Before & After: An Overgrown UK Walled Garden's Transformation
A wild London plot was rescued by elegant planting, secret seating and a clever layout that works for everyone
The beautiful boundary walls of this garden are an integral part of the timeless look and peaceful feel of the space, but for many years they were entirely obscured by rampant greenery. The couple who own the garden have lived here for 25 years and they love plants. However, over the years, busy with work, pruning had fallen by the wayside.
So when they called in London-based designer Joanne Bernstein to help them link their new extension to the outside area, she took drastic measures to bring out the beauty of the space. “I cleared almost everything to allow it to become a walled garden again,” she says.
So when they called in London-based designer Joanne Bernstein to help them link their new extension to the outside area, she took drastic measures to bring out the beauty of the space. “I cleared almost everything to allow it to become a walled garden again,” she says.
Garden at a Glance
Who lives here: A homeopath and an art historian
Location: Belsize Park, UK
Property: A white stucco house built around 1840
Size: Approximately 17 metres long and 15 metres wide
Garden designer: Joanne Bernstein of Joanne Bernstein Garden Design
When the client first contacted Bernstein, the owners of this period home were building an extension on the ground floor to accommodate an office and library next to the garage. It meant losing half the existing terrace, plus the client wasn’t sure how to link both elements harmoniously to the garden, so they sought professional help.
Who lives here: A homeopath and an art historian
Location: Belsize Park, UK
Property: A white stucco house built around 1840
Size: Approximately 17 metres long and 15 metres wide
Garden designer: Joanne Bernstein of Joanne Bernstein Garden Design
When the client first contacted Bernstein, the owners of this period home were building an extension on the ground floor to accommodate an office and library next to the garage. It meant losing half the existing terrace, plus the client wasn’t sure how to link both elements harmoniously to the garden, so they sought professional help.
This ‘before’ image shows the back of the house as work was beginning, with the garage in the white section and the space where the library now is stacked with building materials.
Bernstein was tasked with creating a visual link to unite the two sides of the property, as well as providing access to the garden from three points: the garage, the library, and the first-floor balcony on the flat roof above the library.
The client also asked her to include a lawn where grandchildren could play, as well as various seating areas with different views.
Bernstein was tasked with creating a visual link to unite the two sides of the property, as well as providing access to the garden from three points: the garage, the library, and the first-floor balcony on the flat roof above the library.
The client also asked her to include a lawn where grandchildren could play, as well as various seating areas with different views.
This ‘after’ image shows the back of the house now, with the garage at the far end and sliding glass doors leading to the library in the foreground. “The garage is important, as it’s an integral part of the house, taking up almost half its width, and it’s where all the garden kit is stored,” says Bernstein.
“The two sets of stairs were a device to connect the two halves,” she says, “so the house as a whole felt unified, rather than two separate entities.”
A large rendered planter separates the steps and brings lush planting close to the house. Bernstein also salvaged two plants from the old garden and placed them in pots by the glazed doors – an acer (foreground) and a camellia.
Keen to redesign your garden? Find a landscape architect or designer on Houzz near you
“The two sets of stairs were a device to connect the two halves,” she says, “so the house as a whole felt unified, rather than two separate entities.”
A large rendered planter separates the steps and brings lush planting close to the house. Bernstein also salvaged two plants from the old garden and placed them in pots by the glazed doors – an acer (foreground) and a camellia.
Keen to redesign your garden? Find a landscape architect or designer on Houzz near you
The patio and steps are laid with porcelain tiles, which was chosen to create a seamless indoor-outdoor look. “It was used for the floor of the library as well,” says Bernstein.
Rather than white, she chose a very pale pink for the walls of this planter and the ones on either side, which is then echoed in the delicate purple and pink planting. “The owners love colour and this is a lovely soft pink,” she says. “I have to admit it was the second attempt. The first colour we chose, even though it seemed a beautiful soft pink on the swatch, ended up looking like bubble gum. That was a really good lesson to learn: go even paler than you think. This was the second attempt and it was spot-on.”
Rather than white, she chose a very pale pink for the walls of this planter and the ones on either side, which is then echoed in the delicate purple and pink planting. “The owners love colour and this is a lovely soft pink,” she says. “I have to admit it was the second attempt. The first colour we chose, even though it seemed a beautiful soft pink on the swatch, ended up looking like bubble gum. That was a really good lesson to learn: go even paler than you think. This was the second attempt and it was spot-on.”
