urban english garden
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Creating the perfect backyard oasis can be a challenging task, but when our client approached us with their vision, we were eager to take on the challenge. With their love for all things English, they wanted to bring a touch of an English garden to their backyard in the heart of the city.
The original backyard was outdated, with a poorly laid out design that lacked any sense of theme. The masonry was falling apart, and the plants in the garden were not cohesive, leaving the space feeling disjointed. Another obstacle we had to work around was the acute angles of the property lines, which limited the available space to work with.
Our first task was to understand the client's goals for the space, which were to create distinct areas for dining, lounging, a themed English garden, and a swimming pool. We then had to figure out how to work within the constraints of the site to achieve their vision.
To make the most of the available space, we positioned the swimming pool parallel to the rear-angled property line, which allowed us to gain more square footage for the dining, seating, and lounging areas. We incorporated structured border shrubs, such as Buxus 'Green Velvet' (Boxwood), to define the garden beds and give a sense of order to the space.
To bring the English garden style to life, we incorporated traditional elements such as rose bushes, lavender, and climbing vines throughout the space. A custom-built pergola was also constructed using natural materials like wood and climbing vines, which not only provided shade but also softened the harsh angles of the backyard.
We replaced the outdated masonry with a mix of natural stone and concrete pavers to create an interesting hardscape that complemented the garden beds. The swimming pool was designed to blend in with the overall theme of the backyard, using a naturalistic design with a pebble finish and a waterfall feature.
Throughout the design process, we worked closely with the client to ensure their goals and vision were met. We made sure to incorporate plenty of seating options throughout the space, including a cozy fire pit area and a variety of seating options around the pool.
In the end, we were able to transform the client's outdated and underutilized backyard into a beautiful and functional space that truly captured the essence of an English garden. By working with the site conditions, we were able to create a design that maximized the available space and created a welcoming and inviting atmosphere for the client and their guests.
