What Happens at a Garden Design Consultation?

A garden design consultation is usually the first detailed conversation between you and your garden designer about the future of your outdoor space.

It is the point where the designer begins to understand:

• How you use the garden

• What currently works

• What frustrates you

• What you would like to change

• The practical limitations of the site

• Your preferred style

• Your priorities

• Your budget

• The likely scale of the project.

It is not normally the stage where a finished garden design is produced.

Instead, the consultation establishes the design brief: the combination of practical requirements, aspirations, opportunities and constraints that the eventual design needs to address.

For substantial garden projects, this initial discussion can have a major influence on everything that follows.

Kirman Design provides garden design consultations across Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, the Ribble Valley and wider North West England.

What Is a Garden Design Consultation?

A garden design consultation is an initial professional meeting with a garden designer, usually at your property.

It gives the designer an opportunity to understand both:

the garden itself

and

the people who are going to use it.

The meeting may include:

• Discussing your ideas

• Walking around the site

• Looking at the relationship between house and garden

• Identifying practical problems

• Discussing planting

• Considering privacy

• Talking about garden features

• Discussing budget

• Explaining the design process

• Establishing the next steps.

It should be a conversation rather than simply a designer telling you what they think you should do.

What Is the Purpose of the Consultation?

The purpose is to establish whether the garden can become what you want it to be and what will be involved in getting there.

A designer needs to understand far more than which paving or plants you like.

They may need to understand:

• Your lifestyle

• Who uses the garden

• When you use it

• How much maintenance you want

• Whether you entertain

• Whether children use the garden

• Whether you have dogs

• Whether accessibility is important

• Whether privacy is a problem

• Whether drainage is poor

• Whether you intend further building work.

These answers help turn general ideas into a practical design brief.

What Happens During a Garden Design Consultation?

Although every project is different, most consultations involve a number of common stages.

1. You Talk About Why You Want to Change the Garden

The designer will normally begin by asking why you are considering a new garden.

You might want:

• Better outdoor living

• More planting

• Greater privacy

• Less maintenance

• Better access

• A larger patio

• More usable space

• A complete garden transformation.

The reason for changing the garden is often more useful than beginning with individual products or materials.

2. You Discuss What Is Wrong With the Existing Garden

Clients often know what they dislike even when they are unsure what the solution should be.

You may say:

• The patio is too small

• The garden feels exposed

• We are overlooked

• The lawn is always wet

• We never use the bottom of the garden

• The levels are awkward

• The planting has become overgrown

• The garden does not relate to the house

• There is nowhere comfortable to entertain.

Those are valuable pieces of information.

For example, if privacy is the main issue, our Garden Privacy and Overlooked Garden pages explore the wider design options.

If water is the problem, our Garden Drainage page looks at common causes and solutions.

3. The Designer Asks How You Actually Use the Garden

This is one of the most important parts of the consultation.

The designer may ask:

• Do you dine outside?

• How many people normally sit outside?

• Do you entertain larger groups?

• Where do you currently sit?

• Do you want morning or evening sun?

• Do children use the garden?

• Do you have pets?

• Do you enjoy gardening?

• Do you want space to grow food?

The final garden should support the way you live rather than simply look attractive in a photograph.

4. The Designer Looks at the House

A well-designed garden should normally respond to the architecture.

The designer may consider:

• Main windows

• Kitchen doors

• Living room views

• Extensions

• Bifold doors

• Sliding doors

• Finished floor levels.

Our Seamless Transition House to Garden page explores how house and landscape can be designed as one composition.

5. Views From Inside the House Are Considered

Many gardens are seen from indoors every day, including during periods when nobody is physically using them.

The designer may therefore look from:

• Kitchen

• Dining room

• Lounge

• Bedroom.

They may ask:

• What should become the focal point?

• Which boundary currently dominates the view?

• Should a tree be positioned within a particular sightline?

• Is there an ugly building to screen?

• How will the garden look at night?

Our How to Screen an Ugly View page explores how unwanted views can be addressed without simply enclosing the whole garden.

6. The Designer Walks Around the Garden

The consultation will normally include a walk around the property.

The designer may look at:

• Existing levels

• Boundaries

• Trees

• Planting

• Buildings

• Drainage

• Access

• Existing hard landscaping

• Views into and out of the property.

This initial visit is not necessarily the same as a full measured site survey.

The purpose is primarily to understand the character and practical issues of the site.

