Zoe Kilbride Garden Design
Terraced Garden - Bishop's Stortford
The brief for this project was to create a concept design for a compact, west-facing terraced garden behind a Victorian-style home. While the architecture leaned traditional, the client wanted a space with a clean, modern aesthetic — combining structure, atmosphere, and lush planting within a limited footprint.
The design needed to accommodate a generous garden room, an intimate seating area for two, and ample planting to soften the space and bring it to life. To enhance the sense of scale, the garden room was clad in burnt cedar Millboard cladding — a design decision that helped it visually recede and created a stronger sense of depth.
Materials were carefully selected to balance modern and rustic elements. Limestone paving and clay pavers interplanted with thyme gave the garden texture and warmth while maintaining a contemporary feel. With no lawn, the space relied entirely on thoughtful planting to create softness and year-round interest. This approach also contributed to a more intimate and expansive feel overall.
The result is a secluded, plant-filled retreat with a calm and considered layout — proof that even the smallest gardens can be full of character and purpose.
“Designing this garden was all about creating a peaceful escape in a small space. I wanted it to feel calm and welcoming, with planting that really softened the clean lines of the layout. The garden room was a bold feature, but by using black cladding and surrounding it with greenery, it became part of the landscape rather than dominating it. It’s a lovely example of how even the smallest spaces can feel generous and full of atmosphere.”
— Zoe Kilbride, Garden Designer