A lovely 18C cottage with a beautiful view, had a large back lawn area with one main flower bed, existing pond and a very diagonal hedge. We decided to create a design that would square up to the house and remove emphasis on the loud diagonal. I increased the existing rectangular flower bed and added many others. The dark body of the hedge is a useful backdrop for the evening light catching the grasses and perennials. After an incredibly good growing season (this spring) the garden is looking great in its first summer. It needs the usual two years to mature, and then the roses will really make themselves heard. (The lawn may need a little more TLC as two nice dogs live here too).