Create your own urban oasis
How to make the most of your outdoor space
When you first moved into your new home, did you picture yourself relaxing in the late afternoon sun after a long day’s work, cold glass of sauvignon in hand and feet up on a Dedon daybed? Us too. Yet as the years have rolled by, the closest most of us come to enjoying our outdoor space is as a spot to stick the recycling bins and lock up our Pashley bicycle.
Recent research has found that nearly half of all urbanites wish they could live a greener life in the city, and with more than 1,300 sunshine hours to enjoy a year there’s every reason to concentrate on developing our own personal Edens. But while we pay a premium to have private outdoor space, hardly any of us make proper use of it.
Size is no excuse, there’s so much that can be done with a small square footage. Here are five stylish examples to inspire you, with tips on how to best use your budget to get the urban garden of your dreams.
Words: Sarah Baldwin
Sarah Baldwin is a writer for Grand Designs Magazine. Visit granddesignsmagazine.com and channel4.com for more information.
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Rooftop Getaway
You’d never know by looking at this striking… More details
Rooftop Getaway
You’d never know by looking at this striking north London roof terrace, but these are the hardest urban spaces to design.
Being several floors up, roof terraces feel the whip of the wind, so consider bamboo screens to provide extra shelter. Roof terrace plants also need to be able to withstand windy, exposed conditions. Try Stipa Gigantea for a tall-stemmed grass.
As for furniture, larger roof terraces can accommodate comfortable seating. A water feature can also make a small space seem larger; it’ll reflect light and ties nicely into the current trend for Asian-inspired design.
Feeling inspired? Enter our competition to win outdoor furniture and garden show tickets here
Designer: Charlotee Rowe
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Grow your own
It’s perfectly possible to bring a kitchen… More details
Grow your own
It’s perfectly possible to bring a kitchen garden into a city space, combining vegetables, fruits and herb-filled raised beds with a wood burning oven. To the right of the wood-burning stove is a sink, perfect for washing veggies.
As for the layout, planting veggies and herbs in raised beds means they are easy to access and low maintenance; planting your own fresh soil means minimal weeding. The beds also define boundaries, giving your garden a sculptural element.
Finally, when deciding what to plant, remember that herbs need strong, sunny areas, while veggies and fruit can survive in semi-shade.
Feeling inspired? Enter our competition to win outdoor furniture and garden show tickets here
Designer: Karen Rogers
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Cooking outside
While the concept of an outdoor kitchen might… More details
Cooking outside
While the concept of an outdoor kitchen might seem daunting, it’s no different from having a high-end barbecue, although everything needs to be specifically designed for exterior use.
This garden features bold architectural planting in raised beds, and hardy evergreens that could withstand any weather. Photinia Red Robin is popular, forming gorgeous, small white flowers and fruits in August.
As for flooring, a key way of making a small urban garden feel bigger is by using larger stones or tiles on the ground; lots of smaller pieces make a space feel cramped.
Feeling inspired? Enter our competition to win outdoor furniture and garden show tickets here
Designer: Declan Buckley
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Balcony bliss
The tight space afforded by a balcony doesn’t… More details
Balcony bliss
The tight space afforded by a balcony doesn’t allow for very daring design, but much can be achieved on a tiny footprint. Because balconies are so close to home, it’s important to create a link with the inside. Pick out specific interior features, for example here a striking sculpture extends the art collection that dominates the living room.
Visual tricks can make the area feel larger, such as using slimline planters with in-built voids that allow light to shine through. The unusual shapes become both sculptural pieces, and a way to house ambient lighting (they can hide the messy power source).
Feeling inspired? Enter our competition to win outdoor furniture and garden show tickets here
Designer: Amir Schlezinger
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Uniting inside and out
Get the look of this this sizzling pink, Notting… More details
Uniting inside and out
Get the look of this this sizzling pink, Notting Hill garden with raspberry-coloured paint. It’s an easy job to do yourself just make sure you buy exterior masonry paint (which comes in a variety of finishes, from textured to ultra-smooth) and wait for good weather so it can dry properly.
Opening up the back of your house with floor-to-ceiling glass doors also increases the feeling of space. Flooring can also link interior and exterior spaces; here, the hardwood decking extends the tones from the house.
Feeling inspired? Enter our competition to win outdoor furniture and garden show tickets here
Designer: Stuart Craine
Tags: design, home life
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