7. Existing Features Are Assessed

Not everything in an existing garden needs to be removed.

A mature tree, wall or established hedge may be worth keeping.

The designer may identify:

• Good existing trees

• Useful screening

• Attractive stonework

• Existing levels that can be exploited

• Valuable views.

Retaining good existing elements can preserve maturity and sometimes reduce unnecessary cost.

8. You Discuss What Can Be Removed

The designer may also identify elements that are no longer helping the garden.

These might include:

• Poorly positioned sheds

• Old paving

• Unnecessary paths

• Oversized lawns

• Failed planting

• Redundant walls.

Removing unnecessary elements can sometimes be one of the most important design decisions.

What Questions Will a Garden Designer Ask?

There is no fixed questionnaire, but expect questions about:

• Lifestyle

• Garden style

• Planting

• Maintenance

• Outdoor entertaining

• Children

• Pets

• Privacy

• Accessibility

• Budget

• Timing.

You do not need perfect answers.

The consultation should help you clarify what matters.

Do I Need to Know What Style of Garden I Want?

No.

Some clients arrive with a very clear visual preference.

Others simply say:

• We want it to feel greener

• We want something calm

• We want a modern garden

• We do not want it to look too formal

• We want more planting.

That is enough to begin.

If you are still considering styles, our Garden Design Ideas page is a useful starting point.

Discussing Different Garden Styles

The consultation may explore whether you prefer a:

• Modern garden

• Contemporary garden

• Formal garden

• Country garden

• Naturalistic garden

• Prairie garden

• Japanese garden

• Courtyard garden.

For example, our Modern Gardens page explores a clean, architectural approach, while Naturalistic Gardens combines stronger underlying structure with looser planting.

For more structured landscapes, see Formal Gardens.

For relaxed rural character, see Country Gardens.

You Do Not Need to Choose a Style Label

A garden does not have to fit neatly into one category.

You may want:

• Contemporary paving

• Naturalistic planting

• Traditional materials

• Modern outdoor living.

A designer can combine influences where they suit the property and the brief.

Discussing Your Patio and Seating

One of the first practical discussions is often where you want to sit.

The designer may ask:

• How many people need to fit around the table?

• Do you want lounge furniture?

• Where is the afternoon sun?

• Do you want more than one seating area?

• Should the main patio connect directly with the kitchen?

Our Garden Patio Ideas and Garden Seating Area Ideas pages explore these questions in more detail.

Outdoor Dining

If outdoor dining matters to you, the designer may consider:

• Relationship with the kitchen

• Table size

• Circulation

• Shade

• Wind

• Evening sun.

Our Garden Design for Outdoor Dining page explores this type of layout.

Outdoor Entertaining

If you regularly entertain guests, the requirements may be different from a garden intended mainly for two people.

Our Garden Design for Entertaining and Garden Design for Evening Entertaining pages explore the wider issues.

Outdoor Living

Many modern garden briefs go beyond a patio and lawn.

Clients may want a genuine outdoor living environment.

Our Outdoor Living Garden Design page explores how:

• Seating

• Dining

• Shelter

• Fire

• Lighting

• Planting

can work together.

Outdoor Kitchens

If you are considering an outdoor kitchen, this should be discussed from the beginning.

It may affect:

• Layout

• Services

• Pergola position

• Dining area

• Material choices.

See Garden Design Around an Outdoor Kitchen.

Fire Pits

A fire feature should usually be designed as part of the seating space rather than added afterwards.

Our Garden Design Around a Fire Pit page explores the relationship between fire, furniture and circulation.

Hot Tubs

If a hot tub is part of the brief, tell the designer early.

It can affect:

• Privacy

• Structural base

• Access

• Screening

• Lighting.

See Garden Design Around a Hot Tub.

Swimming Pools

For larger projects, swimming pools can influence the entire layout.

Our Garden Design Around a Swimming Pool page explores integration with:

• Terraces

• Planting

• Outdoor living

• Views.

Pergolas

A pergola may provide:

• Shelter

• Shade

• Privacy

• Architectural structure.

Our Pergola Ideas page explores different possibilities.

Water Features

If you are interested in water, discuss what appeals to you.

You may prefer:

• Still reflective water

• Moving water

• A pond

• A rill

• A sculptural feature.

Our Garden Water Feature Ideas page provides further inspiration.

Garden Lighting

Lighting is another subject worth discussing during the consultation.