Lights illuminate the steps. “I’ve also included some to highlight the hedging, and a couple either side of the white bench on the back wall to show the whole depth of the garden,” says Bernstein.
This ‘before’ image shows the area before the library extension was built, giving a sense of how overgrown the garden had become.
Here’s the shell of the library extension, showing the flat roof that’s now a terrace outside the first-floor living room.
To link the terrace to the garden, the architect had proposed stairs that would have obscured some of the view from the library. Bernstein suggested an alternative: a staircase fitted into the gap between the extension and the boundary wall. You can see the bottom steps here before they were paved.
To link the terrace to the garden, the architect had proposed stairs that would have obscured some of the view from the library. Bernstein suggested an alternative: a staircase fitted into the gap between the extension and the boundary wall. You can see the bottom steps here before they were paved.
The neat staircase has left the view of the garden from the library unobscured.
Bernstein created different areas, or ‘rooms’, in the garden using hedging, as you can see in this view from the first-floor terrace. “It can be difficult working with a square space and the rooms were a way of creating discrete spaces within that,” she explains.
The small trees growing against the back wall are espaliered pears, apples and a cherry tree, trained on wires fixed to the bricks. “The owner really wanted fruit trees,” says Bernstein. “Because it’s a north-facing garden, that back wall gets the most sun, so we’re using the heat from the wall to help with the trees.”
The small trees growing against the back wall are espaliered pears, apples and a cherry tree, trained on wires fixed to the bricks. “The owner really wanted fruit trees,” says Bernstein. “Because it’s a north-facing garden, that back wall gets the most sun, so we’re using the heat from the wall to help with the trees.”
The paving stones in the secluded seating area are spaced out amid the ground-cover plant, Vinca minor, to add to the lush feel of the garden.
The lime trees along this wall are original – some of just a handful of plants that remained when the space was cleared. “They create a wonderful screen to hide the houses on the other side,” says Bernstein.
The pompom grasses seen here and in the planters at the front of the lawn are Hakonechloa macra. The tall purple flowers are Verbena bonariensis. “I didn’t actually plant these,” says Bernstein. “They self-seeded, possibly from a neighbour’s garden, so they were a happy coincidence.”
She suggested these purple outdoor chairs, which tone beautifully with the planting.
Browse more beautiful gardens with creative hedging
The lime trees along this wall are original – some of just a handful of plants that remained when the space was cleared. “They create a wonderful screen to hide the houses on the other side,” says Bernstein.
The pompom grasses seen here and in the planters at the front of the lawn are Hakonechloa macra. The tall purple flowers are Verbena bonariensis. “I didn’t actually plant these,” says Bernstein. “They self-seeded, possibly from a neighbour’s garden, so they were a happy coincidence.”
She suggested these purple outdoor chairs, which tone beautifully with the planting.
Browse more beautiful gardens with creative hedging
On the right is a big block of planting, which can be enjoyed from all the seating areas, so anyone out here can feel immersed in the lush greenery.
The restricted palette of pinks, purples and white adds to the elegant feel of the garden. Plants include pink roses, Astrantia, purple geraniums, Thalictrum, blue irises, Campanula, phlox, hydrangeas, Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ and ferns, all with a backdrop of hornbeam and yew hedging.
The restricted palette of pinks, purples and white adds to the elegant feel of the garden. Plants include pink roses, Astrantia, purple geraniums, Thalictrum, blue irises, Campanula, phlox, hydrangeas, Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ and ferns, all with a backdrop of hornbeam and yew hedging.
The pretty pink spires of Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Rosea’ work beautifully with the big white hydrangea blooms.
The owners love the new garden. “A few visitors have said, ‘Oh my goodness, you have a walled garden – we didn’t know!’” says Bernstein. Now the builders have finally left, the couple can relax and enjoy the space.
Your turn
What do you like most about this redesigned garden? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, save the images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Love garden transformations? Don’t miss this Before & After: A Curvy UK Garden Design That’s Accessible to All
Your turn
What do you like most about this redesigned garden? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, save the images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Love garden transformations? Don’t miss this Before & After: A Curvy UK Garden Design That’s Accessible to All
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