Calming English Garden Grows in a 215-Square-Foot Courtyard
A landscape designer conjures a beautiful, restful haven for gardening and puttering on a tiny urban plot
A busy railroad running along the back of your yard is not conducive to rest and relaxation, as the owner of this Victorian row house in North London discovered. Her 215-square-foot yard, surrounded by a rickety fence, felt exposed and took in views of overhead power lines and a high metal fence.
Longing for a haven where she could feel immersed in nature, the owner asked landscape designer Kathryn Cox to create a naturalistic, wildlife-friendly space that would block out the wider world and provide a calming sanctuary she could enjoy indoors or out.
Longing for a haven where she could feel immersed in nature, the owner asked landscape designer Kathryn Cox to create a naturalistic, wildlife-friendly space that would block out the wider world and provide a calming sanctuary she could enjoy indoors or out.
This shot taken from inside the house shows the skill of a trained landscape designer: In such a tiny space, Cox created different areas to visit and included plantings that look lush and interesting from every angle.
She replaced the dilapidated wooden fence with solid walls built using reclaimed brick. This has reduced noise and created privacy. She topped the back wall with slatted Siberian larch wood to hide the tall metal fence and power lines. “Now the client feels enclosed and private,” she says.
The owner wanted seating in the sun and shade, so Cox positioned a bench she already had in the sun on the right and created a simple built-in bench on the left in shade. She used clay pavers to create a path from the home to the sunny bench and then around to the shady bench. Though the owner has a small yard, she likes gardening and wanted to be able to putter around. “I thought I needed to give her a destination, which is the little triangular bench,” Cox says. The winding path and slightly obscured destinations help make the space feel bigger.
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She replaced the dilapidated wooden fence with solid walls built using reclaimed brick. This has reduced noise and created privacy. She topped the back wall with slatted Siberian larch wood to hide the tall metal fence and power lines. “Now the client feels enclosed and private,” she says.
The owner wanted seating in the sun and shade, so Cox positioned a bench she already had in the sun on the right and created a simple built-in bench on the left in shade. She used clay pavers to create a path from the home to the sunny bench and then around to the shady bench. Though the owner has a small yard, she likes gardening and wanted to be able to putter around. “I thought I needed to give her a destination, which is the little triangular bench,” Cox says. The winding path and slightly obscured destinations help make the space feel bigger.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Limestone paving covered a majority of the yard before the renovation, amplifying noise and heat, so Cox replaced much of it with densely planted flowerbeds, including a large central bed. She also tucked in a small bubbling fountain made of Cor-Ten steel to the left of the woven bench, just visible in the corner here, which offers gentle ambient sound.
The cream-colored pavers match the brick walls, helping to bounce light around the yard and opening it up. Cox laid them in different patterns, with a herringbone design near the house and under both benches — linking the seating spaces — and a simple running bond design on the path between. She retained the original limestone paving under the shed and planter on the left. “It was to keep costs down and for sustainability — there was no reason to redo that strip of paving as you can barely see it,” she says.
Westminster clay pavers: London Stone
The cream-colored pavers match the brick walls, helping to bounce light around the yard and opening it up. Cox laid them in different patterns, with a herringbone design near the house and under both benches — linking the seating spaces — and a simple running bond design on the path between. She retained the original limestone paving under the shed and planter on the left. “It was to keep costs down and for sustainability — there was no reason to redo that strip of paving as you can barely see it,” she says.
Westminster clay pavers: London Stone
She made use of vertical space and introduced climbing plants along two of the walls. The owner already had several climbing roses, some of which were repositioned while others remain in their original spots. “I kept those in the ground throughout so as not to disturb them,” Cox says.
A clematis was already growing in the yard, and Cox added a fragrant star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides, USDA zones 8 to 10; find your zone). “It’s evergreen, so [the client] gets interest all year round,” she says.
Along the third wall (seen on the left here), Cox planted bamboo in a large container to prevent it from spreading. “On that side of the house, there’s a balcony that looks down into the [yard], so I brought in that bamboo to grow high and screen it,” she says.
A clematis was already growing in the yard, and Cox added a fragrant star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides, USDA zones 8 to 10; find your zone). “It’s evergreen, so [the client] gets interest all year round,” she says.
Along the third wall (seen on the left here), Cox planted bamboo in a large container to prevent it from spreading. “On that side of the house, there’s a balcony that looks down into the [yard], so I brought in that bamboo to grow high and screen it,” she says.
Cox kept the plant palette limited. “Because it’s such a small space, I wanted to restrict the colors, so I’ve focused on greens with relaxing purples, pinks and whites,” she says. “I wanted to bring in classic [English] heritage plants the client would respond to, such as foxgloves” (Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora, zones 4 to 8, seen here in white).
The delicate pink flowers are ‘Siskiyou Pink’ gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri ‘Siskiyou Pink’, zones 5 to 9), and the purple spires are ‘Walker’s Low’ catnip (Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’, zones 4 to 8). “I use nepeta a lot because it’s a really good performer and it has a lovely fragrance,” she says. The small pale purple pompoms on the right are summer-flowering alliums. The perennials, flowering shrubs and climbers all attract pollinators.
She also planted numerous evergreens in the garden. “The key was to give [the client] a picture window view that she can enjoy in winter too,” she says.
The delicate pink flowers are ‘Siskiyou Pink’ gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri ‘Siskiyou Pink’, zones 5 to 9), and the purple spires are ‘Walker’s Low’ catnip (Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’, zones 4 to 8). “I use nepeta a lot because it’s a really good performer and it has a lovely fragrance,” she says. The small pale purple pompoms on the right are summer-flowering alliums. The perennials, flowering shrubs and climbers all attract pollinators.
