Complete garden design service

Garden design from concept to completion

Fully bespoke garden design service from initial concept to finished garden, followed up with advice on garden care.

For private clients who want to feel confident they’ll love the finished garden, and supported at every stage with clear communication and attention to detail.

Every garden and every client is different

You set the brief, and I’ll explore and share design options with you, bring together the right team for your project, and make sure you end up with the garden you’ve been dreaming of.

Get in touch

How your garden design comes together, step by step

Each project begins with a complimentary 30-minute introductory phone call to answer any questions you may have.

1 | Brief

The initial meeting provides an opportunity to visit the site, get to know you & your vision for the garden & agree the aims of the project. After the meeting a written brief is provided along with a bespoke project fee proposal.

Project brief & preparation

2 | Survey

A topographic survey (and architectural drawings) are needed to complete our work.

Design stages

3 | Site Analysis & Concept

I start with a site analysis, exploring the site’s opportunities, constraints, atmosphere and history. Guided by your brief and the site conditions, I develop concept ideas and meet with you to discuss them. Concept drawings include layout plans, 3D visuals and mood board images.

4 | Developed Design & Masterplan

The design is refined & developed. Additional detail is added for planning submissions.

5 | Detailed Design

The technical stage explores the look, quality & performance of the build. This includes setting out plans with specification of all bespoke elements, hardscape layouts, edges, interfaces, drainage, levels, external lighting, sections & elevations.

6 | Planting

Illustrated mood boards are produced for discussion before drawing up a detailed planting plan which indicates the positioning of new trees & plants. A spreadsheet schedule lists the size, spacing, quantity & price of all new plants.

7 | Tendering

The detailed design plans and quantity schedules provide information for landscape contractors to price from. This sometimes includes site visits to introduce the project and evaluate returned costs.

Implementation

8 | Construction

With a professional landscape contractor in place, I provide a monitoring service to oversee the work and ensure that the design is implemented correctly & to the highest quality during the construction phase.

9 | Styling & Accessories

I am able to work with quality suppliers to select all elements from furniture to pots to ensure they complement the garden & provide the final look you desire.

  • “Catriona’s professionalism made for an easy and cordial working relationship with her, which in turn made the process of creating the garden as satisfying as the result. We have probably spent more time in our garden in the seven months since the completion of the project than in the previous seven years”

    - Luca & Luisa, Cambridge

  • “Catriona has transformed our garden into a more sustainable, varied, and inviting space, which we take great pleasure in spending time in throughout the year. Her thoughtful design has made our small urban garden feel more spacious than before, with different zones providing a variety of environments to enjoy. We gave Catriona free rein to develop her ideas, with our only requirements being sustainability, low maintenance and adherence to our budget. She stuck faithfully to this brief, consulted us on all her choices of materials and plants at every stage of the project, and created a garden which met all our expectations.”

    - Cambridge Client

  • My design services are fully bespoke and fees vary according to the needs of the project. I write a detailed project brief with you and provide a personalised proposal outlining each stage of work and its fee, quoted in advance where possible and estimated where not.

    For a fully supported and bespoke project, my design and consultation fees start at £10k and you should allow £50k+ for construction costs.

    Generally, projects have a minimum cost of £60k, up to £300k+, including design fees, construction and planting. If your budget is tight, it’s best to speak to me.

  • My office is in Linton, just outside Cambridge, and I work in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and London. If you’re interested in working with me and your project is outside these areas, get in touch and we can discuss your project.

  • Each project is different and draws from the architecture, land and location. I design spaces with a balanced and functional layout, using natural materials that age well, such as stone, timber, brick and gravel. I like gardens where the planting seems to be winning over the hard surfaces, and where planting is rich, layered and chosen to encourage biodiversity.

  • Yes. Sometimes a garden can be transformed by replanting alone. If you’re interested in planting design only, you might like my Romantic & Biodiverse planting design service.

  • This is a big subject, so look out for studio blogs that discuss it in more detail, but essentially, less is more when it comes to hard landscaping. Carefully considered materials and a smaller hard surface footprint make a difference. Gardens should be designed to endure and evolve, and we should consider how materials can be easily taken apart and reused in a circular economy. Reusing locally found materials can be fun and inspire invention. Careful consideration of how your garden uses water is also key.

Frequently Asked Questions