This garden, laid with gravel and slabs, was functional but uninspiring: a dreary place with nowhere to sit out in the evening. 

 

The first task was to level the sloping 

garden and reinstate the lawn. Gabions were used to lift the end of the garden by 50 cm and several tonnes of new topsoil were imported before seeding.

 

The ugly terrace was then replaced by a more usable area of decking, linked to the kitchen door by stone paving. The clients also requested a large bespoke shed to be built to house bikes and garden equipment.

 

The decking captures the evening sun and steps on two sides removes the need for a balustrade all round.