs to ensure a finished look could be achieved quickly. We managed to salvage many of the existing plants and retrain them. Following the renovation, a gorgeous clematis was discovered, which is now in flower.”
Andrew had to be extra careful during the process of replanting – both to protect vulnerable roots and shoots, and the local wildlife. “The ground was very dry, so to ensure the plants remained healthy, we installed a discreet watering system. We were also conscious there were lots of birds nesting in the garden, so we couldn’t just rip everything out and start again.”
The overall garden has an almost tropically lush, verdant feel, but if you look carefully, you’ll see that potted plants help fill the gaps. “The planters help to break up the hard landscaping and add another element of detail to the design,” Andrew says. “Some will be planted with French lavender this year to add more colour to the area.”
The 10-year-old olive tree, bought in memory of a relative, adds a subtle Mediterranean flavour to the garden. “The original aim was to use this as a shelter to sit under while at the new table,” he says.
The 10-year-old olive tree, bought in memory of a relative, adds a subtle Mediterranean flavour to the garden. “The original aim was to use this as a shelter to sit under while at the new table,” he says.
Interiors expert Andrew knows that having the right outdoor furniture can make or break a garden. Rather than go for the usual DIY store wrought iron garden set, his bespoke metal and solid wood table has a permanent ‘indoors’ look that signposts this is a place to linger and enjoy a meal with wine and friends.
“The table was designed by us and made by our in-house carpenter,” says Andrew. ‘The legs are oak and it has a zinc top. Over time, the top will weather down and show the marks and memories of many happy meals around the table. We are now making this table to order to supply to clients.”
The table has been paired with some simple black woven chairs from the high street.
The table has been paired with some simple black woven chairs from the high street.
So does Andrew have any tips for homeowners who want to design their own stylish urban getaway? Most importantly, he advises, don’t go mad in the garden centre until you know exactly what you’re dealing with. “Ensure you get the basics right before you fall in love with beautiful plants. In this garden, the decking and new fence were the first elements to be constructed and they took a significant amount of the budget. They will last longest, so it makes sense to spend money on these aspects and get them right.”
This long, skinny garden backing onto a period terrace in London’s Islington had some pretty existing plants, but lacked definition, privacy and a terrace for dining.
Once the earmarked area had been sensitively cleared, Andrew’s team could get going on the project and use their creative nous to totally transform the space.
TELL US…
What do you think about this garden transformation and new alfresco dining area? Do you have similar in your garden? Share your thoughts, tips and photos in the Comments.
TELL US…
What do you think about this garden transformation and new alfresco dining area? Do you have similar in your garden? Share your thoughts, tips and photos in the Comments.
Who lives here? A professional couple
Location Islington, north London
Size 70ft long
Designer Andrew Dunning of London Contemporary
When Andrew Dunning of London Contemporary (formerly APD Interiors) was asked to help transform a long, narrow garden attached to a four-storey Victorian terrace, top of his clients’ wish list was creating a place that would be ideal for outdoor dinner parties. “The house is owned by a professional, urban couple who are very much outdoors types,” he says. “They like to entertain frequently through the summer, both for large parties and intimate suppers with friends.”
The rest of his brief was recognisable to anyone whose back garden is overlooked by blocks of flats or numerous rear windows: privacy. “They were looking to create an area where they could relax away from the glare of neighbouring houses,” he explains.