She also planted numerous evergreens in the garden. “The key was to give [the client] a picture window view that she can enjoy in winter too,” she says.
The built-in bench in the corner is made from Siberian larch to tie in with the slatted fence above. “This is in shade and, now that the plants have cooled the space down and there’s not much hardscape, [the client] has this lovely place she can enjoy. She can just go out there and have a cup of tea,” Cox says.
The hanging plant is a golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum), which actually grows indoors most of the time. “It’s nice for houseplants to have a bit of a break outside, as long as it’s not raining too much,” Cox says. “It’s just an extra touch of greenery, and it creates the feel of an outdoor room.”
The hanging plant is a golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum), which actually grows indoors most of the time. “It’s nice for houseplants to have a bit of a break outside, as long as it’s not raining too much,” Cox says. “It’s just an extra touch of greenery, and it creates the feel of an outdoor room.”
Cox incorporated almost all the owner’s existing plants. “A lot of clients say, ‘My plants aren’t good enough,’ but actually they might just be in the wrong spot,” she says. ”[The client] had a lot of great plants in pots around the perimeter. I just put them in the right place and now they’re thriving.”
In addition to it being a sustainable choice, there are advantages to keeping existing plants where possible. “You get that maturity, and it brings the cost down, as mature plants are expensive,” she says. “Plus they’re plants [the client] recognizes, so it still feels like her [yard].”
Many of the pots themselves were reused too, with the largest now home to a fig tree (Ficus carica, zones 6 to 9) in the “hero” bed (seen here). The owner enjoys having birds visit the yard and wanted to encourage them to keep coming. They’re drawn by the fruit and the feeders she now hangs from the tree’s branches.
Apart from a simple lantern above the bifold doors, there’s no lighting in the yard. “Because it’s so small, there’s enough ambient light coming from the interior. [The client] is mostly planning to use it during the day, and the sun goes down late in summer,” Cox says. “It also makes it more wildlife friendly.”
Create a Lovely Wildlife-Friendly Garden in a Yard of Any Size
In addition to it being a sustainable choice, there are advantages to keeping existing plants where possible. “You get that maturity, and it brings the cost down, as mature plants are expensive,” she says. “Plus they’re plants [the client] recognizes, so it still feels like her [yard].”
Many of the pots themselves were reused too, with the largest now home to a fig tree (Ficus carica, zones 6 to 9) in the “hero” bed (seen here). The owner enjoys having birds visit the yard and wanted to encourage them to keep coming. They’re drawn by the fruit and the feeders she now hangs from the tree’s branches.
Apart from a simple lantern above the bifold doors, there’s no lighting in the yard. “Because it’s so small, there’s enough ambient light coming from the interior. [The client] is mostly planning to use it during the day, and the sun goes down late in summer,” Cox says. “It also makes it more wildlife friendly.”
Create a Lovely Wildlife-Friendly Garden in a Yard of Any Size
The bed that runs along the base of the back wall rarely sees much sun, so Cox filled it with shade-loving foliage plants, including male ferns (Dryopteris filix-mas, zones 4 to 8) and Hart’s tongue ferns (Asplenium scolopendrium, zones 5 to 9).
Cox wove a few existing edibles into the planting scheme, including a strawberry, seen here on the right, and herbs such as rosemary.
The owner does her own watering. “I showed her how to spray the base of the plants and not get water on the leaves” for better absorption, Cox says. “But a lot of the plants, especially in the main bed, are drought tolerant anyway, so they can survive without being watered all the time.”
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Cox wove a few existing edibles into the planting scheme, including a strawberry, seen here on the right, and herbs such as rosemary.
The owner does her own watering. “I showed her how to spray the base of the plants and not get water on the leaves” for better absorption, Cox says. “But a lot of the plants, especially in the main bed, are drought tolerant anyway, so they can survive without being watered all the time.”
Check out our guide to get started on your home project
Cox enjoys designing small yards. “They can give you the most joy because the transformation is immense. You have to look at every tiny element and every inch counts,” she says. “My main ethos is that everyone should feel as if they’re on [vacation] at home — it’s nice to have a space that’s working as hard as possible for you.”
The client says she loves her new yard. “She feels as if it’s a special space just for her,” Cox says. “It’s a calm place where she can just be.”
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The client says she loves her new yard. “She feels as if it’s a special space just for her,” Cox says. “It’s a calm place where she can just be.”
More on Houzz
Read more landscape stories
Browse outdoor photos for ideas
Find home design and building professionals
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Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A woman
Location: North London
Size: 215 square feet (20 square meters)
Landscape designer: Kathryn Cox Garden Design Studio
The original yard was mostly paved, with a few plants around the edges and in pots. It felt overlooked, noisy and often too hot, so the design needed to achieve several things: to dampen the sound of the railroad, create a privacy barrier and cool the southwest-facing space that magnified the sun’s rays. “The client couldn’t even go out there in summer because it was so hot,” Cox says.
The home’s kitchen opens onto the yard, so Cox kept the area just outside clear to allow space for the bifold doors to fully retract. She wanted to blur the line between inside and outside, mixing the feeling of a classic English garden with the interior’s fresh feel. “Colorwise, the [plantings] bounce off the furnishings, such as the cushions,” she says.
Every bit of the design was considered. “When you have the smallest of [yards], the space is so precious. You really want to maximize it, so every inch and angle was thought about,” she says. Cox even managed to fit in a tiny shed (seen here on the right) and hung a hosepipe on the wall to keep it from taking up valuable square footage.
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