Rather than simply lighting the perimeter, the designer may consider:

• Trees

• Planting

• Walls

• Steps

• Water

• Outdoor living areas.

See Garden Lighting Ideas.

Privacy at the Garden Design Consultation

Privacy often becomes a major part of the discussion.

The designer may assess:

• Ground-floor sightlines

• Upstairs windows

• Neighbouring extensions

• Views from surrounding properties.

The objective is usually not to screen everything.

It is to create privacy where you actually need it.

Our Garden Privacy page explores this approach.

Overlooking From Neighbours

If the garden is heavily overlooked, our Overlooked Garden guide looks at targeted privacy solutions.

Screening an Upstairs Window

A neighbouring first-floor or second-floor window may require a different strategy from ground-level screening.

Our How to Screen an Overlooking Window page explores those options.

Screening a Neighbour's Extension

A new extension may change sightlines dramatically.

See How to Screen a Neighbour's Extension.

Garden Screening Ideas

Our Garden Screening Ideas page explores:

• Trees

• Hedging

• Screens

• Pergolas

• Planting.

Often, the best solution uses several of these together.

Discussing Planting at the Consultation

Planting preferences are important.

The designer may ask:

• Do you love flowers?

• Do you prefer foliage?

• Are there colours you dislike?

• Do you want year-round structure?

• Are there favourite plants?

• Do you enjoy gardening?

• How much maintenance do you want?

Our Garden Planting Ideas page explores how planting can shape the character of the garden.

Existing Trees

Existing trees may have significant value.

They can provide:

• Privacy

• Scale

• Shade

• Seasonal interest.

The designer may discuss which trees should be retained and how the new garden can work around them.

New Trees

New trees may be proposed for:

• Screening

• Structure

• Focal points

• Framing views.

A well-positioned tree can sometimes achieve more than a large amount of smaller planting.

Lawn or No Lawn?

Do not assume every garden has to contain lawn.

The designer may ask whether you actually use it.

For clients considering alternatives, our Low Maintenance Garden Without a Lawn page explores other approaches.

Maintenance Requirements

Be realistic about how much maintenance you want.

A garden may look effortless while requiring:

• Hedge cutting

• Lawn care

• Pruning

• Dividing perennials

• Seasonal maintenance.

If reducing maintenance is a priority, see Low Maintenance Garden Design.

Family Garden Requirements

If children use the garden, tell the designer what they need now and how those requirements may change.

Our Family Garden Design page explores how family spaces can remain attractive as well as practical.

Trampolines

If a trampoline is required, it is better to include it honestly within the brief.

Our Garden Design with a Trampoline page explores ways to integrate one.

You may also find How to Hide a Trampoline in a Garden and Sunken Trampoline Ideas useful.

Dogs and Garden Design

Dogs can influence:

• Plant selection

• Boundaries

• Paths

• Lawn

• Gates.

Our Dog-Friendly Garden Design page looks at how these requirements can be incorporated.

For plant selection, see Dog-Friendly Garden Plants.

Accessibility

Accessibility requirements should be discussed at the very beginning of the project.

They can affect:

• Levels

• Gradients

• Path widths

• Surface choices

• Steps

• Seating.

Our Accessible Garden Design page explores the wider principles.

Wheelchair Accessible Gardens

For more specific requirements, see Wheelchair Accessible Garden Design.

Level Access From the House

If level access is important, threshold design needs to be coordinated with drainage and paving.

Our Level Access from House to Garden page explores this in more detail.

Accessible Paths and Paving

Surface choice and movement around the garden may also be discussed.

See Wheelchair Accessible Garden Paths and Accessible Garden Paving.

Garden Levels

Changes in level can have a major effect on the design.

The designer may look for:

• Existing slopes

• Awkward steps

• High patios

• Low areas

• Retaining walls.

Our Sloping Gardens page explores how changes in height can become part of the design.

Steep Gardens

More difficult gradients may require:

• Terracing

• Retaining

• Significant excavation.

Our Landscaping a Steep Garden page explores this in greater detail.

Drainage Problems

Tell the designer if the garden becomes wet during winter.

Useful information includes:

• Where water collects

• How long it remains

• Whether the lawn becomes unusable

• Whether patios flood.

Our Garden Drainage page explores how water movement can influence the whole garden.

Clay Soil

Heavy clay is common in many areas of North West England.

