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It might feel far too early to be thinking about spring, but now is actually the best time to order your bulbs. The most sought-after varieties do sell out, so planning ahead gives you the best choice and means you're ready to plant when autumn arrives. Whether you love natural drifts of snowdrops, vibrant ribbons of tulips, cheerful daffodils, or delicate camassias and alliums weaving through your borders, planning now gives you the best choice of varieties before they sell out. My favourite suppliers are @farmergracy and @jparkersbulbs , both of whom offer an excellent range of high-quality bulbs. If you're not sure what to choose or how to incorporate bulbs into your borders, I also offer a bespoke bulb planting package. Together, we can create a scheme that complements your garden and brings months of beautiful spring colour. Get in touch if you'd like to find out more. #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #SpringBulbs #BulbPlanting #GardenDesign #PlantingDesign #KentGardens #SpringGarden #GardenInspiration
Last week I revisited one of my projects in Cranbrook, Kent, and I'm so excited that it's finally moving forward. The project has been on hold while the building work was completed, so it was wonderful to return and see the beautifully renovated old grain store, which is currently being converted. The garden is still very much a blank canvas, but the setting is absolutely stunning and full of potential. It's a large space with some exciting opportunities to create a garden that complements the character of the buildings and sits comfortably within its beautiful countryside setting. This long-awaited project is finally about to begin, and I can't wait to share the journey with you. #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #Cranbrook #GardenTransformation #GrainStoreConversion
How do you create a kitchen garden that's both highly productive and a pleasure to spend time in? That's exactly the brief I was given for this beautiful farm in Lynsted, Kent. The design centres around a stunning Victorian-style greenhouse, with raised beds for growing fruit, vegetables and cut flowers, alongside elegant fruit cages, water troughs and carefully considered pathways to make the space both practical and enjoyable to use. For me, a kitchen garden should be every bit as beautiful as it is functional. It should be a place where you want to spend time, harvesting, pottering, growing and enjoying the changing seasons. These 3D visuals are helping to bring the design to life before work begins, and I can't wait to see this one become a reality. Watch this space... this is going to be a very special project. #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #KitchenGarden #GardenDesign
Do you remember this garden in Sheldwich, Kent? I recently revisited it and shared some photos of how beautifully it has matured. If you missed them, take a look back through my recent posts. The exciting news is that we're about to start Phase Two of the project! One of the things I love most about working in phases is that it allows a garden to evolve over time. We can see what's working well, build on the original design and continue creating a space that grows with the client's needs. The garden is already looking beautiful, but I have some exciting ideas for the next stage and can't wait to get started. Watch this space... the transformation continues. #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #GardenDesign #SheldwichKent #GardenTransformation #PlantingDesign
With Kent now under a hosepipe ban, I thought I'd share a few simple tips that will make a real difference to your garden. Water deeply, not little and often. A thorough soak encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil, making plants stronger and more resilient. Light watering only wets the surface, encouraging shallow roots. Focus on one area at a time. Rather than lightly watering the whole garden, choose a bed or border and give it a really good soak before moving on to the next area another day. Water the roots, not the leaves. Aim the water at the base of the plant where it's needed most. Prioritise the right plants. Newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials should always come before the lawn. Lawns are surprisingly resilient and will usually recover when the rain returns. Water early or late. The best time is early morning or late evening, when temperatures are cooler and less water is lost through evaporation. Planning a new garden? Many of my clients now choose drip irrigation or leaky hose systems. They deliver water slowly and directly to the roots, are highly efficient and, depending on your local water company's restrictions, may still be permitted during a hosepipe ban. A little thought about how you water can make a huge difference to the health and resilience of your garden. #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #WateringYourGarden
