This full garden design and build project in York was created for clients who wanted to make the best use from their outside space in all weathers.

Located just within the York ring road, this family home had a garden that lacked purpose and function.

Creating a design proposal that provided good access to all the main points to the house and outbuildings, whilst creating a fully working outdoor kitchen, koi pond, a covered space for a hot tub, a dog washing station and some structure for planting and lawns were all part of our design process. Space for entertaining was paramount, with the aim of creating an all-year-round garden that could be enjoyed whatever the weather.

”We met Richard in March 2019 following a recommendation, as we were looking to construct an outdoor kitchen area within our garden and wanted this to feel part of the rest of the garden. Richard worked closely with us, creating a plan for the whole garden that incorporated the outdoor kitchen, and everything else we had asked for and provided a detailed quotation for all the elements within the design proposal. We booked Astek and work started in September 2019. Although we added further elements along the way, which were costed for approval, the work took six months, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. John, the project manager was integral to the project, as were Paul & Ian, all very professional, excellent tradespeople who were nice to have around. In summary, when tackling a large, complex project, you need the right people, and throughout our experience, we really wouldn’t want to use anybody else”

Jayne & Simon.

Just outside York City center, a private home with outbuildings with no real features in the garden. It lacked purpose and wasn’t used for much of the year.

The Site & Brief

As with all bespoke garden design projects, the process began with a detailed client brief and site assessment.

The key objectives were to:

• Create a fully usable outdoor kitchen that incorporated a clay pizza oven, gas BBQ and grill, an outdoor sink and outdoor fridge. Granite worktops, heating and lighting in an oak structure with part glazing and roof tiles that matched the house. Electrics, lighting and heating were also added.
• Improve year-round usability.
• Space for a covered hot tub that fit within the overall design.
• A bespoke glass and steel cover for an existing well located close to the house was required.
• A dog washing area with a hot and cold-water feed for those post Winter dog walks.
• The house was a traditional farmhouse with outbuildings, so the garden needed to reflect its style, carefully choosing the layout and materials that would work successfully with the house.
• Planting that added some structure and formality to help bring all the chosen elements together.
• ·A koi pond with moving water for our client’s fish.

Working to a clear brief is essential in forming a successful design proposal, but understanding the built environment is equally important. For this project, we carefully planned surface water drainage and developed a detailed electrical layout at the groundworks stage, ensuring suitable cabling was installed for lighting, the hot tub and all outdoor kitchen components.

Choosing suitable materials that will also work with the existing building and the design is also paramount for the garden to be successful.

Garden Design and Build Project Highlights

Turning a plain and unused space into a fully usable all-year-round garden for cooking, dining and entertaining with family and friends.

Integrating all the clients’ wishes into a garden that felt entirely in context with the house required a considered, buildable design with enough space for each element to work together harmoniously.

For the design proposal, we worked hard to fit in all those elements discussed in the client brief whilst making sure that all access points were easy to reach, and recommending suitable materials that worked well as part of the overall feel for the garden.

• A fully functioning outdoor kitchen with heating, lighting, cooking facilities, a sink and outdoor fridge to create a space that can be used in all seasons.
• A design that felt in context with the house and its outbuildings with materials to match.
  Integrated drainage and electrics, planned in to make the garden build well structured and organized.
• A dog washing space for those Winter walks.
• Space that felt logical for a hot tub, with lighting and a power supply to suit.
• Good access to all doors from the house and outbuildings.
• Planting that worked well with the design, adding colour, texture and structure throughout.
• A seamless build process, delivered on time and on budget.

Using our experience to ask the right questions and translate the brief into a cohesive design and build solution was key to the success of this project. Clear communication across our in-house team ensured every element came together smoothly.

We enjoyed working with Jayne and Simon here and they regularly recommend us to friends and family.