Contemporary Terraced Garden Design, Bishop's Storford, Hertfordshire
Multi-level garden design for a compact Victorian garden
This contemporary garden design was created for a compact west-facing terraced garden behind a Victorian-style home in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire.
While the architecture of the house leaned traditional, the client wanted the garden to feel calm, contemporary and highly usable, combining strong structure with softer planting and natural materials.
The design focuses on creating flow and atmosphere within a relatively small footprint, carefully balancing clean architectural lines with immersive planting to make the garden feel both functional and secluded.
The Brief
The client had recently retrained as a Sound Therapist, and wanted a room built at the end of the garden in order to give sessions. She wanted a modern garden that would complement the character of the Victorian property while having a modern feel and a garden full of plants! The dream project!
The garden needed to incorporate a generous garden room, an intimate seating area for two and plenty of planting to soften the space and create a more relaxed atmosphere throughout.
As the garden was relatively compact, it was important that the layout felt well balanced, without becoming overcrowded or overly complicated. The client wanted it to feel like the garden was giving you a hug, whilst walking up to the room for a relaxing treatment.
The Design
To help the garden feel larger and more structured, the space was carefully arranged into a series of simple, connected zones that guide movement naturally through the garden.
A garden room positioned at the end of the plot creates a strong focal point and helps visually anchor the space, while also extending the usable living area outdoors. The client decided to have 3m wide bi-fold doors, that could be fully opened up so that the room and the garden worked as one. The ground beneath the room was dug out, and pile screws were used rather than a concrete base as they are much less harmful to the environment. This meant that there was no step up and into the room, keeping the level of the floor inside the room and the patio outside the same.
To enhance the sense of depth and perspective within the garden, the garden room was clad in burnt cedar Millboard cladding. The darker finish allows the structure to visually recede into the background, helping create the illusion of a longer garden and adding contrast against the softer planting palette.
The burnt cedar Millboard cladding was selected not only for its rich contemporary appearance, but also for its durability and sustainability credentials. Made using a high proportion of recycled materials, including reclaimed limestone, the cladding offers exceptional stability and resistance to moisture, insects and decay. Unlike traditional timber cladding, it will not rot, warp, split or swell over time, making it particularly well suited to long-term outdoor use.
The layout of the garden combines clean contemporary lines with warmer rustic textures to ensure the garden feels inviting rather than overly formal. the clay pavers and limestone patio tiles were selected carefully to complement both the architecture of the house and the softer naturalistic planting.
Planting
The client asked that a lawn wasn't included within the design, which is music to my ears! Deep borders filled with plants were included as part of the design. The planting plays an essential role in softening the space and bringing movement, texture and seasonal interest into the garden.
Clay pavers interplanted with thyme introduce fragrance and softness underfoot while helping blur the edges between hard landscaping and planting.
Layered perennial planting and structural greenery create a lush, immersive atmosphere throughout the garden, contrasting beautifully against the cleaner architectural structure of the layout.
A large tree fern, affectionately named Nellie by the owners, was introduced as part of the planting scheme and became a key focal point within the garden. Its sculptural form and dramatic foliage help create an established, tropical feel within the relatively compact space while adding strong architectural presence amongst the softer planting. It also broke up the expanse of the garden room, making it feel like the room had always been there.
The planting palette was designed with a number of evergreen shrubs to provide interest across the seasons while helping the garden feel calm, secluded and connected to nature despite its urban setting. The scheme is low-maintenance, whilst still looking great all year round.
The Outcome
The finished design creates a contemporary garden that feels calm, private and far larger than its physical footprint.
Through the careful use of structure, perspective, material selection and planting, the garden has been transformed into a highly usable outdoor retreat that feels both modern and deeply connected to the home.
“Designing this garden was all about creating a peaceful escape within a compact space. I wanted it to feel calm and welcoming, with planting that softened the clean lines of the layout. The garden room is a strong architectural feature, but by using dark cladding and surrounding it with planting, it becomes part of the landscape rather than dominating it. It’s a lovely example of how even small gardens can feel generous and full of atmosphere.”
Zoe Kilbride, Garden Designer
