New layouts and clever zoning have transformed this urban garden

Despite living in their Victorian home in southwest London for nearly two decades, Lisa and Michael have only recently worked in the garden.

‘All we had outside was a trampoline and a place to eat,’ says Lisa. And, as their children grew up and went to university, the garden soon became an afterthought. ‘I was looking out one day and realized we never really use the garden, which seems a shame,’ says Lisa.

Determined to change how they viewed and used the space, the couple enlisted the help Garden designer Joanna Archer After discovering his work on Instagram.

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‘I started thinking about changing the garden, but I didn’t put a plan into action until Joanna popped up,’ she recalls. ‘Then everything fell into place from there.’ Lisa had some initial ideas of what she wanted her garden to look like, but Joanna helped bring the vision to life.

The family’s main outdoor seating area, once tucked away in the shade, has been moved to create a statement feature at the back of the garden, complete with an attractive bespoke fireplace. ‘We are Face North EastSo having our main seating area at the back helped us make the most of the sun,’ explains Lisa.