View of a modern residential house with large glass windows, surrounded by well-maintained garden with young tree, shrubs, and a curved wooden pathway.

Timeless Retreat

A semi-retired heart surgeon and his wife purchased a home in Coventry. Collaborating with garden designer Jonathan Venables, we transformed what was once a bland, waterlogged garden into a vibrant outdoor retreat where they could relax and enjoy their surroundings.

Several trees, gifted by colleagues upon retirement, were carefully positioned to ensure their long-term health and prominence within the space. To reflect a passion for home-grown produce, the design incorporated five large raised planting beds dedicated to vegetables, and the growing of plants that would compliment the production of ‘homemade Gin!’

Originally, the garden featured a straight paved path through the centre. However, after discovering that the ground was prone to waterlogging and movement, we recommended a curved Millboard deck—an elegant, durable solution that would flex with the shifting soil while maintaining its structure.

With plans for a future canine companion, we also enclosed the garden with stock fencing, designed with appropriate spacing to ensure safety without compromising the aesthetic.

Landscape design plan showing areas for lawn, planting, covered seating, patio, pergola with seating, a shed, gravel parking, and existing trees. Features include new dwarf trees, domed shrubs, raised beds, and a composite deck walkway.
A detailed garden planting plan with labeled plant species, color-coded areas, and a scale bar, created by Jon Norman for North Border. Includes a North arrow for orientation.
Close-up of dark purple Japanese maple leaves in a garden, with blurred pink flowers and green foliage in the background.
A well-maintained garden with a variety of plants, including ornamental grasses, shrubs, and blooming flowers, alongside a neatly edged lawn and a covered patio area at the back of a house.
A landscaped backyard with a curved wooden walkway, green grass, and a garden bed with various plants and shrubs. Tall trees and wooden fence in the background.
A landscaped backyard with a stone patio, wooden steps leading to a grassy area, and a covered seating area with tables and chairs. There are flower beds and shrubbery along the perimeter, tall trees in the background, and a partly cloudy sky.
Modern house with a well-maintained green lawn and various plants and flowers along the garden edge.
Close-up of purple flowering plant in a garden with blurred green and brown background.
Young trees planted in a garden, supported by wooden stakes and wires, with a wooden planter and trees in the background.
Covered outdoor patio with wooden table and black chairs, overlooking a lush green backyard garden with trees and flowering plants, and a wooden sign hanging from the roof reads 'HILGRAIN PARTY'.