Contemporary Garden with Outdoor Kitchen and Fire Place Area, Cobham

Designed as a series of connected spaces, the layout moves from dining and cooking to a more intimate seating area, anchored by a curved bench and firepit. Floating steps have become a recurring element in our work — here they guide movement between levels while keeping the space open and uninterrupted. The curved bench softens the geometry, blending into the steps to create a transition that feels quiet and considered. Lighting is integrated throughout, allowing the garden to shift naturally into evening use. A space designed to be used as much at night as during the day.

Teddington - Rear Garden Project

Sustainable Landscapes

Full House remodeling

Belhus Construction Ltd

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Modern Family Garden with Dining and Entertainment

ED Gardens

Outdoor Kitchen & Lounge Area To the left of the patio doors is a cube fibreglass planter and bespoke storage shed clad with London Stone DesignBoard deck boards. To the right of this area is a powder coated aluminium water table beside a second cube fibreglass planter, placed to create a focal point from the house interior. The middle section of the roof garden features a vented powder coated aluminium pergola to provide shelter and shade in all weather. Two fibreglass planters installed down the left-hand side add colour and foliage. A large, low, bench/day bed constructed from DesignBoard decking at the far end of the pergola offers opportunity for seating and sunbathing, with space underneath to store a wooden sandpit on wheels. There is ample space towards the rear of the terrace for the client to add an L-shaped sofa at a later date. Tall fibreglass planters installed along the parapet on the rear boundary add further colour to the space. Family & Play Area The rear section of the garden has been extended by reclaiming land beyond the existing fence. This newly incorporated area will become a dedicated family zone, complete with a swing, trampoline, and plenty of space for additional play equipment. This thoughtful layout ensures the garden remains beautiful yet functional, appealing to both adults and children – a hallmark of ED Gardens’ approach to family garden design. Planting Scheme & Finishing Touches Throughout the garden, a combination of rendered concrete and fibreglass planters in elegant blue tones adds visual interest. These are finished with tile detailing that reflects the colours found in the client’s kitchen – subtle blues, oranges, and neutrals for a unified aesthetic. The planting scheme features a refreshing blend of purples, whites, and lime greens, with accents of yellow for contrast. Closer to the house, evergreen plants provide structure and year-round appeal, while herbaceous perennials towards the rear add texture and movement. A bespoke water feature runs through the garden, bringing a sense of calm and continuity that ties each area together beautifully. Before & After Before the redesign, the garden felt disjointed and underutilised – particularly the unused section beyond the fence. With ED Gardens’ expertise and bespoke design sketches, the space has been transformed into a contemporary family garden that blends style, comfort, and functionality. The before and after images illustrate this transformation, showcasing how thoughtful design can completely redefine an outdoor space.

Fulham Courtyard

Lucy Willcox Garden Design

This Courtyard was transformed from being an Astro Turf box to a useable, versatile Outdoor Room!

Contemporary courtyard

SeedOnceSown Ltd

Kitchen and Garden Refurbishment

Pencil and Brick

Sussex Contemporary

Randell Design Group

Sussex waterfront contemporary. This amazing contemporary family home is located on the waterfront in an area of outstanding natural beauty overlooking the harbour. The design has developed as a response to the location and to take advantage of views over the sea, countryside, and adjoining meadows. Every element of the architecture and interiors has been considered to maximise both form and function – beautiful contemporary design and practicality tailored to the client’s aesthetic sensibilities and lifestyle. The home features the use of Danish brick, cedar timber and a zinc roof all in a natural palette of materials on the exterior and neutral design scheme on the interiors using sustainable and natural materials. The gardens have been designed to maximise the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces and include wildflower meadows, and soft and hard landscaping. A fabric first approach to sustainability has been used and the design allows for natural light to penetrate the building while considering shading and thermal gain. The interiors have been developed around functionality while employing a clean modern design and the use of warm natural materials. A true dream home with dream clients!

Chelsea Townhouse

Charlotte Säve

This project was a complete back-to-brick renovation of a client’s townhouse in Chelsea. We reimagined the layout by relocating the kitchen from the lower ground floor to the ground floor, bringing more natural light into the heart of the home. A new conservatory extension and the removal of multiple small rooms transformed the property into a beautifully open and airy space. The timeless design allows the client to blend cherished inherited pieces with contemporary elements, creating a home that feels both elegant and inviting.

