Oasis of shade

This large country garden had lacked a true outdoor usable space – a new patio area brings year round indoor-outdoor living

The patio connects with the sprawling country garden

The large patio is laid with Indian sandstone.

A decking bar leaner was included for seating

For overhead cover and protection from weather, a

Designed by Christopher Braczek, Design and Garden Landscapes

From the landscape designer:

This country garden is large and lacked a true outdoor usable space, as the original space – now designed around – was laid in plain concrete, lawn and minimal planting, with no real thought to shape and intention.

A new patio area was designed as an extension to the house for easy all year round indoor-outdoor living.

Work started with the removal of the existing large concrete pad and lawn areas.

This allowed us to create a new large patio laid in Indian sandstone, with sections of charcoal exposed aggregate as soldier edges around the paving.

A feature outdoor fireplace was then built in with a floating hearth and side walls, and then raised planters to form some enclosure to this otherwise level space.

A decking bar leaner was included for seating and other decked seating placed around the raised planters.

For overhead cover and protection from weather, a large overhead louvre pergola was introduced – making the area ideal for year round entertaining.

Planting is established as feature standard Prunus lusitanicus in the planters, and other lower shelter plantings to help protect the space from the predominant south westerlies.

Other plants are designed around colour and to form quick cover for easy care.