Our Clay Soil Gardens page explores how clay can affect:

• Drainage

• Planting

• Lawn

• Construction.

North-Facing Gardens

Orientation can significantly influence how the garden is used.

For gardens receiving limited direct sunlight, our North-Facing Gardens page explores:

• Seating

• Paving

• Planting

• Lighting.

Garden Design After a House Extension

If you have recently extended your home, the consultation should consider how the building work has changed the garden.

Our Garden Design After House Extension page explores this relationship.

Garden Levels After an Extension

Extensions can alter the relationship between internal and external floor levels.

Our Garden Levels After an Extension page looks specifically at this problem.

Drainage Around Patios and Extensions

Thresholds, patios and drainage should be considered together.

See Drainage Around Patios and Extensions.

Landscaping After Building Work

Building work can leave:

• Compaction

• Rubble

• Damaged lawns

• Altered ground levels.

Our Landscaping After Building Work page explores what may be needed to recover the landscape.

New-Build Gardens

New-build properties frequently raise issues such as:

• Overlooking

• Poor soil

• Drainage

• Small patios

• Basic fencing.

Our New-Build Gardens page explores the wider problem.

For a more specific service page, see Garden Design for New Build Homes.

Period Properties

Older properties may require the new garden to respect the architecture while providing modern functionality.

Our Garden Design for Period Properties page explores this balance.

Victorian Houses

For more specific property guidance, see Garden Design for Victorian Houses.

Edwardian Houses

Our Garden Design for Edwardian Houses page explores gardens around Edwardian homes.

Listed Buildings

Where the property is listed, additional heritage considerations may influence the project.

See Garden Design for Listed Buildings.

Country Houses and Rural Properties

Larger rural properties may require broader masterplanning.

Our Garden Design for Country Houses and Garden Design for Rural Properties pages explore these situations.

Discussing Budget at a Garden Design Consultation

Budget is an important part of the conversation.

It is not a test.

It is design information.

A designer needs some understanding of whether the intended project is likely to be:

• A modest garden improvement

• A substantial transformation

• A large high-end landscape project.

The budget influences:

• Amount of hard landscaping

• Material specification

• Feature selection

• Tree sizes

• Complexity.

What If I Do Not Know My Budget?

That is very common.

You may not know what your preferred garden is likely to cost.

The designer can still discuss the likely scale of investment.

Our How to Set a Budget for Garden Landscaping page provides a useful framework.

Should I Tell the Designer My Maximum Budget?

You should provide realistic financial information.

Without it, the designer may produce a scheme that cannot reasonably be constructed within your intended investment.

A good designer should use the budget to guide decisions, not simply attempt to spend all of it.

How Much Does Garden Design Cost?

Design fees are separate from landscape construction.

Our How Much Does Garden Design Cost? page explores professional garden design fees in more detail.

How Much Does Landscaping Cost?

For the construction side, see How Much Does Landscaping Cost?.

What Should I Prepare Before the Consultation?

You do not need to prepare a formal presentation.

However, useful information can make the consultation more productive.

This may include:

• House plans

• Site plans

• Extension drawings

• Photographs

• Inspiration images

• List of priorities

• Approximate budget.

Our How to Prepare for a Garden Design Consultation page provides a more detailed checklist.

What Information Does a Garden Designer Need?

Our What Information Does a Garden Designer Need? page explores useful information before and during the design process.

Should I Make a Wish List?

Yes.

It can be useful to divide it into:

Essential

Features or requirements you definitely need.

Important

Things you strongly want if possible.

Desirable

Features that can be considered if:

• Space

• Budget

• Design

allow.

This helps prevent every idea from being treated as equally important.

Should I Collect Inspiration Images?

Yes.

Images can help explain preferences that are difficult to describe verbally.

They may show:

• Planting

• Materials

• Furniture

• Lighting

• Atmosphere.

The designer should use those images to understand your preferences rather than simply copying somebody else's garden.

Tell the Designer What You Dislike

This can be surprisingly helpful.

You may dislike:

• Artificial grass

• Formal hedges

• Bright flowers

• Grey paving

• Gravel

• Timber decking.

Clear dislikes can prevent wasted design time.

Do I Need a Site Survey Before the Consultation?

Usually not.

The initial consultation is primarily about understanding the site and brief.

If you decide to proceed, a detailed survey may then be required.

Will the Garden Designer Measure the Garden During the Consultation?

Not necessarily.

Some basic measurements may be taken, but detailed surveying is often a separate stage.

