Garden Design in Hertfordshire and Essex
Bespoke garden design creating natural, balanced outdoor spaces
Zoe Kilbride offers a bespoke garden design service for clients across Hertfordshire and Essex, creating outdoor spaces that feel balanced, natural and connected to the character of the home they surround.
The service is suited to clients looking for a complete garden transformation or a considered redesign of an existing space.
Every garden is approached individually, with careful attention given to layout, structure and planting, so that the finished space feels both beautiful and easy to live with.
Most garden design projects begin with a short initial consultation, where Zoe can learn more about your garden, discuss your ideas and explain how the design process works.
If the project moves forward, a proposal is prepared outlining the scope of the garden design work and associated design fee.
A thoughtful, tailored approach to garden design
Every garden begins with its own set of opportunities and constraints. The existing landscape, the architecture of the house and the way the garden will be used all shape the direction of the design.
Zoe’s approach is to create gardens that feel calm, cohesive and well balanced. Strong spatial planning provides the structure for the garden, while carefully considered planting brings softness, movement and seasonal change.
Whether the project involves a complete transformation or the reworking of an existing space, the aim is always to create a garden that feels personal, purposeful and naturally connected to its surroundings.
What’s included in a full garden design service
Each garden design project is shaped around the individual site and the needs of the people who will use the space.
The garden design service typically includes:
• Site appraisal and discussion of the design brief
• Development of the garden layout and overall spatial structure
• Guidance on materials and hard landscaping elements
• Planting direction and overall planting character
• Detailed garden design plans ready for landscaping
Detailed planting plans, plant sourcing and plant supply can also be developed as part of a separate planting design service where required.
The garden design process from start to finish
Every garden design project begins with understanding the space and the people who will use it. From the initial consultation through to the final garden design plans, the design develops through a clear and considered process.
1. Initial conversation
The first step is a short initial conversation to discuss your garden, your ideas for the space and whether the project feels like a good fit. Initial consultations take 20-30 minutes.
2. Garden design proposal
Following the conversation, Zoe prepares a proposal outlining the scope of the garden design work and the associated design fee.
3. Site survey
Once the proposal is agreed, a detailed site survey is carried out to record the garden’s dimensions, levels and existing features. This provides the accurate information needed to develop the design.
4. Garden design development
The garden design is then developed into a clear and cohesive scheme that brings together layout, materials and planting direction ready for landscaping.
Typical garden design project budgets
One of the most common questions when planning a garden design project is how much it will cost to transform the space. Every garden is different, and costs will vary depending on the size of the garden, the materials used and the level of construction involved.
As a broad guide, professionally designed garden projects often involve build budgets starting from around £15,000 to £30,000, with larger or more complex gardens requiring a higher level of investment.
During the garden design consultation, Zoe can explore the possibilities for your garden and discuss how the design can be shaped to suit your budget. Every project is different, and Zoe works with clients on gardens of many sizes and styles.
Is this garden design service right for you
This service is suited to those looking for a considered, well-balanced garden that has been carefully designed from the outset.
This service works particularly well if you are:
planning a complete garden transformation
unsure how to bring structure and planting together
looking for a clear, cohesive design before starting landscaping
wanting a garden that feels natural, calm and easy to live with over time
Garden design is a collaborative process, and works best when there is a shared understanding of the space, the brief and the level of investment involved.
If you are unsure whether this is the right approach for your garden, the initial consultation is a simple way to explore ideas and understand what might be possible.
