Finchley Garden

A charming garden tucked away off a busy high street in North Finchley.

This Finchley garden is all about hiding corners and tricking the eye. The clipped shaped balls lead the way to the back of the garden along the sawn sandstone path.
This Finchley garden is all about hiding corners and tricking the eye. The clipped shaped balls lead the way to the back of the garden along the sawn sandstone path.
Stage 1

The Brief

The client was keen to keep a feeling of maturity to the space, which the existing trees provided, and we had to be creative with the space as the budget was tight.

The main challenge was to draw the eye away from the garage at the rear of the garden, which formed the focal view. It was also important for the client to maintain easy access from the carport to her house.

Stage 2

Design and Build

We chose to carefully position a feature slate clad wall with a stone spout that pours into a large water bowl, as a visual distraction from the rear garage. The access path was then created with staggered sandstone paving and yew domes that offset the straight lines and integrate the lawn into the planting and path.

The paving used was sawn grey sandstone and the planting we chose provided a soft silhouette against the clipped Yew and sharp edges of the stone.

The contemporary grey sawn sandstone, the slate feature wall and the clipped balls are the spine of this Finchley garden.
The contemporary grey sawn sandstone, the slate feature wall and the clipped balls are the spine of this Finchley garden.
The clipped yew balls lead the way to the end of this Finchley garden up to the parking space, hidden behind the slate wall.
The clipped yew balls lead the way to the end of this Finchley garden up to the parking space, hidden behind the slate wall.
Stage 3

Finished Project

The overall design ensures that there are glimpses through to hidden spaces engaging the viewer to venture further into the space, and thereby make the best use of the garden.

Our client has become a keen gardener since we completed the landscaping, tending to her garden with care and passion.

Select an image to enlarge and view more information

Alchemilla mollis, Penstemon ‘Burgundy’, Lavandula ‘Hidcote’ soften the edges of the path and contrast in shape with the clipped balls. The repetition of colours makes it easier for the eye to focus and appreciate each plant. The white stems of Betula pendula stand out better when surrounded by lush foliages.
The view from the kitchen of this Finchley garden on the sawn sandstone invites one to contemplate the elegant planting. A mix of strict clipped yew balls is softened by herbaceous perennials and a magnificent birch tree.
Alchemilla mollis, Penstemon ‘Burgundy’, Lavandula ‘Hidcote’ soften the edges of the path and contrast in shape with the clipped topiary balls. They offer a nice backdrop that lightens the boundaries of the garden.
The slate wall feature acts like a door to the garden, hiding the parking space behind and inviting one to take the path leading home. It is a clear separation between two spaces, yet it blends in the whole garden nicely and becomes a focal point from the house.
The slate wall feature acts like a door to the garden, hiding the parking space behind and inviting one to take the path leading home. It becomes the feature to enjoy from each end of this Finchley garden.
A bespoke water feature and bowl, adjacent to the slate wall, is greatly enjoyed from many aspects of the garden. The gentle sound offers a sense of quietness in this Finchley garden.
Sandstone paving, slate wall and concrete look water bowl are completed by a strong red foliage. The small multi stem tree draws the eye to the end of this Finchley garden, making in it look deeper and bigger.
Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ with its red foliage is contrasts beautifully with the slate wall feature and the water bowl from Urbis at the back of this Finchley garden.
The view from the patio to the end of the garden shows how the slate feature wall manages to disguise the parking area in this Finchley garden. The water feature is inviting whilst the bench offer a sense of rest. And the soft leaves of Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ makes us wonder how big the garden really is!
The path looks like it curves when, in fact, the organic shapes are brought in by the carefully positioned plants in this Finchley garden. The contemporary grey sawn sandstone slabs are all squares and rectangles but the clipped balls and herbaceous overhang above, hiding the corners.
The multi stem birch trees, Betula pendula, casts some light shadows on the contemporary grey sawn sandstone path and on the clipped yew balls, Taxus baccata.
This layout plan was presented at our design meeting in Finchley for the client to approve prior to drawing some more detailed plans and elevations. Following that meeting, we could then work on a planting design to soften the strong lines on the hard landscaping.
×
1 / 12
2 / 12
3 / 12
4 / 12
5 / 12
6 / 12
7 / 12
8 / 12
9 / 12
10 / 12
11 / 12
12 / 12

Photos by Marianne Majerus