The designer may later need accurate information about:

• Boundaries

• Levels

• Buildings

• Existing trees.

Will I Receive a Design During the Consultation?

Normally not.

The consultation is where the designer gathers the information needed to produce a considered design afterwards.

You may discuss:

• Possibilities

• Early ideas

• Potential solutions.

But those are not the same as a completed design.

Why Doesn't the Designer Just Draw Something While They Are There?

Because professional garden design requires analysis.

The designer may need to consider:

• Dimensions

• Levels

• Views

• Circulation

• Materials

• Planting

• Costs.

A quick sketch made during the first meeting should not be confused with a developed garden design.

What Happens After the Consultation?

If you decide to proceed, the next steps may include:

1. Agreeing the design brief

2. Confirming the scope of work

3. Surveying the site

4. Producing the concept design

5. Reviewing the proposal

6. Developing detailed drawings

7. Producing planting information

8. Preparing for construction.

The precise process depends on the project.

Do I Need Drawings?

For substantial garden transformations, drawings can be extremely useful.

Our Do I Need Drawings for My Garden? page explores why.

Drawings can communicate:

• Layout

• Dimensions

• Levels

• Walls

• Steps

• Planting.

Design-Only Garden Service

Some clients need a professional design but want to organise the landscaping independently.

Our Garden Design Only Service page explores this option.

Complete Garden Design and Build

Other clients want the process to continue through design and construction.

Our Complete Garden Design and Build page explains a more integrated approach.

Garden Designer and Landscaper

Our Garden Designer and Landscaper page explores why coordinating design and construction can help maintain the design intent.

How Long Before Landscaping Should I Have the Consultation?

For a substantial project, it is sensible to start the design process several months before you hope landscaping will begin.

Our How Far in Advance Should I Book a Garden Designer? page explores design lead times.

For construction timing, see How Far in Advance Should I Book a Landscaper?.

How to Choose a Garden Designer

The consultation also gives you an opportunity to evaluate the designer.

Our How to Choose a Garden Designer page explores what to look for.

Consider:

• Portfolio

• Relevant experience

• Design approach

• Communication

• Understanding of construction

• Plant knowledge.

Questions to Ask the Garden Designer

You should be asking questions as well.

Our Questions to Ask a Garden Designer page provides a fuller list.

You may want to ask:

• What happens after this meeting?

• What drawings will I receive?

• How do revisions work?

• Is planting design included?

• How long does the process take?

• Can you build the garden too?

• What information do you need from me?

Is a Garden Designer Worth It?

If you are deciding whether professional design represents good value, our Is a Garden Designer Worth It? page explores this question in more detail.

Do I Need a Garden Designer?

Not every project needs a complete professional design service.

Our Do I Need a Garden Designer? page explores which projects are most likely to benefit.

What Does a Garden Designer Do?

If you want to understand what happens beyond the consultation, see What Does a Garden Designer Do?.

Garden Design Consultations for Small Gardens

Small gardens may require particularly careful planning because every square metre matters.

Our Small Garden Design page explores:

• Layout

• Storage

• Seating

• Privacy

• Planting.

Courtyard Garden Consultations

Courtyards can be deceptively complex.

Our Courtyard Gardens page explores the importance of:

• Views

• Shade

• Walls

• Lighting

• Planting.

Garden Design Consultations for Large Gardens

Larger properties often require broader masterplanning.

Our Large Gardens page explores how:

• Garden rooms

• Trees

• Paths

• Long-term phasing

may form part of the conversation.

Consultations for £50,000–£100,000 Garden Projects

For substantial transformations, it becomes increasingly important to align:

• Design ambition

• Scope

• Budget.

Our Garden Design £50,000–£100,000 Budget page explores this level of project.

Consultations for £100,000+ Garden Projects

Major high-end gardens can involve many interdependent elements.

See Garden Design £100,000+ Projects.

These projects may include:

• Significant groundworks

• Mature trees

• Outdoor kitchens

• Lighting

• Bespoke structures

• Extensive planting.

The consultation helps establish the priorities before detailed design begins.

Garden Design Consultations Across North West England

Kirman Design works with homeowners across North West England, including:

• Lancashire

• Cheshire

• Greater Manchester

• Merseyside

• Ribble Valley.

Gardens across the region can vary considerably.

Some are:

• Compact urban gardens

• Large rural properties

• New-build plots

• Period-house gardens

• Sloping sites

• Heavy clay gardens.

