The Brief
In the heart of Yorkshire, The Pines is a garden shaped by the clients’ calm and conscious way of living. They wanted their outdoor space to be more than just beautiful, it needed to be a mindful place that encouraged stillness and appreciation of the world around them. In use, the garden would not be a backdrop, but an active part of their daily lives: a place for quiet appreciation, a stage for family meals, and a setting that could hold both energy and calm.
Their trust in us extended beyond design. They embraced innovation, giving us the opportunity to trial our own environmentally conscious planting medium, Earthlite™. Their openness set the tone for the entire project, so we set upon creating a garden rooted in care, creativity, and respect for nature.
Design & Planting
Our design vision was clear. Create a main garden that felt at once vibrant and serene, alive with colour yet grounded in natural simplicity. Earthlite™ formed the foundation of the planting borders, designed for species that thrive in free-draining, low-nutrient soils. Into this carefully prepared canvas, we introduced a palette of plants such as: Nepeta ‘Kit Kat’, Geum ‘Mai Tai’, Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’, Geranium x ‘Rozanne’, Calamagrostis brachytricha, Phlomis tuberosa, Thymus vulgaris, Euphorbia x martinii and Echinacea pallida. The scheme, more often associated with the Balearic Islands than the north of England, delivers a wash of bright tones and airy textures, designed to inspire and soothe.
A bespoke Corten steel water feature with three spouts anchors the terrace, sat firmly opposite to the dining room table inside. Its aged patina settles beautifully against the planting, softening the structure and bringing a meditative rhythm through sound and movement. The patio dining area was designed unconventionally: not around architectural lines, but around the furniture itself. The chosen dining set was loved by both us and the clients, so we allowed it to shape the space, placing the patio just steps from the kitchen doors for seamless indoor-outdoor living.
From here, the garden flows down to a half enclosed seating area, wrapped in shrubs and perennials yet opening onto a wide, open lawn. This shift in scale allows the garden to hold both intimacy and freedom, offering the clients a space that adapts to their mood and needs.
Considerations & Constraints
The most pressing challenge of The Pines was managing the significant volume of waste generated by the property’s renovation. Rather than seeing this as a setback, we embraced it as an opportunity for increased sustainability. Every piece of Yorkstone lifted from the home was reused elsewhere in the design, giving the garden both continuity and integrity. Other non-Yorkstone rubble was repurposed as aggregate for the Earthlite™ borders, reinforcing our commitment to conscious construction.
Through these measures, we estimate the overall waste impact of the project was reduced by around 50%. The challenge ultimately deepened the garden’s story, turning a logistical problem into a design strength.
Success.
Today, The Pines is a garden that remains tranquil and celebrates life. On a summer’s day, the terrace glows with colour and movement, offering a place to lounge, dine, and simply be. The clients’ vision of beauty and mindfulness has been realised in a space that honours both their lifestyle and their environment.
For our team, the project was a milestone. We undertook the first real-world application of Earthlite™, a product shaped by collective expertise and shared values. To see it thriving here, in a garden built on trust and openness, has been deeply rewarding.