Bruce's Garden Traditional Patio, Charlotte

Imagine this sitting area in the middle of an open lawn. “Cozy” is not an adjective that comes to mind. But enclose it within a simple vine trellis and a rich bed of greenery, and it takes on an intimate personality conducive to hours of conversation and relaxation. Tip: If your goal is to create privacy for your dining patio or reading room — or any space where you’ll be seated — a 5-foot-tall hedge or wall is all it will take to make you disappear. Any taller and the space could feel claustrophobic. And keeping the top within easy reach makes trimming less of an ordeal.

All right, so gravel is really nice for a woodland walk, but you need a more stable material for a patio area, right? Well, if you're like me and basically have 10 kids to feed, you might not have a grand budget. Pea gravel, ⅜-inch angular gravel or decomposed granite can make a nice surface to walk on. What's really important is to site the paved space thoughtfully. This patio is elegantly situated in a garden where one can imagine cocktail parties with beautiful people. I'll bring the Barbancourt!5 great gravel and stone types for the landscape

Don’t block off your entire view. Landscape architect Clodfelter is all about privacy, but he likes to open up small windows between his property and his neighbors’ for the occasional “borrowed view.” Here in his own garden, he used jasmine and ivy to create a partial partition but left the middle of the trellis wide open.

Create inviting smaller spaces for intimate conversation. The extrovert’s well-designed garden should incorporate smaller vignettes so partygoers can break off from the crowd for more intimate conversations. Narrower paths leading to small seating areas with cozy furniture provide a respite during larger gatherings. A surrounding hedge or wall will create a psychological sense of freedom and security for those who venture there and can optimize usable space in a smaller garden.

arbour at end of lounge window garden