A dated crazy paved patio area before it was redesigned by Helen Taylor Garden Design.

BEFORE: Crazy paved patio with steps leading down the side of the garden.

A contemporary terraced garden to a town house, Ilkley.

This large end terrace period property had a sterile crazy paved terraced outdoor space which was inaccessible from the basement where the client planned to add a new dining kitchen. The client wanted to integrate the house and outdoor space by creating an outdoor dining area and to return the garden to a softer character with a lawn and planting.

The crazy paving was removed and the garden excavated to provide a lower dining space outside the basement kitchen with steps leading to a level lawn, bespoke focal seat and a backdrop of planting.

Materials were carefully selected to link the traditional house with contemporary elements in the interior. Practical non-slip light grey porcelain tiles in the dining space with a white rendered wall, and reclaimed stone for the upper retaining walls for a more organic character. The planting palette included greys, whites and purples with repeat planting.

At the side of the house, an open verge was redesigned to provide a vegetable garden with raised beds, gravel paths and arches connected to the house to support climbing plants.

AFTER

Plan view of the garden from the elevated front door.

The main steps form the lower terrace and the principal framed view to the bench.

Dining patio outside basement kitchen in a terraced town garden.

The dining area and covered storage below the front stairway.

The view from the terraced level with lawn area towards the dining patio outside the new kitchen in the basement of a town house in Ilkley

The new bi-fold doors to the new dining kitchen.

Bi-fold doors in the basement kitchen frame the view to the garden with stone steps leading to the lawned area with a focal point of a seat built into the stone wall.

The framed view to the garden from the basement kitchen.