The exterior of this property was created by Claire Merriman Garden Design (claire merrimandesign.
co.uk) to include zones for relaxing, dining and soaking up the sun.
Kimmeridge limestone paving, £125 per m 2 from Artisans of Devizes (artisansofdevises. com), enhances the stone facade of the building and is complemented with Amaya tumbled limestone flooring in the kitchen, providing a good flow from inside to out
It’s not unusual for the garden to be an afterthought in a house build, but there is merit in a tandem approach. “Designing a house and garden together creates a more harmonious living environment. An integrated approach strengthens the character of the site, using a consistent palette of materials to blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, with the garden forming an outdoor room,” says Robert Myers, landscape architect and director of Robert Myers Associates. “Your house’s architectural style will often set the tone for the garden layout and detailing. The materials and colour palette can influence elements such as paving, plant selection, and outdoor furniture.”
By planning the spaces together, you can also achieve good flow. Hiring a garden designer in line with your build team means windows, doors and other glazing can be positioned with views, access points and lifestyle needs factored in. “Clients are increasingly in search of outdoor spaces that take on similar functions to those once preserved for the house,” says John Law, creative director for interiors at Woodhouse & Law. “This can be outdoor kitchens or a pared-back bar and stools that doubles up as a space for those wishing to work outside on their laptops.” When setting a schedule, there are practical benefits to planning landscaping in parallel to a build – the construction is contained to a single timeframe and upheaval happens all at once, while access and tasks can be coordinated and prioritised. Professional landscapers work year round, but certain jobs such as brickwork and paving cannot be done in very wet or cold conditions.