Last week I was back at @elmleynature but this visit was a little different... I was there being filmed and interviewed about the garden. If you know me, you’ll know I’d much rather let the plants do the talking than stand in front of a camera, so it definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone! Once the filming was over, I took the opportunity to wander through the planting, see how everything is establishing and take plenty of photos. It’s always such a pleasure to revisit a garden and see how it’s evolving. This project transformed an old gravel area into a naturalistic garden that complements Elmley’s incredible landscape and creates a beautiful space for guests to relax and gather. There was also an official photographer on site, so I’m sure there’ll be more to share soon... watch this space! I still wish the plants could speak for me... although perhaps they already do? Naturalistic Planting • Gravel Garden • Drought Tolerant Planting • Planting Design • Garden Design • Landscape Design • Kent Gardens • Elmley Nature Reserve #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #ElmleyNatureReserve #GardenDesignKent
Last week I had the pleasure of revisiting this beautiful garden in Hastingleigh, nestled in the Kent Downs. It was so lovely to spend some time wandering through the borders, seeing how the planting has settled over the past year and watching the garden continue to evolve. There’s something incredibly rewarding about returning to a garden you’ve designed and seeing it really come into its own. This project completely reimagined the garden to make the most of its stunning countryside setting, creating a series of connected spaces with a relaxed, naturalistic planting scheme full of movement and seasonal interest. Beautifully built by @hythegardenlandscapes If you’d like to see the before photos and read more about the design process, you’ll find the full project portfolio on my website – link in my bio. Gardens really do get better with time. 🌿 #GardenDesignKent #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #PlantingScheme
A garden shouldn't only look good in June. One of the biggest challenges in garden design is creating interest throughout the entire year, not just for a few weeks when everything is in flower. That's why a garden design plan is so important. Every plant, shrub and tree is selected not only for how it looks today, but for the role it plays across the seasons. Winter structure, spring growth, summer colour and autumn texture all need to work together. For these clients, it was also important to retain some existing shrubs they loved, proving that a new garden doesn't always mean starting from scratch. "We highly recommend Catriona... She did a fantastic job designing a beautiful garden with interest all year round, even incorporating in the design some shrubs that we already had in our garden and wanted to keep. This year the garden is looking lovely as the plants are all thriving. We are delighted and can't wait to see what it looks like next year." If you're finding that your garden only shines for part of the year, it may be worth stepping back and looking at the bigger picture. #GardenDesignerKent #KentGardens #ClientTestimonial
Confession time... If you tell me you want skinny borders, I’m probably going to try and talk you out of them. Narrow borders only really allow for a single layer of planting. You miss out on the depth, texture and seasonal interest that comes from combining different plants together. Wider borders create space for layering. Taller plants at the back, lower plants at the front, foliage, flowers and structure all working together. They also provide far better habitats for insects, pollinators and wildlife. It’s amazing how often widening a border by even a small amount can completely transform a garden. If your borders aren’t quite working for you, I offer a Border Re-Design Service. Send me a DM to find out more. #BorderReDesign #GardenBorders #GardenDesignServices #KentGardens
With another heatwave upon us, many gardeners are starting to think about drought tolerance and how their gardens cope when the rain disappears. This is where gravel gardens come into their own. A well-designed gravel garden can look beautiful while helping plants thrive in hot, dry conditions. The gravel helps retain moisture in the soil, reduces weed growth and creates the free-draining conditions that many Mediterranean and drought-tolerant plants love. And before you picture a garden full of stones, the plants are still the stars of the show. Think grasses swaying in the breeze, clouds of flowers, interesting textures and year-round structure. The gravel simply provides the perfect backdrop. Many clients are also looking to reduce the amount of lawn in their gardens. During periods of hot weather, lawns can require significant watering to stay green and healthy, while gravel gardens continue to perform with far less intervention. As our summers become hotter and drier, gravel gardens are becoming an increasingly practical and attractive option for many gardens. #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #UKHeatwave #GravelGardens #GardenDesign
Not every day as a garden designer is spent outdoors. Yes, there are lots of days spent visiting gardens, meeting clients, taking measurements and ending up knee-deep in mud and plants. But there are also days like this. Days spent at my desk, drawing plans, working on CAD designs, sketching ideas and solving the puzzles that every garden presents. This is where creativity meets practicality and where the transformation really begins to take shape. I love both sides of the job. The time outside helps me understand the space. The time inside allows me to turn those observations into a garden that works beautifully for my clients. #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #KentGardenDesigner #DesignDays
