Garden paving makes for style and light work

"The first design was a bit too curvy for me," she says. "The second one had more straight lines, and seemed closer to what we were looking for. In the end I trusted Jake's instincts and skills."

The new garden design incorporated a gorgeous pond that created a moat-like effect around a raised timber decking. An unusual water feature sits in one section of the pond, providing the tranquil sound of splashing water. Garden paving adds to the design, through stepping stones that lead across the pond to an entertaining area and spa.

Apart from the pond and the decking area, much of the garden is paved with attractive sandstone-coloured stone pavers. And the garden has been planted with architectural plants like yuccas and flaxes, as well as pretty Magnolia 'Littlegems'.

Krisha is pleased she trusted Jake's vision for the garden with the pond and the water feature. Her kids love the spa, and the whole family enjoys spending time in their new outdoor haven. She even paints the timber frames different colours from time to time, depending on her mood.

All in all, the process has resulted in a satisfied designer and an extremely pleased client. "The whole process just worked out really well," says Krisha. "We're really pleased."

Jake Adamsons, from Rock Steady Landscapes

What was the client's brief to you for this project?

The garden was just a plain bit of grass, and she wanted to be able to use the space to entertain. She wanted something that was low maintenance but nice to look at, something she could walk straight out into as an extension of her indoor living space. We achieved this with garden paving and timber decking.

Did she have any specific requests for the space in terms of function or aesthetics?

Apart from the low-maintenance aspect, she was quite specific about the fact that she wanted the new garden to look modern. She also wanted a water feature in the garden, and there were a few plants and a bluestone wall that she was fond of that she wanted to keep.

So how did you turn that general idea into a design?

I created two entertaining areas, one on a slightly raised decking area just outside the back door, and another at the back of the garden. I designed a modern pond like a moat around the front of the deck, with stepping stones to the other side. I designed timber frames over the pond, a large paved garden area, and installed lots of architectural plants.

What was the thinking behind the timber frames?

They can be an aesthetic feature on their own, and they have also been designed to create interesting shadow plays in the garden as the sun moves across the sky. They create something of a grand archway effect, and also provide some vertical depth to the overall design. Without them the garden would look quite flat.

Tell us about the planting scheme.

Krisha wanted low-maintenance plants with a modern, attractive look. So we chose drought-tolerant plants that had that interesting structural or architectural aesthetic. The yuccas and flaxes provide that spiky, visually interesting effect. For a bit of colour we chose some plants that flower, like the Magnolia 'Littlegems'.

Krisha, the Homeowner

What did you want in your new garden?

It was really quick and simple. I just told Jake I wanted a big decking area, some paving and a low-maintenance garden. I wanted to be able to use it more than we could use the old garden, and I wanted it to be beautiful. We also wanted a spa for the kids to use.

How did the design process work?

Jake's first design was a bit curvy for my liking, and had a sort of river effect going through it. When I told him I wasn't sure if I liked it he came back with another design which I liked much more. It had straighter lines and looked like it would be lower maintenance. In the end I trusted his instincts and skills.

Do you have a favourite spot in your new garden?

I really like the pond and the water feature. At the start of the process I wasn't convinced about having lots of water in the garden, even though I liked the idea in many ways. But it has turned out to be the most beautiful, soothing aspect of the garden.

What do you think of the timber frames?

I really like them. I like walking between them across the paving stones to the other side, and for anyone who visits our home, it's the first thing they want to do too. I also like changing the colour of the frames. I've tried charcoal, burnt orange, and I think I might go red for the summer!

Would you recommend Jake and Rock Steady Landscapes?

I'd highly recommend Jake and the boys. Their designs were great and the plans were easy to understand. Rock Steady also did the construction, and they were fantastic workers. They were clean and tidy, on time, and they were quite pleasant to have around. And they said it would take three weeks, and it took three weeks.

Featured Outdoor Products

• Garden pavers - 600 x 300mm Aspenstone concrete pavers
• Trees along fence line - Magnolia 'Littlegems'
• Spiky green plants - Yuccas
• Strappy plants below yuccas - Formium 'Surfer Boy'
• Stepping-stone pavers - Aspenstone
• Decking timber - Merbau
• Timber in frames - 200 x 200mm Cypress pine
• Water feature - Pre-made granite

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