A Contemporary Courtyard in Manchester

This scheme was designed for a young couple who wanted a low-maintenance outdoor space for relaxation and entertaining.

The area was quite small and did not justify a lawn, but the clients were keen to have a small area of artificial turf as well as a raised deck.

A Garden on Two Levels

The scheme became a garden on two levels. The upper level was a composite deck featuring a glass balustrade and LED deck lights around the perimeter. The clients wanted the deck to be at the same height as the finished floor inside the house. This meant introducing two steps down to the paved area, which also features a small bench that catches the early morning sun and is ideal for coffee or breakfast. Although the scheme is very contemporary, it was decided to keep the original Victorian brick walls because the contrast between modern, sleek materials and old brick created a dramatic feature.

Planting Scheme

The planting was positioned mainly around the edge of the garden and in a raised bed. This was created using a cream-coloured rendered wall, approximately 60 cm high, which ran around most of the garden.

The clients had inherited a mature Portuguese laurel, and it was decided to keep it to screen the house opposite. It was so successful that we added three more plants of the same species to complete the screen and increase privacy in the garden.

The remaining planting features only a few varieties, mainly grasses, hydrangeas, lavender and fragrant jasmine.

Garden Lighting

The lighting scheme was kept simple, with about 10 LED uplighters around the perimeter and below the glass balustrade. The edge of the deck and the steps were highlighted with a series of LED deck lights. In addition, discreet LED strips were added beneath the steps to create a floating effect.

The last image shows the garden beforehand, when it was much in need of some care and attention.