Living area of an interior styling project in North Cornwall

Styled & Staged Interiors

Entrance of a stunning farmhouse at an interior styling project in North Cornwall

Highbury Entertaining Oasis

Outdoor living

Patio Ideas and Designs

Patios are the go-to solution for turning your garden, or part of it, into an outdoor living area. A well-laid patio will integrate your home seamlessly into your garden, providing a solid and level surface for garden furniture and potted plants. Well designed patios are about more than just paving slabs – its positioning and layout are crucial to how much you enjoy this space. Before you start picking out patio ideas for materials and laying your patio, ask yourself important questions such as what will you use it for? How many people should it accommodate? Which part of your garden has the best aspect and sunlight? Will the patio have enough privacy?

How should I position my patio?

If you are designing your patio as a space for entertaining then make sure it’s wide enough for the garden furniture you want so you haven’t got guests tipping over into the flowerbeds. Don’t be wedded to the idea of having your patio attached to the house; think about positioning yours elsewhere in the garden if that space doesn’t offer the best aspect or lighting position. Consider the position of the sun through the course of the day and depending on whether you are most likely to want to dine outside at breakfast, have lunch on your patio or host dinner outside, you may want to position your patio differently. You can connect patios to your house with a footpath or stepping stones to allow easy transportation of food and drink.

How should I design and lay my patio?

Rectangles are the classic shape for patios, not least because they make the most efficient use of space and can be softened with garden edging. However, a rounded patio or a paving circle can perfectly complement a garden which isn’t linear in design. Paving slabs come in an extensive range of materials and are the most practical surface for patios. Yorkstone has the most traditional appeal, whereas concrete blocks, granite and slate patio slabs have a great texture and colour for modern gardens. Natural stones such as limestone, travertine and Indian sandstone vary in colour and finish and are a great way to add shade and texture to your patio. For some patio ideas that offer an alternative to block paving, loose material such as crushed stone and wood chippings have a rustic and more casual feel; if there are specific materials that re-occur elsewhere in the garden, you could repeat this in your choice of patio materials for consistency. Finally, it’s not a British summer without the great British barbeque, so look at patio ideas that incorporate barbeques and think about how you could accommodate one on your patio.

What garden furniture does my patio need?

Rattan garden furniture is a patio favourite, offering a durable, attractive finish that blends well into natural surroundings. Metal garden furniture and wooden garden furniture are sturdy alternatives available in many styles. Weight is a good feature in garden furniture to stop it from being blown away, but if you want to be able to move your furniture around the patio and garden to follow the sun you won’t want to go too heavy. Browse the various patio ideas that include garden furniture to see what styles of furniture go with different types of patios. If you find a particular patio set you like, you may be able to ask the designer where the furniture is from so you can look at buying the same set for your patio.

Good, outdoor patio furniture crafted in high-quality materials should withstand bad weather, but cold, wet British winters followed by strong sun in the summer will be enough to weather even the best furniture, so it’s important to have somewhere, such as a shed, to store it when not in use for long periods of time. If you don’t have the space to store patio furniture, make sure that at least the cushions and umbrellas are stowed away out of the elements, and consider investing in a waterproof cover. One piece of furniture that might be able to stay out for a bit longer is a patio heater; it will warm any brave patio users and most modern designs are built to survive the cold weather. If you prefer something a bit more rustic than a patio heater, look at fire pits instead which will add warmth and an attractive centrepiece to your patio. If privacy or shade is an issue, then covering patio furniture with a parasol or sheltering patios with a gazebo or pergola are both smart patio ideas – these can be covered in climbing flowers or even wound with outdoor fairy lights for romantic evening lighting.

Whether you want inspiration for planning a patio renovation or are building a designer patio from scratch, Houzz has 55,699 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including SeedOnceSown Ltd and MH Costa Construction Ltd. Look through patio photos in different colours and styles and when you find a patio design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful patio ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.

Arnos Grove Garden Apartment

VORBILD Architecture