Garden Design for New Extensions in North West England

A new extension can completely change the relationship between your home and garden.

Large areas of glazing, bifold doors, sliding doors and open-plan living spaces can place the garden at the centre of everyday life. Where the original house may have had relatively little connection with the outside, a new extension can make the garden visible from the kitchen, dining area and living space throughout the day.

Unfortunately, the garden is often considered too late.

After months of architectural planning, building work and interior decisions, the extension may be beautifully finished while immediately outside there is an old patio, an awkward step, damaged ground or a garden that no longer relates to the house.

Kirman Design provides bespoke garden design for new extensions throughout Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, the Ribble Valley, Cumbria and the wider North West.

By considering the architecture, threshold, terrace, levels, drainage, views and planting together, we can create a garden that feels like a natural continuation of the finished home.

Why Plan the Garden Alongside Your Extension?

A house extension changes much more than the amount of internal floor space.

It may change:

• Where you enter the garden

• What you see from inside the house

• The position of the principal terrace

• The relationship between internal and external levels

• How people move around the property

• Areas of sunlight and shade

• Privacy from neighbouring properties

• Surface-water drainage

• The relationship with existing trees and planting

• The position of external services and lighting

A patio that worked with the original house may suddenly be in the wrong place. A path may no longer lead anywhere useful, while a new kitchen window may frame a boundary or neighbouring property that was previously less noticeable.

Planning the garden alongside the building creates an opportunity to resolve these issues as part of one coherent design.

For larger projects, this may form part of a complete garden transformation, allowing the entire outside space to respond to the extended and remodelled property.

When Should You Involve a Garden Designer?

The best time to involve a garden designer is usually before the extension has been completed.

Early garden design does not mean that the landscaping must be built immediately. It means the important decisions can be made while there is still time to coordinate them with the architectural and construction work.

These decisions may include:

• Finished external levels

• Threshold details

• Terrace dimensions

• Paving falls

• Surface-water drainage

• Position of steps and retaining walls

• Electrical supplies

• Outdoor lighting cables

• Water and gas supplies for an outdoor kitchen

• Access for landscaping machinery

• Soil and material storage

• Protection of retained trees

• Views from important rooms

It is much easier and usually more economical to plan ducts, drainage and external levels before the building work is finished than to alter completed construction later.

If your extension is already being built—or has recently been completed—it is not too late. The garden can still be redesigned to create a stronger connection between the new architecture and the wider landscape.

Creating a Seamless Connection Between House and Garden

One of the main objectives when designing around an extension is to create a deliberate transition between inside and outside.

This does not necessarily mean using identical flooring in both spaces. External paving has different technical and practical requirements from an internal floor.

Instead, the connection can be strengthened through:

• Coordinated colours and material tones

• Alignment with doors and architectural features

• Carefully considered levels

• Generous terrace proportions

• Repeated shapes or lines

• Planting close to the building

• Clear views and focal points

• Well-planned lighting

Our approach to level access from the house to the garden considers the appearance of the transition alongside thresholds, damp protection, paving falls and drainage.

Where technically appropriate, reducing unnecessary changes in level can also improve accessibility for wheelchair users, people with reduced mobility and families with young children.

Garden Design Around Bifold and Sliding Doors

Large glazed doors can turn the garden into an important part of the interior.

When bifold doors are fully opened, much of the physical separation between the extension and terrace disappears. The external space therefore needs to be proportionate to the width and scale of the opening.

A narrow strip of paving immediately outside the doors rarely makes the most of this opportunity.

The terrace may need to accommodate:

• Outdoor dining

• Lounge furniture

• An outdoor kitchen

• Circulation between the house and garden

• Planting around the seating area

• A pergola or canopy

• A fire feature

• Garden lighting

Sliding doors often create an even wider uninterrupted view. We consider what will be visible from important positions inside the extension, including the kitchen island, dining table and principal seating areas.

A specimen tree, sculpture, water feature or carefully composed area of planting can become part of the interior view. The garden becomes a changing piece of scenery beyond the glass rather than an unrelated space outside the building.

How Large Should the Patio Outside an Extension Be?

There is no standard patio size that will work for every extension.

