Our Largest Garden Design & Build Project to Date
Last year, Creative Gardens & Driveways completed our largest and most complex garden design and build project to date. As a leading landscaping company, we believe that every garden has potential, and this project was a great demonstration of the skills and passion we bring to every project.
In this video David talks through the complete process from design to the finished result.
This was a true end-to-end project for the team, which brought together our skills in construction, planting, lighting, and bespoke garden design across multiple outdoor spaces. A full garden design and build project, this is one of the best examples of the work we do as a company and the level of commitment you can expect when working with our team.
To achieve our clients’ ambitious vision for their outdoor space, close collaboration between our designers, build team, and the client was essential to achieving the final result. We took this project from the initial consultation and site survey through to a stunning finishing result, which has enhanced our client’s home and lifestyle.
By using this project as a case study, we are sharing what is possible when working with seasoned, experienced, and skilled professionals like the Creative Gardens & Driveways team.
Our Garden Design Process: Understanding The Client’s Vision
The first stage of our garden design process is essential to the ongoing success of the project and plays a significant role in this case study. At the beginning of every garden design and build project, we carry out a consultation and detailed site survey.
This is where we take the time to understand your vision and goals, as well as assess the current landscape you are working with. Through such a detailed process, we can determine the best course of action for our clients and ensure we are the right fit for their needs.
To learn more about our garden design process, see our post A Step-by-Step Guide To The Garden Design Process.
As garden designers, we appreciate that every landscape is unique and no two projects are alike. This is why these initial stages are so important and will vary in every project we undertake.
Some clients have a clear idea of what they desire, which is the case in this garden design case study, whereas others may need more support and inspiration. No matter what you are working with, our team has the skills and experience necessary to achieve outstanding results.
For this garden design project, our client had clear requirements, which were fundamental to the rest of the design and build process. They requested:
- A garden designed for entertaining, with seating for up to 20 people
- Strong visual impact both day and night, so that they could use the garden at all hours
- Multiple garden zones, including a rear garden, courtyard, and front garden
This complex garden design was difficult for our clients to visualise clearly through our traditional 2D drawings, making our 3D renderings essential to this project. We offer 3D and Virtual Reality garden designs for many projects, especially in complex cases like this, to allow for a clearer understanding of our intentions.
The Benefits of 3D Garden Design
At Creative Gardens & Driveways, we take pride in offering a comprehensive garden design service. We take things a step further by offering more than just the traditional 2D drawings, but can bring your vision to life through our 3D computer images.
We also offer an exclusive VR experience for garden designs, as we discuss in our blog post Virtual Reality Takes Garden Design To The Next Level.
For a project of this scale and complexity, 3D garden designs were essential to ensure a clear understanding between the design team and our clients. We appreciate that flat, 2D images can be difficult to visualise and understand. Using 3D computer-generated visuals and a garden design video, we were able to show our clients exactly how the finished garden would look and feel.
This technology gives our clients a first-hand experience of the intended garden design, allowing them to virtually walk through the new landscape, ensuring all details from the planting to the lights and paving materials are what they want. Our 3D video and visuals give the clients a clear image of the garden as a whole, as well as how different areas would connect.
By adding another dimension to the garden design drawings, we can also clearly communicate to our clients the scale and layout of the space.
Given the size of the investment and the complexity of the design, this stage was invaluable in ensuring confidence before moving into construction.
Key Features Of The Garden Design: What’s Possible With Creative Gardens & Driveways
This garden design and build project is one of the most detailed builds we have done to date. It was a complete renovation of the outdoor space and performed on a mass scale to achieve the high-end design our clients desired. We relied on a variety of bespoke features and garden design elements to achieve this stunning result.
The garden design includes substantial retaining walls and broad steps, which were built by our in-house construction team to manage levels throughout the garden. This creates an even and functional surface, allowing for complex design details and cohesive appearance throughout.
As requested by the clients, our design also included a generous seating and entertaining area, which had specifically been created to comfortably accommodate larger gatherings.
Focal points are a key part of garden design, especially for landscapes of this scale, as we explore in our post The Art of Focal Points: How To Make Your Garden Stand Out.
In this garden design and build project, a striking solid oak pergola is the main focal point, as it runs through the landscape and visually ties the different garden zones together. These zones include the front garden, courtyard, and car barn areas.
Additional focal points in the form of a pond and water features were used to create a sense of tranquillity and luxury in the landscape. Likewise, a carefully planned lighting scheme has been installed throughout the garden, making it come to life after dark and ensuring outdoor events can continue through the evening.
Lighting is a highly effective garden design feature, and can be used in a variety of ways, as we explore in our post How to Illuminate Your Cheshire Garden: Outdoor Lighting Tips. For this project, the courtyard in particular really comes to life after dark, with the lighting adding depth, atmosphere, and a sense of warmth, making it just as enjoyable in the evening as it is during the day.
The Finished Result: From Bare Space to Finished Landscape
When work began, the garden had very little in place. This complete garden design and build project took place over 20 weeks and saw a complete renovation of the property.
Our clients now have a stunning front and back garden that is perfectly aligned with their lifestyle, allowing for entertainment and hosting outdoors throughout the year. This was a complex build which relied heavily on the professional teamwork of our garden designers, landscape gardeners, and construction teams, as well as hundreds of tonnes of soil.
We had five people on site throughout this garden design and build, ensuring the project ran smoothly and was done to the standards our client desired.
Our garden designer remained closely involved during construction, ensuring everything worked exactly as intended and was on site when adjustments needed to be made, such as using brick instead of stone for budgeting benefits or the removal of an additional water feature was requested.
To achieve this incredible result, hard and soft landscaping elements were combined, such as:
- Levels were created in the garden to support lawns and planting
- Hard landscaping and structural elements were installed as focal points and to enhance the functionality of the space
- A brand-new lawn was laid
- Planting was installed at a size that provides immediate impact to the overall garden design
While the structure of the garden is now complete, planting will continue to improve over time. Typically, a garden like this reaches full maturity after around three years, as plants establish and fill out, making this a long-term investment for our clients.
Conclusion
At Creative Gardens & Driveways, we take pride in our garden design and build process. We offer a complete, end-to-end solution for landscaping and design, as this project demonstrates.
Using our skills, passion and experience, we can achieve incredible results for our clients. This project is the perfect case study for the quality of work we provide, as it is the largest and most complex design project we have completed to date.
This was an outstanding project and a fantastic example of what can be achieved through careful planning, expert design, and strong teamwork.
We’re really looking forward to returning in spring, when the planting has matured further, and the client’s oak building is complete, capturing the garden at its very best.
Contact Us Today
Are you ready to transform your garden? Contact the team today to request a consultation or to learn more about what we do.
FAQs
How long does a large garden design and build project take?
Large, complex projects can take several months. This particular garden took just over 20 weeks from start to finish.
Why use 3D garden design instead of a 2D plan?
3D visuals help clients clearly understand how the finished garden will look, especially when levels, structures, and multiple areas are involved.
How long does it take for planting to mature?
While there is an immediate impact, most gardens reach full maturity after around three years, as plants establish and grow.
