Oakmoor
Hagley, West Midlands
A family garden thoughtfully designed to create a harmonious outdoor experience, where play, relaxation, and entertaining coexist seamlessly. At its heart, a central lawn offers a versatile space for family activities, while a shaded pergola with an outdoor fireplace provides a sheltered retreat for gatherings. Nearby, an open-canopy kitchen with pizza ovens invites informal dining and shared culinary moments.
The design blurs the boundary between house and landscape. Expansive glazed panels and flush-level access allow interior spaces to flow effortlessly outdoors, while mature pleached trees provide privacy and a sense of enclosure. Large-format topiary anchors the garden’s structure, and carefully chosen hydrangeas and mediterranean planting introduce softness, movement, and seasonal vibrancy, creating a garden that is as practical as it is enchanting.
A simple palette of materials is used throughout, including clay pavers, natural stone edging, gravel, and black vertical fencing which provides a strong, consistent backdrop to the garden. This restrained approach allows the planting and spatial composition to take precedence, while maintaining clarity and cohesion across the scheme. Hand-thrown clay pots with olives introduce a mid-layer of foliage, adding height and softness between the structural planting and ground-level layers.
The stunning floristry shown in the images is by Fiona Le Neveu, Founder and Creative Director of Astrantia Studio. Inspired by the wilder corners of the Isles, her installations are elegant and textural, with just a hint of the untamed.
Subtle lighting is woven throughout the garden to support evening use and create a calm, welcoming atmosphere after dark. It gently highlights key features, including the outdoor fireplace, which becomes a central point for gathering as day turns to night. From within the house, the garden reads as a soft, ambient extension of the living space.