What I love and hate equally about Pinterest... It's brilliant for inspiration, but it can also make garden design feel even more overwhelming. You start by saving a few pictures and before you know it, you've got 100 different gardens and no idea which direction to take your own. And then there's AI. More and more of the beautiful gardens appearing on Pinterest aren't real gardens at all. They're AI-generated images, often showing plants growing in impossible places, unrealistic proportions or combinations that simply wouldn't work in real life. Visualising a garden is hard enough without trying to recreate something that doesn't actually exist. Having someone look at your space with fresh eyes can be so valuable. During my garden consultations, we look at the structure, flow and planting, helping you create a clear plan that works for your garden, budget and lifestyle. And remember, you don't have to tackle everything at once. Some of the best transformations start with a single border or one area of the garden. If you're feeling stuck, send me a DM and let's chat about your garden. P.S. Can you tell which of these 2 garden pictures is real and which is AI-generated? Let me know in the comments. #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #KentGardenDesigner
Every garden has a story. This one just happens to have two. I’m so excited to be starting work on this beautiful listed property’s walled garden in Deal. A brick path divides the space in half. One side is formal, with a large lawn and structured borders. The other is wild and overgrown, with a greenhouse, a hidden shed and even building rubble waiting to be uncovered. The team at @hythegardenlandscapes have been helping reveal the bones of the garden, ready for the design process to begin. The challenge now is bringing these two very different spaces together to create one cohesive garden that feels as though it has always belonged. I can’t wait to share the transformation with you. #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign Walled Garden | Listed Garden | Garden Design | Garden Transformation | Deal Kent | Kent Garden Designer | Historic Gardens | Garden Restoration | Landscape Design | Hythe Garden Landscapes | Garden Inspiration | Outdoor Living
If you have a new build garden, it doesn’t mean you’re doomed. Many people move into a new home, dig their first planting hole and discover compacted soil, builders’ rubble or ground that looks far from ideal. It’s easy to assume that nothing will ever grow well there. The good news is that poor soil doesn’t have to stay poor. Healthy gardens start below ground. Before focusing on the plants themselves, it’s worth investing time in improving the soil. Mulching and the no dig approach can make a huge difference, helping to build soil structure, improve moisture retention and encourage the beneficial microorganisms that plants rely on. That’s one of the reasons I always take soil samples during my design consultations. Understanding the soil is a crucial part of creating a planting scheme that will thrive. There’s little point choosing beautiful plants if the conditions aren’t right for them to succeed. I find soil fascinating. Beneath the surface is a whole ecosystem working away to support your garden. The healthier the soil, the healthier and more resilient your plants will be. When I work with clients on gardens, we don’t just think about how the garden will look. We think about creating the right conditions for plants to thrive for years to come. A beautiful garden starts from the ground up. #SoilTesting #GardenDesign #KentGardenDesigner #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign
Garden features don't always have to be large statement pieces. Sometimes it's the collection of carefully chosen elements throughout a garden that creates interest, personality and a sense of discovery. In this Charing Heath garden, we incorporated several focal points. Sculptural metal forms add height and drama against the brick wall, a textured metal seed-head sculpture creates interest close to the house, while playful hare sculptures peek out from the planting, rewarding those who take the time to look a little closer. These features help lead your eye through the garden and create moments of surprise and delight. They also provide year-round interest, particularly during the winter months when flowers and foliage are less prominent. When designing a garden, I often think about where the eye will travel. What will catch your attention from the house? What will draw you down a path? What details will reveal themselves as you move through the space? Plants are often the stars of the show, but thoughtfully placed features can help tell the story and give a garden its own unique character. The best gardens don't reveal everything at once. They invite you to keep looking. #KentGardens #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign
