tumbled limestone patio with relaxing furniture and views over a beautifully designed mid sized garden

Meadway By Heartwood Garden Design

Project Type:

Judy Shardlow & the team from Heartwood Garden Design have masterfully transformed an unremarkable suburban garden into a beautiful and versatile outdoor space. Responding to a challenging brief, Judy has created a cohesive design that seamlessly integrates relaxation, play, al-fresco dining, and entertaining.
Beautifully constructed by Tom Walker and the team at Custom Gardens.

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Brief
A Diverse Brief With Several Considerations

The client envisioned a backyard that would cater to their family's diverse needs. They desired level access from the house to an outdoor dining area, a spacious play area for their young children, and a cozy outdoor lounge. The space should exude a warm, inviting atmosphere and be suitable for year-round, child-friendly outdoor activities.

The front garden should prioritize curb appeal, minimal maintenance, and a strong connection to nature.

Challenge
Designing For Structural Integrity

One of the most significant design challenges was the implementation of the oak arches. Traditional joist hangers, which connect timber joists to walls, were deemed unattractive. To address this, Judy and her team designed custom powder-coated steel joist hangers, carefully matching the RAL color to the windows for a seamless integration.

Another challenge arose from the span of the oak beams, which posed a risk of timber twisting. To mitigate this issue, each horizontal timber was engineered to connect to its neighbor using stainless steel rods, creating a more rigid structure capable of supporting the weight of Wisteria and Trachelospermum vines, which were incorporated into the planting plan for fragrance and overhead coverage.

Solution
An Attractive Garden To Meet The Needs Of All The Family

The resulting design is a harmonious blend of form and function. The children's play area is discreetly tucked away from the outdoor lounge and dining deck, allowing the adult spaces to serve as inviting gathering points.

While the house and the pre-existing garden room are positioned on different axes, Judy skillfully navigated this challenge through the garden's layout. The strategic use of planting creates a serene and relaxed ambiance in the outdoor lounge, while the expansive deck, adorned with elegant oak arches, provides the perfect setting for leisurely dining and stimulating conversation.

Credits

Installer: Custom Gardens

Designer: Judy Shardlow of Heartwood Garden Design

Supplier: Arbour Landscape Solutions

Products

Sinai Pearl Beige Pre-Sealed Limestone Pavers

Composite Decking

bengal cat relaxing on cream coloured garden furniture in a garden designed by Heartwood Garden Design
Sinai Pearl Beige limestone patio with views across an attractive family garden designed by Judy Shardlow
Nicely laid out back garden with outdoor lounge, dining area, lawns and planting
Decking patio with level access from house and traditionally built oak pergola
Composite decking outdoor dining area with oak arch above
Overview of garden with oak pergola above dining deck
Neatly edged gravel path leading to outdoor dining area with oak pergola
Oak pergola above a decked dining area
Modern home with attractive gravel driveway designed by Judy Shardlow
Garden and front driveway in Harpenden, Herts
Limestone stepping stones traversing a gravel and pebble garden with attractive planting scheme
Attractive edging delineates gravel drive and beautifully planted gravel garden
Gravel garden detail with attractive pebble feature
Limestone stepping stone path across a beautifully planted gravel garden
Dark coloured garden fence with verbena bonariensis planting in front
Beautiful small water feature surrounded by low growing plants
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