Thank you for your emails about how we chose a design company for our front garden. This post is for you...and the rest of you quietly curious ones too.
We've chosen to work with Hendy Curzon Gardens Limited. All these pictures are their own work. Aren't they gorgeous?
But I didn't want to make our choice based only on beautiful images.
Here are my thoughts on how to choose a great garden design company.
Good mix of styles
Look at the company's website and take a good look at their portfolio. It's easy to be seduced by one show-stopping garden but make sure that they are able to turn their design eye to a wide range of styles - not just one look that is churned out again and again. This demonstrates that the designers have really been listening to their clients.
Look at these two very different looks, which help make my point:
Expertise In Both Building Work AND Planting
In any garden designed from scratch, both these skills are needed, and if one element is lacking then the whole look will fall apart.
Winter Interest
Small gardens need to look good all year round. This is especially true for the front of our house, where there's no hiding from tatty plants in winter. Make sure that not all the images available are taken at the height of the season.
Recommendation And Testimonials
This is the only way to really see past the glitz and the glamour of well-presented web-sites. How's this for an impressive list...
Yes, I love designing. Yes, I love gardening.
But this is a big, expensive job and I want to get it just right.
We looked round at lots of different companies and Hendy Curzon Gardens Limited stood out a mile in the areas I've mentioned.
Yes, they have an amazing portfolio but ALSO the credentials to back it up.
Sounding very good to me...
Tomorrow, I'll be sharing
my Modern Country Style essentials
for a small garden....
Posts
14 comments:
What a beautiful selection of gardens, thanks for the inspiration.
Have a happy Woman's Day!
Tereza
These are lovely and the plants stunning too!
http://missbbobochic.blogspot.com/
Well, how convenient for me to have all this lovely inspiration this morning as I'm about to go outside and work in my own garden. Keep it coming!
Wow I'm sure they will be fantastic!
I have nearly always wimped out of using a garden designer because of the truly awesome bills they tend to charge. Some are brilliant and highly professional like the one you have chosen, but sadly some just do a short course, set themselves up and charge a small fortune.
Hence my garden is a little, erm, ramshackle! I tell myself I like it that way, but some overall design would have been nice. The one time we did employ a company was to hide a huge septic tank in our garden - it was just too difficult a project for me to do on my own. I guess once you need hard landscaping you really need to call in the pros or be super handy in the building/DIY department. EEk, that isn't us! We saved a hunk of money having a rough drawing rather than a full technical one - I think it made it about £600 cheaper.
I am sure your place will look super spiffy and I can't wait to see it. xxx
Seriously, all your posts make me want to run out and spend my entire savings on a house so I can decorate it! Of course, if I do that, I won't have any money to decorate with - but that's just a minor detail :) Love the garden pics!
Annie
The Other Side of Gray
What exciting news! I'm so happy that you're getting this project moving.
How fun to have professional help in your design. We used to love the British garden show ... Ground Force.
(I think that was the name.) Did you ever watch it, Sarah?
Fondly,
Glenda
Fantastic! After spending eight years creating my garden I saw it destroyed last year when we built our addition. I guess I'm starting from scratch again and your points really help me out C:
I'm much more a fan of their more classic English country cottage gardens than the minimal. I love the feeling of being in you're own little wild world!
L x
Thanks for the tips. Those photos are gorgeous.
Laura
I so wish I could have a garden designer but we just have so many jobs to so and not enough pennies!
I never realised just how much energy it takes to dig over a neglected borders. I aaaaaache!
I can't WAIT to see your results.
LOVING THIS POST!!!!
But just think how fit you'll be at the end!!!
Sxx
I guess I can dream...
Z xx
Wish we had the cash to get a garden design company in but with so many other jobs requiring cash, it just won't happen! Alas, I'll have to live vicariously through your experience and hope to pick up some ideas for my own :)
xxx
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