Reviving Crazy Paving

Project Type: Domestic Back Garden
For anyone who thinks that crazy paving is a thing of the past, take a look at how Claire Garden Design and Rolston Landscapes have incorporated it into a beautiful garden in North London.  Is this the start of a new trend in garden design? It's certainly different to the straight lines and geometric shapes that we've been seeing a lot of lately.  What do you think?
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Brief
Extending A Garden On To New Land

This Georgian property in North London has a traditionally shaped long slim garden which was extended when the owners bought a piece of adjoining land. Claire Garden Design was invited to create a cohesive design to make the two parts of the garden into one.

The new garden needed to be family friendly and have compelling features that could entice teenagers off their devices and into the garden. Now that really is a design challenge!

Challenge
Drainage And Distances

Every garden project has challenges. Chris Rolston and his team of landscapers needed their thinking caps on for some elements of this build.

Firstly the drainage needed addressing. Soakaways and SuDs were installed to resolve problems with rising water.

Then there was access. At 250m2 and with a long, slim profile, it's a long way from one end of this garden to the other which inevitably made moving materials in and out of the space quite challenging. Fortunately the next door neighbours were very helpful.

Solution
Who Knew Crazy Paving Could Be Cool?

Wow, what a triumph! Chris and his team have built a warm, friendly and inviting garden which feels secluded even though it's in a busy part of London. Gentle organic curves and sympathetic planting bring an element of hide and reveal into the space. Soft lighting for evening time draws the whole family out of doors to eat, chat and entertain.
Chris admits that is was a little wary at first about using paddlestones to create the low garden walls and the curved seating. But now he's really happy with the results. He loves the textural and the size variateions and enjoyed figuring out how to build with different materials.

Credits

Installer: Rolston Landscapes

Designer: Claire Garden Designs

Supplier: Arbour Landscape Solutions

Products

Paddlestones

Sinai Beige Honed/Tumbled Pre-Sealed Limestone Bullnosed Copings

Our Client Said...
Ordered online. I like to build and save quotes to help with budgeting and project management. Fabulous service.
(Reviving Crazy Paving)
before landscaping and during garden clearance
clearing a garden before landscaping
Narrow brick garden path in garden being prepared for landscaping
overgrown garden about to be cleared for landscaping
underground drainage pipes being laid to remedy wet conditions in an urban garden
pump for garden drainage system
pump housing for garden drainage system
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garden seating area lit for evening entertaining and relaxing
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curved outdoor seat with paddlestones
low curved garden wall built with paddlestones and beautifully lit to accentuate the shape
Soft lighting for outdoor seating area
beautifully lit garden just right for relaxing outdoors
Curved outdoor seating with paddlestone wall as base and limestone copings for seat
pretty garden photographed at dusk
patio with crazy paving softly lit for evening use
small step up to new crazy paving patio with built in curved seating
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gravel path winding through planting towards georgian house
garden tree lit from beneath
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