5 of the Best Before and After UK Garden Transformations
Be inspired by the dramatic makeovers these gardens have had, and get ideas on how to boost your own outside space
Kate Burt
3 January 2020
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and various magazines. I'm now excited to part of the editorial team at Houzz UK & Ireland, bringing the best of British and Irish design, interiors and architecture to Houzz.com.
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and... More
Are you tempted to redesign your garden? If you’re looking for ideas, browse these before and after images of five recent transformations by Houzz designers in the UK and be inspired by what you can achieve in even a modest plot.
1. The car park transformation
This garden, which stretches in a narrow rectangle across the front of an urban mews house, had been a space of two halves – one for sitting in, and one to park the car in – and plants weren’t exactly abundant. “It was like being at the side of a car park,” says Georgia Lindsay of Georgia Lindsay Garden Design.
This garden, which stretches in a narrow rectangle across the front of an urban mews house, had been a space of two halves – one for sitting in, and one to park the car in – and plants weren’t exactly abundant. “It was like being at the side of a car park,” says Georgia Lindsay of Georgia Lindsay Garden Design.
The brief for reconfiguring the small garden was threefold. It needed to be a family-friendly outdoor living space, make an impression as an entrance, and provide a parking spot that felt like part of the garden when the car wasn’t there, as well as offering up space to store three wheelie bins.
Lindsay pulled it off beautifully, creating an inviting outdoor living room that ticks all the owners’ boxes.
Need help with your garden makeover? Read reviews of local landscape architects and garden designers near you on Houzz and browse images of their work
Lindsay pulled it off beautifully, creating an inviting outdoor living room that ticks all the owners’ boxes.
Need help with your garden makeover? Read reviews of local landscape architects and garden designers near you on Houzz and browse images of their work
2. The outdoor kitchen transformation
Jenny Bloom of Jenny Bloom Garden Design had her work cut out for her when she took on the transformation of this 54-square-metre garden in London, UK.
The unloved, bare yard spread across three different levels and was a mixture of drab paving slabs and concrete. “There was nothing to redeem it,” says Bloom.
The owners wanted a contemporary, low-maintenance entertaining space with an outdoor kitchen.
Jenny Bloom of Jenny Bloom Garden Design had her work cut out for her when she took on the transformation of this 54-square-metre garden in London, UK.
The unloved, bare yard spread across three different levels and was a mixture of drab paving slabs and concrete. “There was nothing to redeem it,” says Bloom.
The owners wanted a contemporary, low-maintenance entertaining space with an outdoor kitchen.
Now, double doors lead onto a hardwood deck, which will silver over time, with views to the lawn, cooking area and dining table. There’s also year-round foliage, thanks to plants including Geranium Rozanne, which flowers from June to November in the northern hemisphere.
Who’s On Deck? 5 Hardwoods Suited to the Australian Climate
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3. The sociable space transformation
As is often the case, this patch in Hampshire, UK, was the last thing the homeowners got to after renovating their Victorian townhouse.
“It was a dumping ground during the works – there was broken paving, no lawn and overgrown plants. We took everything out and started again,” says Neil Jones of Neil Jones Design.
As is often the case, this patch in Hampshire, UK, was the last thing the homeowners got to after renovating their Victorian townhouse.
“It was a dumping ground during the works – there was broken paving, no lawn and overgrown plants. We took everything out and started again,” says Neil Jones of Neil Jones Design.
The dilapidated patch has now been transformed into this welcoming outside space with a decked terrace and a patio containing a firepit.
As well as space for entertaining, the owners requested more privacy, with tall screening at the back of the garden. “I designed this slatted fence and painted it black,” says Jones. “The horizontal lines help to make the garden feel wider and the recessive black colour visually elongates the space.”
The couple were keen on a colour scheme of pink, purple and white for the flowers. Jones planted scented varieties, such as jasmine and lavender, and added euphorbia for a spike of lime green.
Colour Lessons From Nature: Luscious Lavender
As well as space for entertaining, the owners requested more privacy, with tall screening at the back of the garden. “I designed this slatted fence and painted it black,” says Jones. “The horizontal lines help to make the garden feel wider and the recessive black colour visually elongates the space.”
The couple were keen on a colour scheme of pink, purple and white for the flowers. Jones planted scented varieties, such as jasmine and lavender, and added euphorbia for a spike of lime green.
Colour Lessons From Nature: Luscious Lavender
4. The tropical transformation
“The garden was a bit of a bombsite,” says Fiona Green of Green Tree Garden Design of this plot in Hertfordshire, UK. The owner had made a start on the garden, but needed help to create the exotic, jungle-inspired haven he longed for.
“The garden was a bit of a bombsite,” says Fiona Green of Green Tree Garden Design of this plot in Hertfordshire, UK. The owner had made a start on the garden, but needed help to create the exotic, jungle-inspired haven he longed for.
Green cleverly turned the narrow, overlooked space into this secluded, leafy retreat. “[The owner] was very clear that he wanted an overall ‘green’ planting style, with plenty of focus on contrasting leaf textures rather than flowers,” she says.
Planting includes a Dicksonia antarctica – an evergreen tree fern, seen here in the terracotta pot – as well as the big-leaved Fatsia japonica and the perennial grass Panicum virgatum. Between the planting, a reclaimed brick path leads to a tranquil little outdoor seating area at the end.
Planting includes a Dicksonia antarctica – an evergreen tree fern, seen here in the terracotta pot – as well as the big-leaved Fatsia japonica and the perennial grass Panicum virgatum. Between the planting, a reclaimed brick path leads to a tranquil little outdoor seating area at the end.
5. The tranquil haven transformation
This garden, at the rear of an Edwardian house in south London, UK, was very overgrown, as this view – looking from the house – shows.
Designer Tom Howard of Tom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping was tasked with transforming the messy plot into an easy-to-maintain space where the owner could both entertain and relax.
However, the owner asked that he didn’t disturb the established tree seen in this image, or one on the other side, the top of which is just visible on the left.
This garden, at the rear of an Edwardian house in south London, UK, was very overgrown, as this view – looking from the house – shows.
Designer Tom Howard of Tom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping was tasked with transforming the messy plot into an easy-to-maintain space where the owner could both entertain and relax.
However, the owner asked that he didn’t disturb the established tree seen in this image, or one on the other side, the top of which is just visible on the left.
As you can see from the finished garden, Howard packed a lot into the outdoor space. There’s an impressive outdoor kitchen, a living wall, a computerised irrigation system, a hidden shed, an LED-lit water feature and built-in bench seating, as well as lush planting across a number of beds. And the two trees are thriving in their new setting.
Your turn
Which of these transformations do you like best? Share your favourites in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Need more practical gardening advice? Read up on How Do I… Keep My Garden Alive in a Drought?
Your turn
Which of these transformations do you like best? Share your favourites in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Need more practical gardening advice? Read up on How Do I… Keep My Garden Alive in a Drought?
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Guy Gibson, that decking does look lovely but if you google 'slippery decking' you'll find the forums awash with people wondering how to deal with it. My only experience with it (in a friend's garden) is that it does get slippery and like an ice rink during very cold weather. If you have a southfacing patch and are prepare to put in the maintenance every year, you might lessen the problem. However . . . there's another problem with decking: rats love to hide in the space underneath it, and for that reason alone, I would never lay it.
Yes, slippery when wet and lethal when the temperature drops. Some people however have affixed strips of anti-slip grip to their decking/wooden steps and it works but no good for the aesthetics!
We give advice on how to install a deck properly and keep it in good condition in order to prevent slipperiness and unwanted visitors. Happy to help anyone out.