Garden Design

Garden Design in Kelvedon, Essex

Location: Kelvedon, Essex

A new-build garden transformed from a blank canvas into a calm, welcoming space. A curving gravel path, young trees and grasses, and a timber pergola create an easy journey from patio to seating, with planting designed to mature and soften boundaries over time.

Explore more: garden projects· garden design services· start your project

Overview

This Kelvedon garden began as a typical new-build plot: straight lines, bare fencing and very little sense of character. The brief was simple — low maintenance, welcoming from day one, and designed to improve steadily as planting established.

Curving gravel path creating a relaxed route from patio to seating.
Low-maintenance borders with grasses, perennials and shrubs.
Timber pergola and lawn panel forming an informal outdoor room.

Read the design story

The space runs alongside a brick garage and is framed by tall evergreen trees beyond the rear fence, so the layout needed to make the most of a long, narrow footprint — softening hard edges and drawing the eye towards a destination at the back of the garden.

The brief

The priority was to move away from a stark, rectangular layout and introduce a softer, more informal feel without overcomplicating the space. Planting needed to be easy to care for, with character that would build gradually as it matured.

Design approach & layout

A sinuous gravel path counters the linear feel of the plot, creating a gentle route from the main terrace to a timber pergola and seating area. That sense of journey makes the garden feel wider and more playful.

Generous planting beds edged with bark mulch flank the path, ready to be filled with a mix of ornamental grasses, perennials and small shrubs. Over time, these will knit together to soften fences and the garage wall, adding texture and seasonal interest with minimal upkeep.

A young feature tree introduces height and a future canopy, balancing the mature conifers beyond the rear boundary. Towards the back, a neat lawn panel sits beneath the pergola, offering a fresh green contrast and forming a relaxed seating zone.

A garden designed to mature gracefully

Overall, the design focuses on clear structure, easy care and long-term transformation. As planting fills out, this straightforward layout will evolve into a soft, layered garden that feels calm, inviting and connected to its surroundings.

Curved gravel path running between fresh planting beds in a Kelvedon new-build garden — Curved gravel path leading from the patio through newly planted borders.

Timber pergola seating area framed by lawn and new planting in Kelvedon garden — Timber pergola and lawn panel forming a relaxed seating area.

Young feature tree growing within bark-mulched planting beds — Young feature tree adding height and structure to the centre of the garden.

Swipe to see more →

Planting, texture & long-term character

As borders fill out, ornamental grasses, perennials and shrubs will create a softly textured backdrop to the path and pergola — adding movement, seasonal change and depth to what began as a simple new-build plot.

This Kelvedon garden shows how a clear, uncomplicated layout and low-maintenance planting can transform a blank canvas into a gently evolving outdoor space.

Gallery

Spaces within the Kelvedon garden

Views showing the curved path, pergola seating, lawn panel and planting structure designed to soften this new-build garden over time.

Curved gravel path and mulched borders in a Kelvedon new-build garden — View from the patio along the curved gravel path and bark-mulched beds.

Timber pergola creating an informal outdoor seating area — Timber pergola and informal seating framed by lawn and planting.

Young feature tree introducing height to the Kelvedon garden — Young feature tree establishing within mulched planting beds.

Long view of Kelvedon garden showing curved layout and softened fencing — Long garden view showing the curved layout and softened boundaries.

Back to all garden projects →

Like this new-build garden in Kelvedon?

If you’re starting with a blank canvas and want a simple, tailored design that will grow and improve with time, we’d be delighted to help shape your garden.

Start your project