This garden design and landscaping project involved a comprehensive overhaul of an existing Castleknock, Dublin 15 garden which had become very jaded and overgrown.
The site enjoyed a very sunny aspect from morning throughout the day and well into the evening times, and naturally the clients were very keen to exploit this opportunity and to use space as much as possible to provide plenty of patio and seating areas. Plenty a wide range and colour were also very important and although being busy people, enjoying their garden and gardening, low maintenance plants were of particular interest.
The boundary walls although being in good structural order were not very appealing and the design addressed this aspect with some appealing solutions (shiplap timber wall cladding and synthetic boxwood screening). Material finishes were of a very high standard silver granite being used extensively for all paths, patio and wall capping for raised planters. Wireless remote controlled lighted featured throughout the garden providing plenty of cope for flexible lighting effects when and where required.
The original grass lawn was replaced by a synthetic lawn ensuring a beautiful surface requiring virtually no maintenance apart from an occasional sweeping of fallen leaves etc but a durable all weather surface throughout the year. The raised beds were designed and positioned to complement the surface planting areas and incorporated a wide mix of planting including low growing trees, screening bamboos, Japanese Maple and a wide mix of low growing shrubs, herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses.
The diverse mix of planting also featured in the surface planted areas. The raised beds provided discreet compartments between the various areas without impinging on the open aspect to the garden whilst retaining filtered views of the various areas and planting. The other obvious advantages to raised beds was the generous amount of informal seating spaces as well as a user friendly means of access to and maintaining any plants/planting.
Granite be the stone of choice influenced the style and orientation of the raised planted beds and the layout reflected a semi-formal look, softened by the painted rendered walls of the raised beds. The distinctive bull nosed edged granite raised bed wall capping also created a distinct and softer looking edge to the capping and consistent with the overall granite paving.
For contrast and create a rustic feature edging, granite setts were used to good effect to frame the surface planted areas and this slightly less formal looking detail was enhanced by the use of ornamental grasses along the border edgings of the planted areas. The results are an appealing and optimized space with generous seating/patio areas and plenty of planted focal points to create an appealing and low maintenance family garden.
Ground level planted areas framed by granite setts
Distinctive finishes, hard wearing and lasting
Planting featured a mix and diverse range ensuring interest throughout the year and requiring limited maintenance
Focal areas but retaining an open aspect to optimise space
Hardwearing low maintenance finishes epitomised by the synthetic grass lawn
Timber cladding and colour provide a more stylish background
The design emphasises a seamless blend of features and contrasting forms, textures and finishes
The synthetic boxwood cladding provides a stunning screen ensuring privacy and lasting background
Bright, warm and stunning, shiplap timber cladding transforms an otherwise dull boundary walls avery stylish
Boxwood cladding evergreen and weatherproof, offers a no maintenance and space efficient solution for privacy