The correct dimensions depend on:

• The scale of the extension

• The width of the glazed doors

• The furniture to be accommodated

• The number of people using the space

• Circulation around the furniture

• The position of the kitchen

• Sunlight and shade

• The proportions of the wider garden

A dining table requires more space than the dimensions of the table alone. Chairs need room to be pulled out, and people need to be able to move behind them comfortably.

The same applies to outdoor sofas, loungers and cooking equipment. Their position should be tested as part of the design rather than added after the paving has been constructed.

A successful terrace should be generous enough to function properly without becoming an unnecessarily large and exposed expanse of hard landscaping.

Our garden paving service considers the patio as part of the complete landscape, including its relationship with planting, walls, steps, furniture and the architecture of the house.

Choosing Paving for a New Extension

The paving immediately outside an extension has a significant influence on the connection between the house and garden.

Colour, format, texture and laying pattern all contribute to the finished result.

Some homeowners want external paving that closely relates to their internal flooring. Others prefer a deliberate contrast that makes the change from indoors to outdoors more apparent.

Both approaches can work.

The paving should complement:

• The architecture of the extension

• The original property

• Internal flooring and finishes

• External wall materials

• Garden planting

• Other walls, steps and structures

• The size and style of the wider landscape

Natural stone may introduce warmth, variation and character. High-quality porcelain can create a cleaner, more contemporary appearance and may work particularly well with modern glazing and architectural detailing.

The choice should form part of the whole design rather than being made from a small sample in isolation.

Drainage Around a New Extension

Drainage should never be treated as an afterthought.

A new building, altered ground levels and additional areas of paving can significantly change how rainwater moves around the property.

Paving needs suitable falls, and water must be prevented from collecting against the house or moving towards door thresholds. Channel drains, permeable areas, underground drainage and changes in level may all need to be considered.

This is especially important in North West England, where prolonged rainfall, waterlogged ground and heavy clay soils can place additional pressure on garden drainage.

Our garden drainage solutions allow the practical requirements to be incorporated into the landscape design rather than added afterwards as an obvious correction.

Any drainage proposal should be appropriate to the individual site and coordinated with the relevant building and drainage requirements.

Dealing with Changes in Level

Extensions frequently alter the relationship between internal and external levels.

The new finished floor level may sit considerably above or below parts of the existing garden. Attempting to flatten the entire site is not always the most attractive or practical response.

Changes in level can instead be used to create:

• Defined terraces

• Wide garden steps

• Raised planting beds

• Integrated seating

• Retaining walls

• Different outdoor rooms

• Stronger views across the garden

Where retaining structures are required, their appearance, construction and drainage should be considered together.

Planting can soften walls and steps, while integrated lighting can improve visibility and make these features part of the evening garden.

Connecting the Terrace with the Wider Garden

The main terrace should not feel like a platform attached to the back of the extension.

Planting around its edges can soften the paving and connect it to the wider landscape. Paths, lawns, steps and changes in level can then draw people naturally into other areas of the garden.

In larger gardens, the landscape may become progressively less architectural as it moves away from the house. More structured paving and planting close to the extension can transition into lawns, looser planting, orchards, woodland edges or informal areas.

This creates a garden with variety while retaining a clear overall structure.

Planting Around a New Extension

Planting prevents an extension and its surrounding terrace from feeling excessively hard or exposed.

Beds positioned close to the building can soften the relationship between walls, glazing and paving. They can also bring foliage and seasonal interest into views from inside the house.

Depending on the aspect and growing conditions, planting may include:

• Structural evergreen shrubs

• Multi-stem trees

• Specimen shrubs

• Ornamental grasses

• Herbaceous perennials

• Climbers

• Ground-cover planting

• Seasonal bulbs

Plants close to large windows should be chosen with their year-round appearance in mind. Structural stems, evergreen foliage, seed heads and bark can all provide interest during autumn and winter.

Our planting design service considers how the scheme will look from the garden and from important rooms inside the house.

Using Trees to Frame Views and Create Privacy

Trees can provide valuable height, structure and maturity around a new extension.

A carefully positioned tree may:

• Frame a view from inside

• Filter a neighbouring window

• Provide privacy around a terrace

• Cast light shade during summer

• Screen an unattractive feature

• Give the new landscape a sense of permanence

Multi-stem trees can be particularly effective because their trunks and canopy provide visual interest without necessarily creating a dense barrier.

