This garden was a little different in that it had an usual shape, and was dominated by a dividing wall which made the garden feel dark and cramped. My clients wanted to enjoy a coffee in the morning sun but that meant sitting out in the middle of the garden, which never felt right for them. The approach we took was to break the garden up into separate areas which peeped into each other. In each area you can glimpse the larger garden, but not necessarily see it all at once. A small water feature provides a gentle noise backdrop. The shed and the fencing were painted black which gives a greater sense of space to the whole garden. Dalkey, Co. Dublin
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Leafy Garden With Water Feature in Rush

Brian O Hara Design, Dublin Rush, Co. Dublin
The original concept for this garden came from Oliver Schurmann of Mount Venus Nursery in Rathfarnham. The clients knew of his reputation for very natural and sustainable planting concepts. My clients also wished to extend their rear garden into an adjacent plot which they had recently acquired and to integrate a painting studio into the concept. The new studio is surrounded by lush woodland planting with a water feature starting at the house, flowing with numerous cascades down to a main pond at the rear of the garden. The new section of garden was significantly lower than the existing garden but by importing a large amount of soil and introducing a drainage system the split levels were softened and the height difference became an important aspect of the new design. The photos show the garden only two years later both in spring and autumn. The growth-rate of the plants after such a short period of time indicates how the garden will mature in years to come. Eventually the garden will look and feel as if it had developed naturally over a much longer period of time. The original concept for this garden came from Oliver Schurmann of Mount Venus Nursery in Rathfarnham. The clients knew of his reputation for very natural and sustainable planting ...

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Brian O Hara Design, Dublin Dalkey, Co. Dublin
This garden was a little different in that it had an usual shape, and was dominated by a dividing wall which made the garden feel dark and cramped. My clients wanted to enjoy a coffee in the morning sun but that meant sitting out in the middle of the garden, which never felt right for them. The approach we took was to break the garden up into separate areas which peeped into each other. In each area you can glimpse the larger garden, but not necessarily see it all at once. A small water feature provides a gentle noise backdrop. The shed and the fencing were painted black which gives a greater sense of space to the whole garden. This garden was a little different in that it had an usual shape, and was dominated by a dividing wall which made the garden feel dark and cramped. My clients wanted to enjoy a ...

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Bloom in The Park Medal Winner

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A Room Outside
We wanted to create more of a room outside and that's exactly what Brian did for us. It doesn't feel like a patio on the outside of the house.
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