Thursday, September 19, 2013

The Front Garden Makeover Begins

Finally, the part of our property that we have mostly ignored, or if not at least neglected all these years is going to get a makeover - our tiny front garden (or driveway being as it is fully paved).



You would think that we would have prioritised this part of the property being the first one to be seen the moment anyone arrives to visit us and the garden but nope that wasn't the case.

Since we moved in here it largely served as an area to store or even dump materials to be used for the back garden. The back garden has always been and will always be our main priority being a relatively large area for planting as well as being private. The front garden however is tiny, exposed, and functional for parking a car, not the sort of place for hanging around for all of the above reasons. So as we developed the back the front got side lined.

Work in progress and not a pretty sight
But the time has come that the front garden receives some much needed attention. It may not be the biggest of spaces but it is the 'face' of our property after all and is the one that gives the first impression, kerb appeal if you may call it.

The thing is when it comes to front gardens there is almost always a need for conformity to adhere to that will be sympathetic to the type and age of the house and its immediate surroundings. More often than not these are the first considerations over ones creativity and sense of individuality. Unlike the more private 'back' where you'll have more free reigns to do practically whatever you want within reason. Be too creative, wacky, or individual to the front garden and face of the house and you risk devaluing your property.

But before I continue, let me tell about a front garden that I have always admired ever since I've seen a photo of it online many years ago (and fortunately Ian of Pampas2palms featured on one of his blog posts just a few months ago). Once upon a time, Chelsea Flower Show used to have a dedicated category for the design of small front gardens and one of the ones that were built for that category was this garden:

Photo by Ian Cooke of Pampas2palms
I love it! It is fun, quirky, very unusual, and above all it is a pond (as most of you would have deduced by now, I love ponds!!) situated in an area you wouldn't normally associate a pond to be located. Whimsical and totally impractical but I love it nevertheless. I wouldn't mind having something very similar in the future, not in the front of the house of course. But I imagine it in front of a garden outbuilding, a contemporary one, the sort that is marketed as a home office. Something for the future garden (when and where, who knows...).

So when I arrived home yesterday this was the sight that greeted me and I was immediately reminded of the picture above. 


Instead of a pond the entire has been dug up in preparation for the base of what will be a little porch at the front. The existing front door will be replaced by something more simple and appropriate as a secondary front door, as well as the ugly kingfisher stained glass panel. A new front door will be installed on to the porch.

Ironically, with the building of the new porch would mean the ripping out of the existing wooden storm porch which is an original feature that has been there since the house was built mid 1930's.


Conservatory at the back, a porch for the front, all part of the current house renovation. Once the porch is finished we can then decide what else to do at the front and what planting scheme to go for. At the moment the plan is to reinstate metal railings on both sides of the front garden as it was originally several decades ago. And from there perhaps have small raised beds, a thin hedge, or even large pots with specimen plants. Should we go for more traditional planting or grow succulents on raised beds as it's an ideal spot for them with it being south facing, milder, and sheltered? Small space it may be but there are still plenty of options to go for.

The Dusty Miller that bit the dust. It makes me laugh whenever I see the two hanging baskets of dead plants at the front of the house (and the fact that the builders have opted to keep them there till the last minute).
Work has started and will continue in the following days to come. The front garden makeover is long overdue and so glad it's finally happening.

Mark :-)

29 comments :

  1. Wow, and I thought I had a challenging front yard! I am curious with what solution you guys will finally come up with! Good luck!
    Christina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Christina! Does look dramatic with all that rubble piled at the front and yes its challenging with the space being so small too.

      Delete
  2. Whoa, for a second a thought you were going to have a pond in front of your house. I love the idea but the potential liability is nightmarish. A simple low fence is ideal; it creates a modicum of privacy without closing yourself off from the rest of the neighborhood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed Gerhard, a low metal railing or fence is planned to be installed on both sides.

      Delete
  3. What a shame the Kingfisher is going as it was the nearest thing to something tastefully bad at the front of the house :-) I remember you asking on one of the forums, many years ago, what suggestions people had for the front of your house and all you did was plant a few flowering pansies. I now expect you to come up with something really spectacular. It's all coming on great and perhaps it will be all over by Christmas. Didn't they say something like that at the beginning of the war in 1914?
    Well done lads it will be worth all the pain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL!! Fab comment, we were both laughing out loud when we read your comment. Thanks, it will all be worth it in the end.

      Delete
  4. Looking forward to seeing what it looks like when you're done. Love the pond with the path through it, but you're right, not for the front. I have a huge expanse of just grass in front of my house, and right now I'm working on figuring out what to do there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A huge expanse of grass...lots of potential there Alison!

      Delete
  5. how exciting that things are happening! I bet you wish that when you came back from the US everything was magically done

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is a huge project you have going on. More and more is coming to light that you are doing at the same time, but the possibilities for that front are great. Can't wait to see what you end up doing with it.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Cher! Quite a challenging space to work with.

      Delete
  7. Great project. I hope it will look like you dreamed. Good luck with this.. I'm waiting for photos at the Grand Finale.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jessica! Most of the building work should be finished by the end of next month and we're hoping all decorating will be done by early December (lots of leeway already included).

      Delete
  8. Those are some scary process shots! I'm sure your neighbors are just as excited as we are to see what you come up with. You could start a front garden rebellion!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wouldn't that be great if we did Loree, if lots of neighbours started to sort out their front garden (although mind you most of them have tidy ones already)? It does look dramatic with all that rubble piled liked that at the front, it got even worse over the weekend...

      Delete
  9. Look forward to seeing how this project goes. Glad to hear that you will not need a swimming costume to get to your front door :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Anna! No swimming costume needed indeed :)

      Delete
  10. Good luck with this! I'm desperate to sort out the disaster that is our front garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Katherine! Hope you get yours sorted out soon too!

      Delete
  11. I love idea of a pond in the front garden! Of course, you had better not return home tipsy if you have to traverse across it via various levels of floating stone pavers to get to the front door! You have so many projects going on now. It must be so gratifying for you, especially when you imagine it all completed, but by then I am sure you will be starting in on something else new and exciting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That made me laugh Debs, can you imagine if you're tipsy and you have to walk a plank to get in to your front door...

      So looking forward to getting the house finished, although we do have a queue of project already to follow afterwards...

      Delete
  12. I loved the pond front garden too :) cant wait to see how it develops

    ReplyDelete
  13. All sounds very promising! I'm guessing that your front garden space is about the same as Naomi's (10ft square)? Her street is full of wonderful planting! Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be gorgeous - looking forward to reading the results of your labours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Caro! Yes it sounds like we have the same front space as Naomi's, small isn't it but fairly typical for town terrace front gardens. Naomi does have loads of interesting planting on her street, creatively put in small spaces and looking so good.

      Delete
  14. I always find the front entry garden intimidating, and you're right: it's not a space where you spend much time. On the other hand, we pass through it, usually, several times a day. If it sings, it can set the tone for your whole mood. Here's your chance to set a good example for all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I vote for succulent bed or potted succulents! woot woot

    ReplyDelete
  16. Architectural Digest just showcased Giselle Bundchen's house and she has a moat. I think they're making a comeback!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Another project! Good luck! We will all be awaiting the results.
    I like the idea of the pond at the front of the house. If it were not for dengue, I'd be seriously considering it.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to reply to our post, we love reading comments and hearing your views.

Due to the increased level of spam, please note comments on older posts are moderated and only published after approval. All new comments are read and any spam is deleted.