One of the joys of being a garden designer is that you never stop learning. Today I had the pleasure of visiting Simon Richards' award-winning garden in Folkestone. This wasn't my project and I can take absolutely no credit for it. I was there purely for research, inspiration and the simple joy of spending time in a beautiful garden with a friend. It's easy to see why Simon's garden won BBC Gardeners' World Magazine's Garden of the Year. What was once a traditional lawn-dominated garden has been transformed into a stunning gravel garden inspired by the work of Beth Chatto. The planting is naturalistic, drought tolerant and full of movement, texture and seasonal interest. What makes this garden particularly relevant for us here in Kent is that it responds so beautifully to the challenges many of us are facing. We are seeing hotter summers, longer dry spells and increasing pressure on water resources. Gardens that can thrive with less irrigation are becoming more important than ever. Rather than fighting the conditions, Simon has embraced them, creating a landscape that is both beautiful and resilient. The judges praised its structure, ecology and planting, but what struck me most was how relaxed and natural it felt. It is a garden that works with nature rather than against it, and that's something I think many of us can learn from. Days like this are a reminder that inspiration is everywhere. Sometimes the best thing a designer can do is step away from the drawing board and spend time experiencing great gardens firsthand. Thank you, Simon, for sharing your garden. #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #Folkestone
If you saw my stories last week, you'll know I was rather excited about revisiting a garden I designed a few years ago here in my village, Sheldwich in Kent. A friend who helps care for the garden sent me a message last week saying, "You have to come and see it, it's looking amazing!" She wasn't wrong. Returning to a garden is always a privilege. As designers, we spend so much time planning, drawing and imagining how a space will look and feel, but gardens are never really finished. They grow, mature and evolve over time. Walking around this garden last weekend, I was genuinely blown away by how beautiful it has become. The planting has knitted together, the layers are working exactly as intended, and every turn offers something different to enjoy. These are just a few of the pictures I took during my visit. Seeing all that planning, hard work and patience come to fruition fills me with such pride and joy. It also serves as a reminder that some of the best gardens aren't instant. They develop year by year, becoming richer and more beautiful with time. A huge thank you to my client for trusting me with their garden, and to my wonderful gardener friend who encouraged me to come back and see it at its best. #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #Sheldwich #KentGardens
After a week of heat, busy schedules and constantly being on the go, I hope you get the chance to slow down and enjoy your garden this weekend. Our gardens really are our sanctuaries. Whether it’s a morning coffee on the patio, watering pots in the evening sun, listening to the sound of grasses moving in the breeze or simply sitting quietly for five minutes, these spaces give us room to breathe. One of the things I love most about garden design is creating spaces that feel calming, restorative and truly personal to the people living in them. Not just beautiful gardens, but gardens that make you want to spend time outside and enjoy them. Wishing you a restful, sunny weekend in the garden. Catriona 🪴 Garden Sanctuary | Outdoor Living | Garden Design | Kent Gardens | Contemporary Garden | Garden Inspiration | Relaxed Garden | Garden Designer Kent | Peaceful Spaces | Summer Garden | Weekend In The Garden | Kent Lifestyle | Planting Design
I have a real soft spot for “problem” gardens. Slopes. Split levels. Awkward layouts. Spaces that make people say “We just don’t know what to do with it.” They’re often the gardens people avoid because they feel too complicated, but they’re usually the ones with the most potential. This garden had already been designed and landscaped before, but something still wasn’t quite working. Can you spot the issue with the pergola? From inside the house, the view felt completely disconnected from the garden. A series of strong horizontal lines sat right at eye level when seated indoors, blocking the connection between house and garden. Not ideal, especially in the UK, when we spend so much of the year appreciating our gardens from inside. Perhaps not now in the heatwave! This is exactly why thoughtful garden design matters. It’s not just about choosing materials or planting schemes, it’s about working in 3D, understanding levels and designing from every viewpoint. Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from solving the problems other people can’t quite see. #CatrionalStilesGardenDesign
What do you do with a converted fire station with a garden full of astroturf? Working alongside @hythegardenlandscapes we created this. A complete transformation and such a lovely one to see come to life. Garden Transformation | Kent Garden Design | Planting Design | Outdoor Living | Curved Pathways | Raised Planters | St Margarets At Cliffe #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #Kent #StMargaretsAtCliffe
