We were thrilled when our repeat clients told us they were about to build their forever home. The result, an impressive new outdoor space with seamless indoor-outdoor integration. A space to enjoy all of nature’s beauty and transport you to a state of ease. Landscape design: Bayon Gardens Photography: Tim Turner

Roses on an arch frame the entrance to an inviting place to sit and relax
Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard full sun formal garden for spring in Adelaide with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary garden in Edinburgh.

This project involved the complete transformation of a long-neglected, overgrown garden into a vibrant, structured, and highly functional outdoor sanctuary. Designed with both visual harmony and practical use in mind, the garden now offers a refined, immersive experience that balances natural beauty with intentional design. At its heart, a main patio is elegantly connected to a more secluded rear patio by a series of random-length natural stone stepping stones, creating rhythm and flow throughout the space. The rear patio is enveloped by tall, architectural Phyllostachis aurea, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a private tropical retreat, rich in texture and movement. On the left side, we constructed two bespoke wooden raised beds, tailored for the client’s use in cultivating aromatic herbs—merging functionality with understated elegance. To the right, a striking Trachycarpus fortunei palm serves as a focal point, complemented by a generously planted bed that delivers seasonal interest, structure, and year-round interest.

L’entrée, transition douce entre le bas et le haut du terrain, commence par de larges marches, mixant bois et gravier blanc. Cet escalier est encadré par une végétation abondante, des plantes fleuries aux teintes rouges et roses en côtoient d’autres aux feuillages denses, tandis que l’olivier et des cyprès de Florence viennent ponctuer le paysage. Ces éléments guident le regard vers la maison, dont les lignes épurées et les façades blanches contrastent avec la chaleur des matériaux naturels utilisés.

Oak Raised beds in an enclosed vegetable garden with a protective fruit cage. The kitchen garden includes a water storage system that collects rainwater to irrigate the vegetables. We used a simple bark path between each raised bed to provide dry, accessible access throughout the year.

Conception / Réalisation d' une cour de copropriété.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional courtyard shaded driveway for spring in Paris with a garden path, concrete pavers and a stone fence.

Patio space to rear
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Dublin with with lawn edging, concrete pavers and a metal fence.

Conception, budgétisation et réalisation d'un jardin de 500m2 à Balma. Autour de la piscine
Mid-sized mediterranean full sun garden in Toulouse with decking.

Raised oak beds & porcelain patio
Design ideas for a mid-sized mediterranean backyard partial sun garden for spring in Surrey with with raised garden bed, natural stone pavers and a wood fence.

Design ideas for a mid-sized mediterranean courtyard garden in Bordeaux with decking.

Two judas trees (cercis siliquastrum) frame the stunning glassed-in barn door; they should thrive in the open, sunny aspect.
Mid-sized contemporary front yard full sun garden with with flowerbed and natural stone pavers.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional front yard partial sun formal garden for spring in Christchurch with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Designed and planted by www.davidmalegardens.com. Built by www.danscapegardens.com. Photo by David Male
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern backyard partial sun garden in London with natural stone pavers.

Opening the kitchen up to the garden is a morning ritual. The Balmoral House is located within the lower north-shore suburb of Balmoral. The site presents many difficulties being wedged shaped, on the low side of the street, hemmed in by two substantial existing houses and with just half the land area of its neighbours. Where previously the site would have enjoyed the benefits of a sunny rear yard beyond the rear building alignment, this is no longer the case with the yard having been sold-off to the neighbours. Our design process has been about finding amenity where on first appearance there appears to be little. The design stems from the first key observation, that the view to Middle Harbour is better from the lower ground level due to the height of the canopy of a nearby angophora that impedes views from the first floor level. Placing the living areas on the lower ground level allowed us to exploit setback controls to build closer to the rear boundary where oblique views to the key local features of Balmoral Beach and Rocky Point Island are best. This strategy also provided the opportunity to extend these spaces into gardens and terraces to the limits of the site, maximising the sense of space of the 'living domain'. Every part of the site is utilised to create an array of connected interior and exterior spaces The planning then became about ordering these living volumes and garden spaces to maximise access to view and sunlight and to structure these to accommodate an array of social situations for our Client’s young family. At first floor level, the garage and bedrooms are composed in a linear block perpendicular to the street along the south-western to enable glimpses of district views from the street as a gesture to the public realm. Critical to the success of the house is the journey from the street down to the living areas and vice versa. A series of stairways break up the journey while the main glazed central stair is the centrepiece to the house as a light-filled piece of sculpture that hangs above a reflecting pond with pool beyond. The architecture works as a series of stacked interconnected volumes that carefully manoeuvre down the site, wrapping around to establish a secluded light-filled courtyard and terrace area on the north-eastern side. The expression is 'minimalist modern' to avoid visually complicating an already dense set of circumstances. Warm natural materials including off-form concrete, neutral bricks and blackbutt timber imbue the house with a calm quality whilst floor to ceiling glazing and large pivot and stacking doors create light-filled interiors, bringing the garden inside. In the end the design reverses the obvious strategy of an elevated living space with balcony facing the view. Rather, the outcome is a grounded compact family home sculpted around daylight, views to Balmoral and intertwined living and garden spaces that satisfy the social needs of a growing young family. Photo Credit: Katherine Lu

My client had a severe hayfever allergy so the garden was designed with low allergen materials such as artificial grass and the plant selection was based on non-wind pollinated plants, flower shapes that reduce pollen exposure and ground cover plants to prevent weeds.

green roof of bespoke bin park
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary front yard driveway in London with gravel.

Lush back garden planting, with flowering perennials, grasses and evergreen ground covers. The tree is a mature Amelanchier (Serviceberry). A large boulder that was found on site sits in a bed of Irish Moss (Sagina) and Japanese Acorus Grass.

Within this garden we wanted to create a space which was not only on numerous levels, but also had various points of interest. This garden is on a slope, but is also very wide. Firstly, we broke up the space by using rustic sleepers to create several raised beds,as well as steps which lead to differennt zones. This helps to give the garden a more traditional, country edge. The sleepers were also used to create a winding path through out the garden, marrying together the various areas. The path leads up to the impressive sunburst pergola and circular stone patio. This is the perfect spot to view the whole garden. At the other end of the garden another pergola sits amougnst a bustling flower bed, and will be used to train vining flowers. Along the back wall of the garden a raised bed is home to a stunning display of wildflower. This plot is not only a fabulous riot of colour and full of rustic charm, but it also attracts a whole host of insects and animals. While wildflowers looks great they are also very low maintenance. Mixed gravel has been used to create a variety of texture. This surface is intermittently dotted with colour with lemon thyme, red hot pokers and foxgloves. Stone has been used to create a warm and welcoming patio area. Flower beds at the front of the garden can be used for veg and other leafy plants. Overall we have created a country style with a very contemporary twist through the use of gravel, modern shape and structural landscaping.