What a glorious weekend we have just had.
It was so lovely to open the patio doors for an extended time.
I need to see some types of nature from my windows. Even when I lived in cities, I craved a strong desire to feel grounded in nature - probably because I grew up in Somerset, surrounded by hippies.
Each year, as soon as Christmas is over, I start searching for the first glimpses of life in the garden - starting with the snowdrops, and then the daffodils in March, as bursts of colour return and fill me with positivity.
Because of this need, the views into my garden are important to me - equally as important as the internal home interior design itself.
My home and garden are designed to seamlessly flow together, to ensure that particularly in the summer months when the doors and windows are open, the outside becomes an extra room, flowing in and out of the house.
My garden wraps around my house, with a ‘moat’ of concrete separating the house from the garden. We bought the house already designed like this. In an ideal world, I would remove some of the concrete, but the cost and likelihood I will uncover other issues means I must work with what I have.
Ideas to help connect the spaces include carefully positioned focal points such as iron arches, trees, and ornaments that draw the eye over the concrete and down to the green spaces.
Trees and plants are positioned to provide structure and height, while organic flow creates soft edges that tempt you further. A wooden pergola offers welcome shade, in what was previously an unforgiving suntrap, acting as a bridge over the ‘moat’ to the house. When the wisteria leaves eventually come out, covering the structure, they add a softness, framing the view from the patio doors, and allowing the house to retreat into the surroundings.
The clever designer considers everything.
As an interior designer creating stunning home designs, my roles require an integrated approach. Viewing the bigger picture, reading the room, and all its characteristics, identifying features, considering the aspect (south, north, east, or west), window positions, and any focal points beyond, whether that be to a balcony, garden, the far-reaching city or countryside beyond.
Need help making the most of your home?
If you don’t have the luxury of time to focus on your home design problems, Kate VDM works with clients to help them create beautiful and practical interiors they fall in love with.
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