Wondering what it’s actually like to work with me? In this video, I’m talking you through exactly what happens during an initial design consultation and what the process of working together looks like from there. Many clients come to me with awkward spaces... sloping gardens, unusual layouts or an area that just doesn’t feel right. This first meeting helps bring clarity. We walk through your space, talk about what’s working, what isn’t, and explore what’s possible. Whether you leave with ideas to action yourself or move forward with a full design, the aim is always the same... helping you create a garden you truly enjoy. Garden Design | Garden Designer Kent | Kent Garden Designer | Garden Consultation | Garden Transformation | Outdoor Living | Planting Design #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign
When my client in Chestfield, near Whitstable first contacted me, she felt completely overwhelmed by her garden. It was a generous space that had once worked brilliantly as a family garden, but now felt like a burden to manage on her own. There were good bones to work with — existing structures that needed upgrading, others that needed replacing, and planting that had become vast, varied and incredibly high maintenance. My design retained the existing patio and raised beds, following the original angled layout and introducing an additional patio, lawns and planting beds all set on the same bias to create cohesion throughout the space. The planting palette was pared back and repeated to create a calmer feel, while larger shrubs were sculpted and reduced to bring more light into the garden and make it feel bigger. A contemporary water table adds ambient sound to a new seating area, creating a space that feels peaceful and enclosed with the surrounding walls behind it. The overall feel is Mediterranean, warm and tranquil — exactly the contemporary garden my client had hoped for. Decking: @millboard_decking Landscaping: @hythegardenlandscapes Porcelain: @_londonstone Plants: @palmstead Plants: @howardnurseries #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign Garden Design | Chestfield Kent | Whitstable Gardens | Garden Transformation | Mediterranean Garden | Contemporary Garden Design | Family Garden Redesign | Low Maintenance Planting | Garden Designer Kent | Outdoor Living | Water Feature Design | Planting Design | Garden Renovation | Kent Gardens | Tranquil Garden Design
Helping to plant at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is always an incredible experience and a big opportunity for me to learn. It brings together some of the most skilled designers, landscapers, gardeners and plantspeople in the industry, and every year I come away inspired. I’m always in awe of the new plants I discover, the creativity behind each design and the sheer dedication it takes to bring these gardens to life in such a short space of time. Especially this year, with hail, rain and thunderstorms thrown into the mix. These gardens often feel more like works of art than gardens, with so much thought in every detail. If you ever get the chance to visit, take your time. Look closely at the planting combinations, the materials and the craftsmanship behind each space. And remember, while these gardens are designed to inspire, many of the ideas can be translated into real gardens in practical ways. RHS - Royal Horticultural Society #ThePlantingDesignCollective Plant Heritage Crowton Rowarth Ltd
Reviews like this mean such a lot (slide across). Not just because someone has taken the time to write them, but because this captures exactly what I hope clients feel throughout the design process. Many people come to me feeling stuck. They know their garden isn’t working, but they can’t quite see the solution, especially when the space comes with a few challenges. That might be a small footprint, awkward layout, levels, privacy issues or simply not knowing what plants and materials will work best. My role is to bring fresh ideas, practical solutions and creative thinking, while making the process feel enjoyable and collaborative. And ultimately, creating a garden you genuinely want to step into and spend time in. That last line was my favourite part of this review. Because that’s really what good garden design should do. Thank you to my lovely client for taking the time to share this. #GardenDesigner #KentGardens
Most people come to me because something about their garden just isn’t quite working. Sometimes it’s an awkward shape. Sometimes it’s a slope. Sometimes they’ve inherited a space they don’t know what to do with. And sometimes they simply know their garden could feel better, but they’re not sure where to start. That’s where the initial design consultation comes in. It begins with a conversation about how you want to use the space, what’s not working, and what you’d love your garden to feel like. #CatrionaStilesGardenDesign #Kent Garden Design | Design Consultation | Kent Gardens | Family Gardens | Sloping Gardens | Awkward Spaces | Outdoor Living | Garden Transformation | Planting Design | Kent Garden Designer
Should you paint your fence or not? It’s a query for lots of people including me. I love that black makes a fence disappear and creates a pop of colour in front. But if you aren’t sure you can lose your fence with greenery. It will take a little patience but with a mix of climbers you can have green boundaries with flowers and fragrance.
