GARDEN PROJECT: Space to unwind

A COMPLETE REDESIGN TRANSFORMED LOUISE SMITH’S OVERGROWN GARDEN INTO A RELAXING OASIS FOR HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO ENJOY

-  ZIA ALLAWAY

The cushions for the sofas and chairs are housed in a watertight storage box over winter, which is tucked into a narrow walkway next to the house. Rive Droite bistro tray table, £30, Garden Trading

PROJECT DETAILS

WHO LIVES HERE?

Louise and Marcus Smith live here with their son Harry, eight and Molly the cockapoo.

THE GARDEN

A 98sq m plot.

THE PROJECT

Create a space for relaxing, with new planting and lighting.

TOTAL COST

£65,000

BEFORE

Redesigning their garden was on Louise and Marcus Smith’s ‘to do’ list when they bought their Victorian London home in 2018, but it became a priority during the first lockdown in 2020 when they had nowhere to relax outside. ‘The garden was a jungle of overgrown plants and broken paving, so we couldn’t use it,’ explains Louise. The couple had previously owned a garden that they had tried to design themselves but their lack of plant knowledge meant it was never quite what they had hoped for. ‘Since we plan on