The consultation is where those local site conditions begin to be incorporated into the design brief.

Garden Design Consultations in Lancashire

Lancashire sites may involve:

• Heavy soils

• High rainfall

• Sloping ground

• Established trees

• Rural surroundings.

These conditions need to be understood rather than treated as problems to ignore.

Garden Design Consultations in Cheshire

Cheshire projects may include:

• Larger gardens

• Outdoor entertaining

• Pools

• Pergolas

• Outdoor kitchens

• Mature planting.

The consultation helps establish which features are important enough to drive the design.

Garden Design Consultations in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester gardens can involve:

• Smaller sites

• Overlooking

• Restricted access

• House extensions.

Privacy and efficient use of space may therefore become major priorities.

Garden Design Consultations in Merseyside

Some Merseyside locations may experience greater:

• Wind

• Exposure

• Coastal influence.

Those conditions can influence:

• Plant selection

• Material choice

• Shelter.

Garden Design Consultations in the Ribble Valley

Ribble Valley gardens may include:

• Larger plots

• Views across countryside

• Mature trees

• Existing stone walls

• Sloping ground.

The consultation can help identify which characteristics of the site should be protected and strengthened.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens at a garden design consultation?

You normally discuss your requirements with the designer, walk around the garden, review the relationship with the house, identify opportunities and problems, discuss budget and consider the next stages of the project.

How long does a garden design consultation take?

It depends on the project and designer. A substantial garden requires enough time for a meaningful discussion and site assessment rather than a rushed visit.

Do I need to prepare for the consultation?

Not extensively, but plans, photographs, inspiration images and a list of priorities can be useful.

See How to Prepare for a Garden Design Consultation.

Do I need to know exactly what I want?

No.

The designer can help develop the brief.

Should I know my budget?

An approximate realistic budget is extremely useful because it helps align the design with the scale of investment.

Do I need house plans?

Not always, but they can be particularly helpful where there has been:

• An extension

• New glazing

• Major renovation.

Will the designer measure the garden?

Possibly, but a detailed measured survey is often a separate stage.

Will I receive a plan during the consultation?

Usually not.

The consultation is primarily an information-gathering and briefing stage.

Will the designer suggest ideas?

Likely, but early ideas should not be confused with a final design.

Can we discuss planting?

Yes.

Your planting preferences and maintenance expectations should form part of the brief.

Can we discuss privacy?

Yes.

Privacy and overlooking are common design issues.

Can we discuss drainage?

Yes.

Tell the designer where and when the garden becomes wet.

Can we discuss accessibility?

Yes.

Accessibility should ideally be integrated from the beginning of the project.

Can I discuss my children's trampoline?

Yes.

It is much better to include practical family requirements honestly in the brief.

Can I discuss a hot tub or outdoor kitchen?

Yes.

Major features should ideally be incorporated into the garden design rather than fitted into leftover space afterwards.

What happens after the consultation?

The next stages may include:

• Design proposal

• Site survey

• Concept design

• Detailed drawings

• Planting design

• Landscaping.

How much does garden design cost?

See How Much Does Garden Design Cost?.

How far ahead should I arrange the consultation?

For substantial projects, begin several months before the hoped-for construction date.

See How Far in Advance Should I Book a Garden Designer?.

Can Kirman Design also build the garden?

Yes. Kirman Design provides garden design and landscape construction across North West England.

A Garden Design Consultation Is About Understanding the Problem Before Designing the Solution

The strongest garden designs rarely start with:

• Which paving should we buy?

• Where should the pergola go?

• Which plants are fashionable?

They begin with better questions.

How do you want to use the garden?

What frustrates you about it now?

Where do you want to sit?

What do you see from inside the house?

Where do you need privacy?

What happens when it rains?

How much maintenance do you actually want?

Who needs to use the garden?

Which existing features are worth retaining?

How much do you realistically want to invest?

And what do you want the finished garden to feel like?

A successful consultation brings together:

people + place

house + garden

aspiration + practicality

budget + priorities

existing conditions + future possibilities.

The purpose is not to leave the meeting with a rushed solution.

It is to leave with a much clearer understanding of what the garden needs to achieve and how the design process should move forward.

If you are planning a garden transformation in Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, the Ribble Valley or elsewhere across North West England, contact Kirman Design to arrange a garden design consultation and begin defining the brief for your project.