A glorious spring morning visiting an National Open Garden. So many lovely and different plants. A few may have made it home with me… @swallowfieldsnursery
There is something special about plants that evoke memories or are a reminder of someone. In today’s garden we incorporated dahlias that the client had nutured and brought from their previous garden. So special to include family memories from one space to the next. Back at home my first Angelica Gigas is about to flower. The seed kindly sent to me by @thegardentaylor taking me back to three years ago helping with her beautiful Chelsea Garden. This is the human element to garden design: bringing together design and emotional connection.
Not sure about your spring flowers? Its a really good time to evaluate your bulbs now so you can remember in the summer. I inherited these red tulips when I moved here. They have naturalised the border, now some of them reverting to yellow. I'm not a fan of red and yellow, to be honest red was never in the plan but its easier to go with nature. So my plan? I'm going to put some dark purple tulips in the midst of these this winter. So squirrel permitting it will harmonise the display with the rest of the garden. #tulips #gardenplanning
Being professional is key to my garden design business. Collaborating with high quality companies like @hythegardenlandscapes ensures that you get a high quality garden, that meets your brief, from concept to creation. I've worked with Ben and his amazing landscaping teams through many gardens. Here's take on working with Catriona Stiles Garden Design. ##Collaboration #weareapl #workingwithgardens #professional #kent #gardendesign
A revisit to this small garden in Faversham today. This was planted up in November last year and the plants are settling in well. The client had downsized to the town, lost her beautiful garden and inherited this one. Swipe right to see the before pictures but it was a patch of mainly weeds, rotting fencing and a path taking you through the middle. Now with new fencing, with gate to the side, two seating areas have been created in the idyll. The raised beds bringing planting up higher and giving a sense of enclosure. Looking forward to seeing it once fully established. Beautifully built by @hythegardenlandscapes Thanks to @the_truant_gardener for your help Plants by @palmstead
In terms of pests that visit the garden I have a very laissez faire approach. If something is decimating my poor plants, I will have a go at manually removing them but my main line of defence is the wildlife. By encouraging wildlife into your garden you increase the bio diversity. If you have aphids, in a garden that is diverse, the aphid eaters are going to come. The heros are the ladybirds, hedgehogs, frogs, bettles and birds. If there is no-where in your garden for wildlife to hide and shelter you can end up with an unbalanced climate. So give the wildlife a chance, have patience and relax if you have imperfections in your garden.
I’m really pleased to share that my entry in the apl awards received a bronze award… Was amazing to see how high the standard of entry was. My first time at the awards ceremony and great to meet lots of landscapers and designers.
Getting ready to head to the APL awards tomorrow! So excited to be a finalist in the Designer Category and pleased to have got this far. This garden is still an absolute favourite of mine and I know the family have got so much joy from it. Absolutely transformed from an overlooked blank canvas to a tranquil and lush family garden. Professionally crafted by @nelsonlandscapes_ @apl_news @gardensbyprofessionals
You know that you want your garden to be more interesting, full of plants that provide interest to you and wildlife and have enclosed, tranquil seating areas. But here comes the problem you haven't a clue how that will work in your garden.. This design is for a couple in this exact scenario. By spending time with them and their garden I have come up with the next evolution in their garden. Not a design they would have come up with on their own but one that ticks all their boxes and more. Let me know in the comments is this a design you would have thought of?
An advantage to having a garden designed is the access to the wholesale nurseries that have huge varieties of plants, that have been bred to be robust in the garden, rather than to entice you with blooms. Today’s visit was to @palmstead which is huge! Great to have a look for inspiration whilst tagging.
