In response, I explained to Robyn that the house possessed both front and back outdoor spaces, and we wanted them to function differently. The front, which is south-facing, sits just back from a busy road. It gets a lot of sun, but because of the road noise, it is not the best place to pass the time. At the back of the house is a little courtyard, protected from wind (and noise) on all four sides, making the perfect little sun trap and lunch spot. Ideally, we would keep the courtyard’s floor space relatively clear, allowing for plenty of guests, but we could add a lot of interest in the front garden. For further context, I told Robyn that my partner and I have not tended gardens of our own before, and so the ultimate goal was to make the most of our outdoor space without taking on too much work.
Valentina Large 3 Seat Sofa
Emerson Garden Sofa, fine red awning stripe
Butter and her assistant, Em, start in the front garden (pictured above), which is entirely paved from boundary wall to front door. A huge leylandii hedge surrounds two of the four sides, which sucks up a lot of light. Given the front of the house faces south, I float the idea that this feels wasteful. Butter is quick to inform me that a leylandii is actually a solid choice because, even though it blocks the sun, it dampens the noise from the road and keeps prying eyes at bay. The leylandii stays.
As for the sunshine, Butter suggests putting a table and chairs in the sunniest spot, which happens to be right outside the sitting room window. This is a good idea on two counts. ‘At the moment, you’re staring directly at the bin store when you’re inside,’ she explains. ‘But if you put a garden sofa and table out front instead, that will become your focal point and you will always look to that.’ Plus, it gives us a place to sit and enjoy the sun.
Comments are closed.