Marketing News: PLANTING THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE HOME

News Release from: Chocolate PR
25/01/2010
Gardens by Max, David Massey, killinghall project

Case Study: The Killinghall Project

Two green fingered garden gurus, Maxine Nelson of Garden Design by Max Nelson and David Massey of David Massey Garden Construction were commissioned by Jayne and Matt Johnson to work on The Killinghall Project, a beautiful, grand, rendered and painted property in the idyllic setting of Harrogate with a 66 x 28.5 metre garden in need of being transformed into an area suitable for the leisure, pleasure and play which make up the family's lifestyle...

The Brief:

Garden designer and horticulturist, Max, and landscape gardener, David were commissioned to project manage and create a beautiful, tidy and child-safe garden for the family. The brief included full design and landscaping, planting, garden maintenance and a full aftercare report. As Jayne and Matt had no prior gardening skills, they wanted lessons from Max so they could upkeep the garden after the landscaping work had been completed.

'The Garage'

One of the main challenges set was to knock down the double garage that blocked out the light and took up so much of the space on the drive.

An emphasis was also placed on recycling – a compost heap, rotary washer and water butt were on the agenda, as was a potting shed, but adequate space needed to be maintained for parking.

'The Family Friendly Theme'

Requesting a child friendly theme throughout, a primary concern was for a smooth surface for the client's children to ride their bikes. With no particular designs in mind but the desire for the garden to continue attracting vast amounts of wildlife, be rich in colour, variety and with storage high on the agenda, Max and David took the reigns and began to design the perfect garden...

The Ideas:

Co-ordinating the landscaping, building works, garden lighting, bespoke pots, signage and planting, Max and David presented 2 or 3 designs to the Johnson family including a circular theme to ensure a smooth surface was in place for the children.

Taking them to the nursery to showcase the variety of plants available, the preferred options were Ilex crenata ‘Bonsai’, Prunus lusitanica ‘standard’, Taxus baccata ‘Spiral’, Ilex aquifolium ‘Argentea Marginata’, Buxus sempervirens ‘Tri Ball’ and a variety of perfumed plants including Lonicera pericl ‘Graham Thomas’, Lonicera ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ and Lavendula sto ‘Papilion’.

The knocking down of the double garage was considered in the plans and the space re-designed to create a large area for play and entertaining. Tarmac was the material of choice for the driveway to ensure it stayed weed-free, and a selection of rotunda paved areas were designed to add to the aesthetic side of the design, whilst also maintaining practicality.

Bespoke handmade trellis works, archway walls and wrought iron gates at the front of the house were proposed to make sure the garden was enclosed, echoing the family's desire for the garden to be child-friendly for their young children.

The Transformation:

The circular theme was introduced throughout the garden, using a contrast of clipped plants, lighting and beautifully crafted landscaping to bring the theme together and a stunning array of flowers, soft grasses and complementary hanging baskets provides colour and seasonal interest for all to enjoy. 

The destruction of the garage, one of the largest jobs in the project, created a great courtyard for the children to play and the parents to entertain guests in. A lighting designer was consulted to create illumination effects on the building and plants and to also light up the driveway, as it is often very dark in the winter months.

'Finishing Touches'

The final  touches include a patio heater and marquee that can be erected to ensure the area can be used all year round.

One of the main attractions in the garden is now the beautiful stainless steel sundial which can be viewed upon arrival to the garden through the archways and has birthdays, anniversaries and names etched in for a truly bespoke finish.

A storage space for children’s toys and general garden tools has been created so that the everyday clutter can easily be hidden away for a more minimalist look when the adults are entertaining in the summer.

The space has been completely transformed, with the Johnson's initial brief being exceeded and additional suggestions being made to allow for more interesting features.

What was initially a blank canvas has been hand-crafted using plant sculpture, paving and design features to create a great space for playing, entertaining and most importantly, spending time in.

The Green Fingers Behind The Project:

Established in June 2005, Gardens by Max, was born out of Maxine Nelson’s passion for gardening when she transformed her very own garden from an empty green space to a stunning landscaped sensation. Talking regularly to local horticultural and garden groups, Max has designed gardens for local schools and hotels, although primarily residential properties, transforming all shapes and sizes.

Max and David Massey came together 3½ years ago through Complete Garden Solutions (CoGS), a green alliance of networking enthusiasts from across the region. David comes from a farming background but changed careers to work in construction in the mid 90’s. In 2000, David formed David Massey Garden Construction and now combines gardening and landscaping with his skills in agriculture and construction to create everything from paving and walling to water features and bespoke seating.

What Next?

Gardens by Max has been commissioned to attend the site on a monthly basis for general garden maintenance and to check the health of the plants.

Max has plans to talk at the 2010 Moortop & District Gardening Club, Calverley Retired Mens Forum and the Adel and District Horticultural Society, and has a burning desire to design the a stately home with 10 acres of land, or more...

David is to continue leading his company and his ambition is to build a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.