This week @hythegardenlandscapes have started uplifting this garden in Chestfield, Kent. The existing planters are planned to be clad and a new contemporary patio installed to create a destination in this great sized garden. Newly shaped lawns, beds and two new decks will help create the structure to create bones to the garden. Watch this space to see how it turns out in the spring. #gardendesign #houseandgarden #yourgardenmadeperfect #chestfield #whitstable
Exciting plans are shaping up for the new garden at @elmleynature. New patios, planting beds, gravel gardens and sculptured hedging will add the natural elements to the amazing building works. New seating nooks and dining spaces, encompassed by drought tolerant planting, will give visitors spaces to relax and enjoy during their visit to the nature reserve. Watch this space to see this one come to fruition this year. #2026plans #gravelgarden #gravelgardens #gravelgardening
In the midst of the rain and cloudy grey clouds I'm dreaming of sun. Beneath the soil the promise of colour, scent and joy is biding its time, waiting for longer days. The garden signals of spring are starting. Bulbs and hellebores catch my sight to egg me into the garden. They remind me that gardening now is an investment in the summer, will provide me with some well needed fresh air and bring perspective. #januarybluesbegone
Always great to get some after pictures from clients. The fourth picture shows this small, tricky shaped garden. We need to work with the path and terracing that was already there. Aside - please think of a garden designer involved for the whole layout, alongside the architect, the design would have been much improved with a blank canvas. The last pic shows the design idea to move the path. By shaping the lawn, adding planting and gravel the garden now has better privacy and feels more like a garden than a driveway. The clients are pleased with the results and have enjoyed their garden in its first summer. Problem shaped garden? Lets see if a fresh set of eyes can help www.catrionastiles.co.uk #gardendesign #houseandgarden #sustainablegardendesign #faversham #gardendesignerkent #gardendesigner #newbuildhouse #kent #gardensolutions
New concepts off the board for this lovely country oast house. The house sits at the base of a hill with amazing views. This design reimagines the patio and planting nearer the house to entice the client to sit, in the midst of mass planting with views to the vines in the distance. The surrounding land will be sculpted and grass terraces to allow a more formal lawn. As the client has amazing sculptures and pots, the design incorporates places to showcase them. Looking forward to seeing this one develop in 2026. #gardendesign #houseandgarden #gardendesigner
Winter shouldn’t mean that you are just looking at bare earth. It’s now that the structural bones of your garden really come into play. Seedheads, texture and mixes of yellow, brown and green provide lots of visual interest. Even if it from inside. You never know it may entice you to go out..
The latest review for a design has just landed and so gratefully recieved. "From the beginning, us garden novices were so impressed by Catriona's professionalism and knowledge of not only garden design but trying to blend a new structure in the garden with crazy levels all whilst retaining a congruent flow between house and garden. Thank you Catriona, we look forward to working with you again soon." This Canterbury garden will be created after the house and garage will be extended. So good to get involved at this part of the project. #canterbury #kent #gardendesigner #gardeninspiration
I thought it would be a good time for a reintroduction for those who are new to me and my garden design business. Like a lot of garden designers I came to the industry as a career changer. I was reflecting how much of my previous life I use, pick up and adapt to the garden and landscaping industry. My dad was a civil engineer and as a child I spent weekends and holiday inevitably looking at foundations and structural wall reinforcements. To rebel I qualified in Mechanical Engineering (after studying structural and electrical engineering too). I was fascinated in how things are made and material development. It's come full circle now and the ironic fact that I was standing on a building site last week was not lost on me. Running your own business, as well as the garden design element, requires a lot of hats! Project management, customer relation management, change management, construction detailing, CAD... Most of which I have worn in a past life of quality engineering, new product introduction and lean manufacturing. The cherry on the cake for me is now being able to use creative flair into the mix. Learning about Horticulture has been so enjoyable for me and I absolutely loved the Naturalistic Planting Design course. When I'm not working, I'm a busy mum of three, a keen gardener in my own patch and enjoy singing (sometimes in tune) in a choir. The joy of working in something you love is that my mind is on the job, daydreaming, learning, pondering.. #reflections #careerpath #gardendesigner #careerchangers
