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Known as the “ Garden Capital of the World , ” London is renowned for its magnificent schematic gardens , including the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens and the garden at Hampton Court Palace . In the more congested urban area of London , where space is at a premium , gardens are still accustomed and extremely coveted . The challenge is to design them on a much small graduated table while striking a equaliser between the beautiful and the practical .
The sun lounge terrace is anchored by a dry - stone feature rampart . In the evening , the spotlights highlight the wonderful grain of the stone . Photo by : Daniel Shea
“ In urban and suburban London , garden are usually quite small and are overlooked by neighbor , ” says Daniel Shea , a garden designer ground in north London . “ I try and make spaces that are sexual , restful , and individual , which can be take exception in these construct - up areas . ”
For this lowly townhouse in Barnsbury , London , Shea was ask to create a sophisticated , contemporary garden for relaxing and entertaining while screening the distance from the surrounding townhomes . The client , a professional match , planned to expend the garden primarily on the weekend and evenings . Therefore , lighting to widen the use of the garden well into nighttime was vital .
A gas outdoor hearth and garden lighting extend the use of the garden into the evening . exposure by : Daniel Shea
Before Shea began his transformation , the garden was nothing but a small Edward Durell Stone bench and a rotting wood deck surrounded by a lawn and narrow margin . Still , he see all the potentiality the space extend . “ The garden was semi shaded and bask a sheltered position due to the surrounding tall townhouses and central London location , ” he say . “ The guest had a modest budget , but this soon increase as the design move on and they became more and more enthused . ”
The design for the space was inspired by the client ’s interior décor of fine art and present-day piece of furniture and reflects these refined tastes . The fundamental country of the garden has a water supply gutter , clothe in snowy limestone , that spills onto a dry - stone path . Towards the rear of the garden is a sunlight terrace with a dramatic dry - Isidor Feinstein Stone paries up - lit by three limelight , which play up the wall ’s beautiful texture . For the main social region , Shea ’s focus was to make it ideal for entertaining . It sport a orotund petrol hearth , a gas grill , and a chrome - framed modular sofa , with white limestone pavement added for a hint of luxury .
A limestone - invest trough spill water onto the dry - stone paving material , which adds texture and contrast to the sick cream limestone . Photo by : Daniel Shea
The planting dodging is equally sophisticated , exhibit soft tone of voice of white and green in contrast texture ( see Shea ’s plant list ) . Three facile birch tree were also install to provide a sense of seclusion amid the surround matrix of townhouses .
A matureMagnolia grandifloraand row of silver birch tree rise above a mixture of plantings in comfort tones of green and white , includingEchinacea purpurea‘White Swan’,Dryopteris wallichiana , andHelleborus x hybridus‘Pretty Ellen White ’ . Photo by : Daniel Shea
“ I wanted to make a clear , relaxing , almost epicurean garden of white stone , white Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree bark , and blanched flowers with the unstrain fleeceable tone and foliation , ” say Shea . “ I tend not to use lawns and or else replace them with plantings and stone . ”
Hakonechloa macraandDryopteris wallichianahelp to relent the Harlan Fisk Stone pathways and walls . Photo by : Daniel Shea
To see more of Shea ’s work , visit his website atDaniel Shea Contemporary Garden Design .
listing of Plants and Why Shea Chose Them
Echinacea purpurea‘White Swan’:One of my all - time favorite plants . It ’s tall , graceful , has good contour and bodily structure , and flowers for a prospicient period of time . It also search good after flowering , as the plant ’s construction remains stiff and unsloped .
Astrantia major‘Star of Billion’:Early summer florescence , a richness of wonderful blanched blossom , very elegant and unique . The foliage is also of interest . Deadheading help encourage flowering .
Hakonechloa macra : I use these on the verges of my planting moulding . The way the longsighted , voiced green leaf gracefully cascade onto the white gemstone cockle the punishing and soft landscape gardening together .
Dryopteris wallichiana : My go - to fern . It has great grain and I love the furred contraband stem as they unfold . It ’s quite rigid , so it can support more tenuous planting behind it .
Helleborus x hybridus‘Pretty Ellen White’:I like adding this works into my combinations because its unequalled folio rises above the groundcover planting and works well with any plant . It also provide graceful , white , early fountain efflorescence .
Deschampsia cespitosa‘Goldtau’:This grass add together depth to a planting scheme . The shimmer bronze semen head provide movement and a golden glow in late even .
Buxus sempervirens : I planted this in white stone planter on the main waiting room patio and the Dominicus bench towards the rear . It add a classical elegance to the more formal areas of the garden .
Betula utilisvar.jacquemontii : No white garden would be sodding without silvery birch . These trees provide wintertime interest with their ivory bark , and their light - green canopy provides screening from the neighbors without cat too much spectre .
The furnishings in the garden complement the gray-headed paint on the garden wall . Modular garden piece of furniture ( fromIndian Ocean ) is backlit by wall lights , which bestow a calming atmosphere in the eventide . picture by : Daniel Shea