Where more immediate impact is required, larger specimen trees may help a newly landscaped garden feel established sooner.

The eventual height, spread, root environment and relationship with the building must be considered carefully. Trees should complement the extension as they mature rather than overwhelm it.

Creating Privacy Around a Glazed Extension

A new extension can introduce privacy problems that did not previously exist.

Moving the main living space closer to the garden may make neighbouring windows more noticeable. Large glazed doors can also make the interior feel more exposed, particularly during the evening.

Privacy does not necessarily require tall fencing or a solid line of evergreen trees around the boundary.

A more considered design may combine:

• Strategically positioned trees

• Layered shrubs

• Pleached trees

• Pergolas

• Decorative screens

• Climbers

• Changes to the position of seating

• Carefully directed focal points

The objective may be to interrupt a particular sightline rather than completely enclose the garden.

Explore our garden screening ideas for ways to improve privacy while retaining light, space and an attractive outlook.

Outdoor Kitchens and Entertaining Areas

A new kitchen extension and an outdoor kitchen can work particularly well together.

The cooking area should be convenient to reach from the house without obstructing the principal view or dominating the terrace. Indoor preparation, outdoor cooking, dining and relaxed seating can all be considered as part of one connected layout.

Our outdoor kitchen designs integrate appliances, worktops and storage into the wider garden rather than treating the kitchen as a standalone object.

Electricity, water and other required services should ideally be planned before the surrounding paving and planting are completed.

Entertaining areas do not have to occupy one enormous expanse of paving. Dining, cooking and lounge spaces can be subtly defined through planting, changes in material, furniture positioning or a garden structure.

Pergolas and Garden Structures

A pergola can help an outdoor area feel more comfortable and defined, particularly where an extension opens onto a large or exposed garden.

A structure may:

• Define an outdoor dining area

• Provide partial shade

• Support climbing plants

• Create privacy

• Frame a view

• Accommodate lighting

• Connect an outdoor kitchen and seating area

Our garden pergolas are designed as part of the wider landscape so their size, position and materials respond to the extension and garden.

Care should be taken not to position a structure where it excessively shades the glazing or interrupts an important view from inside.

Garden Lighting Around an Extension

Large areas of glass make external lighting especially important.

Without garden lighting, glazed doors can become dark, reflective surfaces after sunset. Carefully positioned lights can extend the perceived depth of the room and retain a connection with the garden during the evening.

Lighting may be used to highlight:

• Architectural trees

• Planting viewed through the glass

• Paths and steps

• Textured walls

• Water features

• Pergolas

• Dining and seating areas

The objective is not to illuminate the entire garden evenly. A combination of light and darkness creates depth, atmosphere and a more natural view.

Planning garden lighting before the landscape is built also allows cables, ducts, transformers and switching arrangements to be coordinated with the construction.

Landscaping After Extension Building Work

Extension work can be extremely disruptive to a garden.

Scaffolding, skips, machinery, temporary access routes and stored materials may compact soil, damage lawns and destroy existing planting. Excavated material can alter levels, while new foundations and drainage may affect the surrounding ground.

Simply laying turf or replacing a few plants may hide some of the damage without resolving its underlying causes.

Professional landscape construction can address:

• Unstable or compacted ground

• Construction debris

• Altered levels

• Drainage problems

• Damaged boundaries

• Poor soil condition

• Failed paving

• Lost planting and screening

The completion of the extension can therefore become an opportunity to reconsider the whole garden rather than merely repair the areas disturbed by the builders.

Extending a Period Property

A contemporary extension to a Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian or other character property creates an interesting relationship between old and new.

The garden can help unite these contrasting architectural styles.

It does not have to be entirely traditional simply because the original house is old, nor does it have to be stark and minimal because the extension is contemporary.

The design might combine clean terrace geometry with natural stone, established trees, generous planting and traditional boundary materials.

Our approach to garden design for period properties considers how contemporary outdoor living can be introduced while respecting the character and setting of the original building.

Working with Architects, Builders and Property Professionals

The architect naturally concentrates on the house. The garden designer considers what happens beyond it.

