Designing with dogs / Ely

As new occupants in this 1950s semi with an uninspiring existing garden, the clients were looking for a full redesign - particularly taking into account their two lively dogs! Due to the existing layout and sun/shade patterns, the dogs were bringing a lot of mud into the house and wearing the lawn thin along their preferred routes. Moreover, there was no obvious place to sit and enjoy the sun. We designed a new terrace with bespoke pergola in the sunniest spot, and used sustainable materials to provide enticing paths for the dogs (and humans), creating a sense of flow and drawing the eye away from the rectilinear plot. The young planting, working round an existing olive tree, brings to life the requested pink/blue colour palette and is enhanced by moving grasses which evoke a wider natural landscape.

Photos show work in progress and newly installed plants in winter