Overlooking a quiet leafy square in the heart of Hackney, east London, the Grade II-listed villa that newlyweds Tom and Emily bought in 2018 offered the period features and space they needed
to create their dream family home.
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A new glass-fronted extension to the lower-ground floor opened up the kitchen and dining area, but once the building work was complete, the couple found themselves looking out on to a small, dark, inhospitable garden with a patchy lawn and a forest of self-seeded trees. “There wasn’t anywhere to sit and the trees made it too shady,” says Emily. “And when we tried to put in some new plants, they just died. It was at that point we realised we needed a fresh start.”
Garden designers Harriet Farlam and Ben Chandler, of Farlam & Chandler, were introduced to the couple by their interior designer All & Nxthing, and came on board with a brief to create a sanctuary that could be enjoyed throughout the year.
The generous proportions and wide steps help to create the illusion of space, and by training scented climbing roses and jasmine on to the vertical surfaces, we’ve packed lots of flowers into a small area, without blocking out too much sunlight.
Designer, Ben Chandler
“The garden is on a slope and we wanted to utilise the level changes to create a series of functional spaces,” explains Harriet. “Emily and Tom also asked us for a planting palette in soft peach, pink and plum tones to remind them of their wedding flowers, as well as space to display their sculptures.”
The designers divided the plot into three distinct areas: a paved dining terrace connecting the garden to the kitchen; steps leading up to a small lawn and planted borders; and a gravelled lounge area at the back that traps the morning sun. “Inspired by the marriage of historic and contemporary elements in the house, we used the pattern of the leading of the Jacobean-style windows in the arrangement of the outdoor spaces and hard landscape detailing, as well as the plant feature on the back wall,” says Ben.
“We also created a layered planting scheme that immerses you in greenery as you look out from the extension. The generous proportions and wide steps help to create the illusion of space, and by training scented climbing roses and jasmine on to the vertical surfaces, we’ve packed lots of flowers into a small area, without blocking out too much sunlight.”
While the need for privacy is often an issue in small town gardens, Emily and Tom wanted to establish a connection with their neighbours and retained a low wall on one side. “We replaced the big trees with smaller ones, such as the Heptacodium miconioides, so that we have some privacy but can also chat over the wall,” says Emily.
We also created a layered planting scheme that immerses you in greenery as you look out from the extension.
The planting palette chosen by the designers offers a blend of leafy evergreens, including the star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), lavender and ferns (Polypodium vulgare ‘Bifidocristatum’ and Polystichum polyblepharum), together with flowering perennials that deliver seasonal colour, such as hardy geraniums, mallow (Malva x clementii ‘Bredon Springs’), salvias, astrantias and others in the soft pastels Emily and Tom requested. The flowering season is also extended with a layer of bulbs, including narcissi, tulips, alliums and Ornithogalum, in the same colour palette.
One of the most striking features in the garden is the planting design on the back wall, which catches the eye from inside the house, enticing visitors to venture out to take a closer look. “This is a simple idea but has great impact,” says Harriet. “It’s created with five scented star jasmines (Trachelospermum jasminoides) planted at the base of tension wires fixed in a diagonal pattern to the wall. The
plants are then trained up the wires and trimmed about once a month in summer to maintain the effect.”
The attention to detail creates a multisensory experience as you walk through the garden. The edges of the steps are set at 120 degrees, reflecting the pattern of the leading in the windows, while the retaining wall for the lawn terrace is made from a sheet of steel that continues across the risers, unifying the elements with bands of colour and texture. “The steps also bleed into the built-in timber benches, offering more casual seating when guests arrive,” says Harriet. "The ferns beneath the seat and Corsican mint (Mentha requienii) between the pavers on the dining terrace provide yet more layers of interest.”
Beyond the steps, Purbeck limestone pavers in a staggered pattern form an organic, informal path that creates an element of surprise as you walk through the space, and allowed the designers to squeeze in even more plants. “The shape of the lawn also mirrors the leading in the Jacobean-style windows, linking it with other features in the garden, while the feathered edges bring a sense of softness to offset what is otherwise a bold, architectural layout,” says Ben.
Harriet and Ben always consider the impact their gardens will have on the environment, and here they sourced the limestone from a quarry in the Purbeck hills and used waste off-cuts from the same stone to make the pavers for the path next to the lawn. “Nearly 50 per cent of the total garden area is planted, and the gravel and lawn are permeable, while the run-off from the hard surfaces goes into the borders rather than mains drainage, helping to prevent localised flooding and pollution,” says Harriet.
Owner Emily says the new design has revolutionised the way the family use the garden. “We’re outside whenever the weather allows, and it was especially lovely last summer when we had a newborn, and I could sit for hours in the rocking chair with him in a shady spot while our toddler played on the lawn. We also use the dining table from spring to autumn, thanks to a Heatsail lamp, and love the unexpected planting – the little ferns under the bench, the roses growing up behind the barbecue, and the big flowerbed right by the window, which means that even in winter we look out on to a sea of green.”
The designers have also incorporated some of the plants the couple had in pots, including roses they were given as wedding presents and hydrangeas from Emily’s grandmother. “These plants are so precious to us and they look like they’ve always been here, which is a testament to Ben and Harriet’s thoughtful design.”
In brief
- What Compact city garden with diamond-patterned jasmine wall feature, ragged-edged lawn, flower borders, lounge area and built-in seating.
Where London. - Size 12.5m x 6m.
- Soil London clay.
- Aspect West-facing.
- Designed by Farlam & Chandler