Created to reflect a house
renovation in N8
This garden in Crouch End, North London N8, was designed by Emma Appleby from our design team and was built by our landscaping team lead by Genti Sinanaj.
The project formed an integral part of a complete house renovation, with the outdoor spaces designed to echo and enhance the new architectural features.
With the children now grown up, the brief focused on creating an elegant and easy to maintain setting for entertaining, dining and relaxing.
At the rear, the garden connects directly with the new extension, expanding the living space outdoors and offering a calm, secluded retreat.
The front garden improves kerb appeal and provides a green outlook from the interior.
Every element of the design was developed to maximise the home’s renovation, drawing the eye to new views and allowing the garden to be appreciated from inside and out.
The original garden was a mix of artificial grass, decking and a trampoline zone, surrounded by dense planting that blocked light and made the space feel disconnected. The layout was restructured with three distinct levels to open it up and create a more usable, cohesive space.
Closest to the house, a generous dining terrace steps directly from the sliding glass doors, ideal for alfresco meals. A mid-level planted zone softens the transition between levels, leading to a relaxed seating area at the far end with views back towards the house. This arrangement offers a natural flow, making the garden feel larger and more functional throughout the seasons.
Layered planting was introduced around the garden to soften the geometry, create privacy and bring a sense of calm. Though in a residential setting, the space feels secluded and tranquil. All planting was chosen for visual impact with minimal maintenance and sourced from Palmstead.
Materials were selected to provide texture and unity. Clay pavers from London Stone were used across the terraces and to clad the barbecue, helping integrate it subtly into the space. Bespoke corten steel planters mirror the steps, adding structure and concealing level changes without closing off the garden.
Discreet In-lite lighting from LandscapePlus highlights key features and extends usability into the evening. At the rear, a vertical slatted screen conceals the storage shed while maintaining views through the space.
Acacia Gardens also redesigned and built the front garden to match the quality and thoughtfulness of the rear.
As part of the renovation, a new lightwell was added, so the front layout needed to accommodate this, along with a car parking space and bin storage.
A custom made bin store from Bespoke Garden Products was integrated into the design and softened with surrounding planting.
The overall scheme adds structure to the property approach provides a green outlook from inside.
From the street, the front garden now offers a smart, welcoming impression that ties the whole property together.
This garden was all about creating a calm, sociable space that would be easy to use and enjoy every day.
Because of the new extension, the layout had to be precise, but it also had to feel soft and relaxed.
We kept the materials warm and textural, and repeated the planting across the levels to tie everything together.
Now there’s a real sense of openness, flow and comfort. You can sit at the dining table inside and look straight out onto greenery.
It’s elegant but not formal, secluded but not closed in. It’s the kind of space that invites you outside.
Emma Appleby
Garden and Landscape Designer at Acacia Gardens Ltd
