When the owners of this Cotswolds house bought it, it was a
bland Twenties reconstruction of a seventeenth-century house that
had burnt down. They and their architect set about rebuilding it,
reconnecting it with its gardens and wider surroundings. The
results are a topiary dream world of hidden nooks and ravishing
views Simon Brown Simon Brown
Visiting for the first time, you might be forgiven for thinking
that this house had stood, hidden away and presiding quietly over
its surrounding yew hedges and lawns, for several centuries. You
would be wrong; the house and its gardens, in their present form,
are only 20 years old, the result of imagination, dedication and
attention to detail on the part of the owners, in conjunction with
architect Robert Hardwick. Simon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon Brown
A seventeenth-century house had stood on the site, but it burnt
down in 1920, and was replaced three years later by a bland
substitute, half the size of the original and with little
detailing. This was the house the current owners bought; with
little to recommend the building, it was the glorious, far-reaching
views of valleys, deciduous woodlands and wild-flower meadows, and
the lack of light pollution at night that appealed. That, and its
non-listed status - a rare advantage, especially with a house of
this size. Simon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon Brown
Robert Hardwick, an expert in the Cotswolds vernacular, had
designed their previous home and so again the owners sought his
advice. A larger and lighter house was required; in short, the
building was not merely to be extended, but the whole style was to
change. Simon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon Brown
Robert began by adding two wings with bay windows at either side
of the original three-gabled building. After some discussion, it
became clear that the favoured styles were somewhere between
Strawberry Hill gothic and traditional Cotswolds vernacular. 'We
eventually plumped for the latter,' says the husband, 'especially
since, although we had assumed that the new wings would mirror each
other, Robert pointed out that one of the joys of the Cotswolds
vernacular was that the design of each could be subtly different, a
look we much preferred since it gives the appearance of natural
growth and development.' Simon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon Brown
As the house took shape, it became apparent to the owners that
the garden was in the wrong place. 'There had been a perfectly nice
garden before, with the land just sloping away from the house,'
says the husband, 'but now it was much larger, the house needed
something to sit on.' This had not been in the original plans and
presented a daunting task. Simon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon Brown
A series of terraces was created, dropping down to a croquet
lawn and from there to the fields below. An army of JCBs descended
and the whole place was flattened; then topsoil was brought in and,
for five months, everything was left bare. 'This was something we
had to do, but it was a pretty grim period,' recalls the husband.
'It rained non-stop, so the whole building was surrounded by
mud.' Simon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon BrownSimon Brown
In planning the garden, they decided that the stunning view
should be hidden, as they reasoned that if they emphasised the
view, no one would look at the garden. A number of yew hedges were
planted, creating a series of 'rooms' running along the terrace,
from which you emerge out on to the lawn. An oak window has been
set in one of the hedges, through which you can see the landscape
beyond, or alternatively, can look in at the house and gardens, the
two now so completely in harmony with their surroundings that they
could indeed have been there for centuries. Simon BrownSimon BrownSimon Brown
Wooden crates make fantastic shelves when turned on their side
and fixed to the wall. The rustic finish fits with the outdoor
setting and whether you use them practically for storing tools or
as a place to put glasses or crockery when having a party, they're
guaranteed to look great.
2.Take Movie Night Outdoors
A projector is a great investment for any film-loving family.
Warm evening? String a sheet up between two trees and watch a movie
while snuggling up under some blankets with a bag of microwave
popcorn.
3.Pot Plant It
Flowerbeds can be high maintenance so a great solution for an
urban garden is to opt for potted plants. The more the merrier, as
en masse they have real impact. It's all about the containers so go
for pretty ceramic pots or get creative with milk pails or vintage
buckets.
4.firefly glass lanterns
YOU WILL NEED
Muslin
Fabric scissors
Old glass jars
White fabric (optional)
Double-sided tape
Battery-operated tea lights, one for each lantern
For each lantern, cut a square of muslin big enough to cover
the lid and overhang the jar. Place the muslin over the top of the
lid and anchor it to the top of the lid by fixing it with a piece
of double-sided tape.
Place the battery-operated tea light into the jar, screw on the
lid so the cloth hangs down and covers the jar.
To make the hanging loop, cut or tear a strip of muslin
measuring approximately 30 x 2cm. Loop it around the neck of the
jar and secure with a slip knot. Now take the long loose end over
to the opposite side of the neck of the jar so that a long loop is
formed over the lid. Push the end under the fabric tied around the
jar and secure with a looped slip knot. You can easily undo and
redo the hanging loop when you take off the lid to turn the light
on or off.
5.Accessorise Outdoors
This gardener's corner makes a feature of garden tools and adds
some simple accessories. The result is a stylish nook, which is the
perfect place to relax after a day of getting your hands dirty.
6.Your Living Room Outdoors
On a sunny day, take your living room outdoors, whether it's the
entire sofa or a few cushions and throws. A voile canopy and a few
lanterns strung from a tree will make it so much more than an
impromptu picnic.
7.Your Colour Scheme
Cushions are a real luxury for outside seating and also allow
you to bring a little more colour outdoors. Co-ordinate with
flowers or plants (a yellow cushion would have looked great next to
the lemon tree) or go for natural tones mixed with a few fun
neons.
8.Go For Greenery
Lacklustre patio? Even the most industrial looking space can be
transformed with some fake grass and stylishly arranged pot-plants,
just look at The Balcony
Gardener's recent pop-up shop for inspiration.
9.The scene
The US-based styling this relaxed scheme. They used reclaimed
wooden planks to create a low picnic table, placed stylish and
disposable bamboo plates in two neat rows and hung a garland of
festoon lights to pull the look together. An informal selection of
rugs and cushions on the ground gives a bohemian and picnic-like
atmosphere.
10. Hang ten
Clustered tepees are a fun addition to an outdoor party with a
festival feel. Furnish the interior with comfortable cushions and
rugs, string coloured jars with candles from the trees and add a
brazier for warmth.
11. In the Shade
Awnings can be as simple or as extravagant as you wish, and they
will always have a use at a garden party, come rain or shine.
Interior designer Nina
Campbell says, 'My electric awning in my little garden at
home creates an exterior room, extending the drawing room for those
times when I over-invite. It is perfect for where space is limited,
such as in London.' Vicky Charles, the design director of Soho House, suggests, 'Use
fabrics such as canvas, hessian or sailcloth; they look great
suspended on ropes or stretched across poles or trees.' In the
garden of Soho Beach House Miami (pictured), as featured in
Eat, Drink, Nap (Random House, £30), beautiful shadows are
reflected onto sailcloth from the trees above, creating a
natural-born party decoration with minimal fuss that's perfect for
a daytime party.
11. Going green
Try treating draping foliage like theatre curtains, tying it
back with string. Properly installed outdoor lighting creates
atmosphere, as well as providing illumination above a
table.
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