Bringing the two disciplines together can help coordinate:

• Thresholds and external levels

• Terrace dimensions

• Views from inside

• Retaining structures

• Drainage

• External steps

• Outdoor services

• Lighting

• Construction access

• Protection of existing trees

Early collaboration can prevent important decisions from being made separately and reduce the risk of completed work needing to be altered.

Architectural drawings are a useful starting point, but the garden will normally require its own survey and site assessment.

Our Garden Design and Build Process

Kirman Design can manage the relationship between design and implementation as one coordinated project.

Initial Consultation

We discuss the extension, how you intend to use the garden, your preferred style, practical requirements, budget and likely timescale.

Site Survey and Architectural Information

We assess the garden and review relevant architectural drawings. Accurate information about levels, boundaries, trees and the proposed building provides the foundation for the landscape design.

Concept Design

The concept establishes the overall layout, including terraces, paths, planting, views, level changes and outdoor-living areas.

Detailed Design

Once the concept has been agreed, detailed information can be prepared for construction, materials, planting, lighting and other features.

Landscape Construction

Our landscaping team can build the garden in accordance with the design, coordinating groundworks, drainage, paving, structures and planting.

Planting and Completion

The planting scheme brings structure, seasonal interest and atmosphere to the finished landscape. Final details are completed so the house and garden work together as one property.

View examples of our work in the Kirman Design portfolio.

Why Choose Kirman Design?

Kirman Design has more than 20 years’ experience creating distinctive gardens and landscapes.

Our combined garden design, planting design and landscape construction service allows us to consider everything from the view through a set of sliding doors to the drainage beneath the terrace outside them.

Andy Kirman is a Registered Member of the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers, and Kirman Design is associated with recognised professional landscaping organisations including BALI and the Association of Professional Landscapers.

Our aim is to create a garden that feels like part of the completed property—not something that begins where the extension ends.

Garden Design for Extensions Across North West England

We design and build gardens around new extensions throughout:

• Lancashire

• Cheshire

• Greater Manchester

• Merseyside

• The Ribble Valley

• Cumbria

• South Manchester

• West Lancashire

• Wirral

• The Fylde Coast

• The wider North West

We work with contemporary homes, period properties, family houses, rural properties and larger country homes.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I contact a garden designer about my extension?

Ideally, contact the garden designer while the extension is being planned or before construction has been completed. This provides more opportunity to coordinate levels, thresholds, drainage, services, views and terrace dimensions.

Can you design the garden from my architect’s plans?

Architectural plans provide useful information about the proposed building. However, the garden itself will normally require additional survey information and a site assessment.

Can you create level access from an extension into the garden?

Level or visually seamless access may be possible, depending on the property. Thresholds, damp protection, external paving levels, falls and drainage all require careful technical consideration.

How large should the patio outside bifold doors be?

There is no universal size. The patio should relate to the width and scale of the extension and provide sufficient room for furniture, circulation, planting and the intended activities.

Can you redesign a garden damaged during building work?

Yes. Building work often presents an opportunity for a complete redesign, particularly where the lawn, planting, access, drainage and existing levels have already been disturbed.

Can you work with my architect or builder?

Yes. Where appropriate, we can coordinate the landscape design with the architectural and building work, particularly in relation to external levels, thresholds, drainage, access and services.

Can you design around an extension to a period property?

Yes. A contemporary extension can work beautifully with an older property. The garden can help create a relationship between the original architecture, the new addition and the wider landscape.

Do you provide planting design?

Yes. Planting design forms an important part of the service and considers year-round views from inside the extension as well as the appearance of the wider garden.

Do you also build the garden?

Yes. Kirman Design provides a complete garden design and landscaping service, allowing the design and subsequent construction to be managed as a coordinated project.

How much does landscaping around an extension cost?

The cost depends on the size and condition of the garden, access, levels, drainage, materials, planting and the complexity of the proposed features. We can provide more useful guidance after discussing the project and visiting the property.

Make the Garden Part of Your Extension

If you are investing in an extension, the garden deserves to be part of the same conversation.

The terrace, views, levels, drainage, planting, lighting and outdoor-living areas can all influence how successfully the finished property works.

Whether your extension is still being planned, currently under construction or recently completed, Kirman Design can create a garden that completes the transformation.

Contact Kirman Design to arrange an initial conversation about your extension and garden.