Now is the time to start tidying up the garden and pruning your flowers in wake of the autumn season, which can spark a few ideas. At Notcutts we’ve interviewed four fantastic garden designers to ask them what we could be doing in our garden to help improve our life in the great outdoors. Katrina Wells is the first designer we interviewed and with over 150 designs under her belt, we’re sure she has a few insightful tips we can use.
How long have you been designing gardens for and how have you got to where you are today?
I’ve been designing gardens since 2003 when I founded Earth Designs. I have always been a keen gardener and started my professional life originally as a florist. After graduating I went on to work for a design and events company, but was made redundant. This opened up the opportunity to start my own garden design business and five years later I have been able to expand Earth Designs’ offerings to build projects, with my husband becoming the Operation Director for our landscaping service.
What are Earth Designs’ values?
We are very proud to offer an honest service that provides highly creative yet practical solutions to all our clients.
On average how many designs do you do a year, and what has been you most extravagant project?
I design about 15 gardens a year, which all tend to be quite flamboyant in nature. I have had clients wanting a heavy duty pergola , an outdoor fire place and illuminated furniture. I really enjoy working with modern materials and have used a lot of perspex in gardens that covers all the colours of the rainbow.
Yes there most certainly is. As we are based in London a lot of our customers have small areas without much access. We have had to bring materials through the home, especially if they have a roof terrace garden and have used a crane to bring materials across roof tops. The weather has also proved to be a challenging aspect – we saw snow at the end of March and that certainly made things tricky.
What gives you as a designer the most satisfaction: receiving positive feedback on your designs or seeing the finished project?
Both. Not all of our designs are built by us; some of our clients decide they would like to build themselves, but seeing our clients put their own signature and style to their garden is great to see. The initial stage for me as a designer is wonderful – when you come with the ideas and present them to the client, it is a truly dynamic moment when you come up with a solution that they love. Seeing the garden being built is also an amazing feeling, but revisiting the project two years or so on, and seeing how your client has lived in the garden, putting their finishing touches to it, is one of the best feelings.
Can you explain to our readers who are thinking about employing a garden designer and landscaper the process involved?
It varies from company to company - some go through the process of an initial visit to see the site, send their suggestions to the client, come back to the site to conduct a survey and then draw the designs. We however, are a bit more linear with our process. I go to our client’s homes for a consultation and while we are taking I start drawing up my visions. Clients can see what I think could work well in their space and they can give me feedback there and then. I think this is a really good way to start the process as it gives my clients a sense of ownership from the word go. After the designs have been approved and a client has decided how they would like to proceed, I’ll draw up the plan, provide visuals and present the budget.
How long do you typically spend on each design? How long would a project take on average?
This is a very broad question, of course it all depends on the size, the access (if we need to organize a crane, for example) and the weather. Typically the design can take a month to assemble; I work on the design for about a week, drawing up the planting and lighting schemes and choosing the right products for the client. The build however, can take from a week up to three months, weather permitting.
Do you have any tips for those looking for a designer? Are there any questions they should ask?
I think you first need to make sure what your budget it. Some people don’t realize the true cost of these services. It’s also important to make sure you understand the process and how much involvement the garden designer will have during the process. Always use someone who is registered and insured and know where they are. There is a reason why some people do a cash in hand job; at the end of the day you get what you pay for and sometimes the cheaper things aren’t always the best.
I always take elements from the Chelsea Flower Show gardens and adapt it. It’s a great source of inspiration that you can cherry pick with. However, there are some aspects of the show gardens that are unrealistic – for one they are incredibly expensive, and secondly most of them aren’t practical – you never see a shed or water butt, some of the things that gardeners need in their outdoor spaces.
Are there any simple ideas keen gardeners can incorporate into their outdoor space that won’t break the bank, yet look stylish?
Upcycling and recycling is becoming bigger and bigger. People are more in-tuned with wildlife now and the ways they can make an attractive home for wildlife to thrive. I’ve also found clients are more concerned with their eco and carbon footprints.
Planting is just one aspect of gardening; use modern materials such as perspex to create a screen that hides ugly areas of your garden – if you have a bicycle rack that you don’t want seen, find a unique way to hide it. I’ve found mesh to be a great material to use and can look wonderful when framed and lit up. Think of the verticals of your garden when wanting to create a stylish statement. The most important aspect when thinking about creating your own garden design is the root through the garden and how you use it. If you have an inherited space and you’re unsure of what to do with it, I would recommend asking a designer to come in to share his or her thoughts. It can save you money in the long run, although you do have the initial cost of their time, but they can help you to create a plan for you to complete in your own time.
How would you define garden design? What does it mean to you?
To me garden design is the combination of art and design that is harnessed in nature. The great thing about my job is having the ability to create an extra room to give my clients something new, something they haven’t had before and overall improve their lifestyle.
For more information take a look at http://www.earthdesigns.co.uk/
