The brief
This job was from a brilliant design by designer Kate Carr. http://www.katecarr.co.uk/
The clients have an amazing amount of space with a lot of potential. The current driveway was identified as an ideal space for an outdoor kitchen. It is sheltered and benefits from a direct glass link into the hallway of the barn. Giving the ability to dramatically alter the sense of luxurious living, before even entering the property. The driveway planting needed updating to offer an immediate impact of style, taste and celebration. Using a range of mature plants such as olive trees as well as the newer plants gives it an established feel from the offset. Well considered lighting has extended the use of the space into the evening as well as offering a beautiful visual back drop when enjoying the garden from within the property on colder nights. The bespoke frame is a stunning focal point.
The main tasks
- Clearance and preparation of site
- Replacement drain covers
- Create cobbled areas
- Create planting beds
- Make a timber structure as focal point
- Make main worktops and central island and moulded concrete worktops
- Build pizza oven and base structure
- Fit and position egg barbecue
- Plumbing in for Belfast sink
- Planting and putting in silver birch for screening
- Electrician to install lighting
Planting
Kiln dried Birch poles have been used to create a permanent yet soft screen within a planting bed that defines the entrance to the elegant outdoor kitchen from the vast courtyard driveway.
Plants of deep wine red and have been carefully chosen to contrast with the white stems of the birch poles, echoing the elegance of the hard landscaping with long stems and striking flower heads. These plants are Sanguisorba ‘Changshan cranberry’.
And Cirsium atropurpureum that look beautiful with grasses of Calamagrostis ‘Karl forester’, Molinia ‘transparent’ and Seslaria autumnalis along with the contrasting spire flower heads of Veronicastrum ‘lavandeltrum ’. We also used the vivid green foliage and detailed yellow flow heads of Fennel to lift the colour palette and add another architectural beauty.