new house landscaping ideas please!

mitchhicken

hi me and my wife have just purchased our new house and are in the process of building our extension
I have attached some pictures so you get the idea the garden is a mess right now and im mainly wanting to plan the patio areas as the bases can go in now whilst we have lots of rubble and mini diggers on site it makes sense

rear garden is south facing
we are mainly looking for an entertaining space in the garden off the open plan kitching living space. 
will probably be using large grey slabs for patio to match our kitchen.

I really like formal looking garden with geometric design and im obsessed with symmetry but like anything with nice sharp lines really
 
we did quite a lot of work with sleepers at our last house and quite liked the look.


any ideas welcome like I say the main thing is to get the hard landscaping sorted to get the bases down 
thanks, mitch

Ceres

As you are a lover of symmetry, I suggest you Google "modern formal garden" and have a look at some of the pictures that pop up. There's a lot to inspire and you can take your pick of the mixtures of hard landscaping, lawn, grasses and formally planted borders. If colour is your thing then you could go for massed and matched perennial borders but you may wish to stick with shades of green.

Loxley

Sorry about the writing! Quick sketch on my phone... tried to show a linking space between the large patios, with linear box hedges containing perennials and Irish yew sentinels, and a path to the lawn which leads the eye to an urn. Multi stem trees in the lawn and shrubs (hydrangea paniculata etc) between the patio and the hedge. 

mitchhicken

WillDB said:

Sorry about the writing! Quick sketch on my phone... tried to show a linking space between the large patios, with linear box hedges containing perennials and Irish yew sentinels, and a path to the lawn which leads the eye to an urn. Multi stem trees in the lawn and shrubs (hydrangea paniculata etc) between the patio and the hedge. 

Really like this idea and had thought of doing something similar to this on the left 
How many times of year will the box hedging want trimming to keep it looking neat and tidy? 
Or do you think this design will look as good if we replaced the box hedging with sleepers or a small wall? 
Thanks for your help! 

Loxley

Once a year would do it, twice if you're very particular about crisp outlines. 

mitchhicken

This is what I have come up with so far with the path leading to nothing being optional and probably added at a later date when I decide I want to put a water feature or something at the end of it 

I like the other walk way central to the big slider doors as I think it will draw you out and down then garden 

My only other thought it will it do oue head in having to do the short walk through the sleeper feature area to get to the table from the kitchen 
(The 3 slim windows on the side are non opening )

Hazyb

I think it  looks really lovely.

If the sleeper area wasn't there you still have to walk round there somehow to reach the dining area.  Perhaps an opening door should have been considered on that side. As it is  the design gives you an attractive walk way..

It may however make more sense practically to have the dining area and maybe two sun loungers or similar in front of the sliding doors which ever design you go for.

mitchhicken

Not set on this design although I do like it alot ! 
Any more ideas welcome

mitchhicken

Well we are getting there with the extension 
Tryed attaching pics but too large
Another week of dry weather to get the roof on and we are water tight! Pretty much decided on the layout of the patio with planters made from sleepers 
Not 100 sure what to do with what will be left of the lawn so any suggestions ??!

mitchhicken

mitchhicken