The brief came with a very particular mood. The clients wanted the garden to carry something of a Balearic beach resort, inspired by Ibiza, their favourite escape. Not a themed garden, and certainly not a pastiche, but a place with that same easy glamour: pale stone underfoot, warm evenings, soft planting, water, shade and places to drift between.
A generous pale porcelain terrace gives the garden its calm, sun-washed base, while the central lawn keeps the layout relaxed and open. Around it, Mediterranean inspired planting brings softness and movement: olive trees in white planters, silver foliage, grasses, lavender tones, alliums and low, aromatic planting that catches the light beautifully. The water bowl on the raised deck adds a quiet focal point, giving the rear of the garden a more contemplative feel.
Closer to the house, the outdoor living area becomes the natural extension of the kitchen. A white louvred pergola provides shade and shelter, with integrated screens allowing the space to feel more secluded when needed. Built-in seating, a fire table and subtle planting create an outdoor room that feels crisp, sociable and grown up, somewhere for lunch in the sun, evening drinks, or late nights when the house is open and the garden becomes part of the room.
Privacy was handled with care. Timber fencing and climbing plants soften the boundaries, while perforated metal screens create a more playful private seating area, casting patterned shadows and giving the garden a sharper contemporary note. These details help connect the period house, the zinc extension and the garden’s resort-like atmosphere without any one element shouting too loudly.
The result is a Chelmsford garden that feels bright, polished and quietly escapist. It has the clean lines of a contemporary outdoor living space, the softness of a planted garden, and just enough Balearic spirit to make staying home feel like a small holiday.
