Surrey
Contemporary Garden DESIGN
Exterior home & garden renovation to include front entrance, back terraces, pool area, pergola design and planting plan.
The garden was designed to create a wow factor, reflect the contemporary interior, and be mindful of ongoing maintenance requirements.
Careful positioning of architectural plants creates immediate impact and frames the view of the sweeping gardens beyond. Softness is achieved by the addition of a mix of pots and planters across the extensive terrace and around the pool area. These also provide a welcome haven for a variety of bees and butterflies.
The pergola was designed to allow light into the house whilst creating shade for long, lazy afternoons and providing some protection from inclement weather.
"Jo has been invaluable in creating a planting plan for my garden. She totally understood my need for low maintenance plants that architecturally added impact in the garden, softening any hard lines. The tight colour scheme worked so well with the contemporary interior of the house.
She understood what would thrive in our soil and how to create interest and balance in different zones in the garden. The finished result is amazing, thank you Jo for all of your expertise and guidance and for making the experience so fun and relaxed!"
More About This Contemporary Garden Design in Surrey: Front & Back Transformation
Set within the rolling hills of Surrey, this garden redesign brings together the front and back of a modern family home to create a cohesive, welcoming and beautifully balanced outdoor environment. Surrey is known for its expansive greenery, mature trees and spacious plots, offering the perfect setting for well-considered garden design that complements both architecture and lifestyle.
This project focused on enhancing the exterior to match the contemporary design of the beautiful interior. We re-designed the planting, terraces and flow of the exterior to create a seamless connection between house and garden.
Our Role in Creating a Unified Home & Garden
We were asked to help with both the front entrance and the back garden, ensuring consistency between the interior and the surrounding landscape. The interior design directed the mood, colour palette and architectural language the garden needed to reflect.
The brief was for for low-maintenance planting, architectural structure and a limited, calming colour palette, in-keeping with the interior. Interior Designer, Amanda Delaney developed a unified design vision that connects indoors and out, making the whole property feel more harmonious and thoughtfully composed. Garden designer, Jo Conolly supported with creating and implementing the garden design detailing and planting.
A Warm Welcome: The Front Garden
The front of the house was redesigned to create a striking yet understated approach. A contemporary walkway was introduced, lined with carefully selected trees and shrubs that soften the building’s façade without hiding it. The aim was to create a feeling of arrival - welcoming guests to the property and subtly framing the architecture.
Large existing trees in the wider garden dominated the original view, so our planting strategy focused on balance: introducing layers of new planting that draw the eye towards the house, creating structure while allowing the natural Surrey landscape beyond to remain visible.
Three Distinct Zones in the Back Garden
The back garden was reimagined to maximise its connection to the contemporary house renovation. The large terraces and paving around the swimming pool had originally been a mix of old decking and tired materials; these were upgraded to a sleek, modern style that complements the interior. The garden now features three beautifully defined zones:
Pool Area
The existing pool is now bordered by architectural planting and mature shrubs that frame the views and create a sense of destination.
Relaxing Terrace
A soft seating area sits just off the main living spaces, designed to flow seamlessly from the interior through large glass doors. A bespoke pergola provides essential summer shade while remaining light in appearance so as not to interrupt winter light.
Outdoor Dining & Entertaining Area
A generous dining space sits adjacent to the terrace, softened with pots, architectural planters and structured planting to bring life and greenery where no garden beds existed.
Beyond these terraces, the extensive lawns stretch into the surrounding rural landscape - a natural, calming backdrop that feels quintessentially Surrey.
Design Style & Planting Inspiration
The planting scheme was developed to deliver architectural structure, soft movement and year-round interest. Working from the client’s questionnaire and preferences, we developed a plant palette of carefully chosen species in muted tones, aligning with the contemporary interior palette and the clients’ desire for low-maintenance elegance.
Architectural plants were used to soften the extensive paved areas while still providing shape and impact. Larger trees and feature shrubs were selected to create immediate presence, with smaller plants chosen for long-term maturity. The result is a garden that blends the crisp surfaces of the terraces with natural, tactile greenery - achieving the perfect balance between modern styling and rural Surrey softness.
Materials, Planting & Exterior Detailing
Planters and pots played a key role in connecting the home’s architecture with the surrounding garden. These were positioned in areas where traditional beds could not be installed, providing greenery directly against the building and helping to break up the long contemporary façades.
The colour palette of the planting remains controlled and calming: greens, silvery tones and soft textures that echo the interior’s classic style. Each garden bed was designed for structure and simplicity, creating continuity between zones while complementing the mature shrubs and large trees already present in the wider landscape.
Furniture, Structures & Functional Flow
The new pergola on the back terrace provides essential shade during hot summer months, offering a comfortable destination for long afternoons outside. Its lightweight design ensures that winter sunlight still reaches the house, maintaining natural light indoors.
Outdoor furniture was chosen for comfort and simplicity, allowing the planting and architecture to take centre stage. The arrangement of spaces ensures that the garden works beautifully for everyday family life as well as larger gatherings - from pool days to relaxed evenings outdoors.
Challenges & Solutions
The challenge was to create a garden that softened the modernised house exterior while integrating the bold architecture with the natural landscape. Another key issue was the lack of existing planting close to the house, leaving terraces exposed and the exterior feeling unfinished.
By carefully analysing site conditions, reviewing views from interior rooms and choosing architectural plants with presence, we created a planting scheme that anchors the terraces, frames long views and enhances the home’s sense of proportion. The pergola was designed to deliver shade without blocking precious light, and the limited colour palette ensured visual harmony across the entire property.
Why Surrey Homes Benefit from Integrated Interior & Garden Design
Surrey’s spacious plots and natural surroundings make it the ideal location for homeowners who want strong indoor - outdoor connection. Properties here often feature generous gardens and sweeping views, which can be elevated dramatically when interior and garden design are considered together.
By approaching both areas holistically, we create homes where colour palettes, materials and mood flow seamlessly from inside to out - enhancing both the everyday experience and the long-term value of the property.
Create a Seamless Interior & Garden Design
Whether you’re updating a family garden, modernising your property’s exterior or combining house and garden redesign, we specialise in interior and garden design that work in tandem. From planting plans to terrace layouts, material palettes and full-property transformations, we create spaces that feel cohesive and deeply connected to their surroundings.
If you’re planning a garden redesign in Surrey, Esher, Cobham, Claygate or the surrounding areas, we can help you create an outdoor environment that is beautifully considered, modern, and perfectly tailored to the architecture of your home.