To The Next Level

An audacious wish list, complete with badminton lawn and pavilion, has become reality in this intrepid terraced design.

- Jodie Jones

We asked a lot of this space,” says Annabel Elkington of the garden she shares with her husband, Ben, and their family in south London. “We have four children, a dog and a cat. It’s a busy house and we wanted a sanctuary in which we could also entertain.”

The Elkingtons’ requirements also included a badminton lawn, hammocks and a garden room (requested by the children), informal planting and a frog pond (Ben’s wishes), all in a muted palette and with a contemporary aesthetic (Annabel’s brief). No wonder garden designers Lucy Willcox and Ana Sanchez-Martin felt daunted on their first site visit.

Annabel contacted Lucy after she saw the designer’s garden in Homes & Gardens. “It spoke to me,” says Annabel. “Lucy then introduced me to Ana and we ended up collaborating.”