The Sketch Book and Shovel

Boggy Blogging from Nicky and the Team @ GardenImprovements.com

Glasgow West Garden Design: Contemporary City Oasis

Considering the area was practically a car park before hand, virtually just a concrete base, i think my design will really turn the space into a use-able garden and mirror Moyra’s style while giving the established and impressive town-house a worthy extension!

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Sun, October 18 2009 » Garden Design Portfolio Series » No Comments

An Apprentices View: My First Design Built

So after much practise and a couple of knock-backs, I finally had come up with a design that a client felt worthy of having built in their garden…phew!  The customer was Mary G from Busby on the south side of Glasgow, and not only did she like the design she loved it enough to go [...]

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Sun, October 11 2009 » Gardening, Industry Comment » No Comments

Glasgow East: Small Driveway Garden Design in Baillieston

The segments of lawn will brighten up the whole area, coupled with the planting scheme Pamela will have a really attractive garden to greet her from work and have the neighbours casting a envious eye! I think the sweeping lines create much more interesting shapes than your conventional driveway and will frame the house perfectly.

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Sun, October 11 2009 » Garden Design Portfolio Series » No Comments

Lanarkshire: Tailored Driveway Design in Motherwell

The aim of the design is to reduce the impact of the hard landscaping on the effect of the property – a traditional sandstone semi. Monoblock is certainly far too modern a material to use and the budget ruled out using traditional stone – the driveway area will be at least 110 sq m! The medium choice is the tumbled block which comes in 3 sizes and always looks handsome when installed.

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Fri, October 9 2009 » Garden Design Portfolio Series » No Comments

Glasgow South: Mediterranean Garden Design in Newton Mearns

The garden presents an awkward tri-angular shape which isn’t normally very easy to work function into. We could implement a rectangular theme, with the base lines off-centre from perpendicular with the house – perhaps at 90 degrees to either fence might work; but I wanted to achieve an introversial garden which would create an urban haven rather than one which stretches the boundaries of the space and tries to reach beyond the fence line. A large dominant circle presented a good base from which to build the different elements of the design upon.

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Wed, October 7 2009 » Garden Design Portfolio Series » No Comments

Glasgow South: Busby Garden Design Complete

You may remember reading about Matthew’s first successful design which was for a small sun-lover’s garden in Busby?  If not then you should take a look to see his approach to the design but anyway here is the finished garden – minus planting which we’re doing next week!!
This garden was built in the Busby area, [...]

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Tue, October 6 2009 » Completed Project Portfolio Series » No Comments

Accessible Garden Designers!!

We have now installed our chat facility at the GardenImprovements.com website so that new customers can contact us directly to quickly ask about our service before they proceed with their enquiry!  You can ask us if we work in your area, if we are available for a meeting, for quick tips, or for the name [...]

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Mon, October 5 2009 » Promotions and Client Information » No Comments

Glasgow South: Stylish Chill-out Garden Design in Giffnock

The cascade water feature pools into a rill which follows down into the reflective pool. The rill heightens the audio and visual qualities of the garden – and will also act as a handy wine and beer cooler!!

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Sun, October 4 2009 » Garden Design Portfolio Series » No Comments

Glasgow South: Simple and Soft Garden Design in Cathcart

The first thing i wanted to do was to create a bigger garden. By removing the bed which divided the garden into two narrow rectangles, and then implementing a circular design we can produce a more spacious area and procure more function for the space we are left with. Diminishing circles help to lengthen the garden and the circular design itself spreads the lateral space so as to appear larger – a handy technique when workin in small urban gardens!

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Sat, October 3 2009 » Garden Design Portfolio Series » No Comments

Super Sheds: Coming to Your Backyard Soon : TreeHugger

If you have one, I know you love your shed. You might not think it, know it or say it…but deep down you really cannot do without it! He

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Fri, October 2 2009 » Ideas for the Garden, Influence and Inspiration » No Comments