Transforming a dismal urban garden into a vibrant oasis of color and foliage
Transforming a Dark London Garden into a Bright Oasis: Tiffany Daneff's Renovation
In the heart of central London, a once dark and enclosed garden has been transformed into a light-filled oasis. This remarkable renovation is the work of Tiffany Daneff, the former Editor of GardenLife, who has written and ghostwritten several books on gardening.
The renovation reflects a significant change in design, likely influenced by Daneff's children having grown up, allowing for a more mature, refined space focused on light and openness rather than a child-oriented garden. This shift is in line with a broader trend of revitalizing country gardens and outdoor spaces to bring them back to life, emphasizing sustainability and natural beauty.
The new kitchen now boasts sliding glass doors that seamlessly blend it with the garden, allowing it to become a part of the outdoor space and vice versa. Outside the kitchen, a Japanese maple and a young fig tree stand, while a Magnolia grandiflora tree has been boxed in to keep it at its original level.
To avoid a sparse appearance, the owners chose brick pavers for the garden, each one laid by hand. These new brick pavers are designed to look reclaimed, and they match the grey herringbone wood floor in the new kitchen. The new design also includes wide stone steps replacing a small metal staircase, giving an illusion of width and space.
The steps from the street are laid in a matching brick, and designer Alasdair Cameron provided bursts of color with seasonally updated containers. Lights are sensitively placed in the garden for soft uplighting, while a wall-mounted shade was essential due to the garden's full sun exposure.
Before the renovation, the view from the conservatory was limited to steps and a concrete wall. Now, the garden, once improved 21 years ago with a patch of lawn and climbers to screen the back wall, seems to be an extension of the house. A small raised bed opposite the kitchen contains herbs and white-flowering plants, adding to the garden's charm and functionality.
This renovation is not just a physical transformation but also a testament to Daneff's passion for gardening and her commitment to creating sustainable and beautiful outdoor spaces. Her interest in sustainable and naturalistic elements, as indicated by her foraging for winter mushrooms, is evident in the design changes, making this garden a true oasis in the heart of the city.
[1] Tiffany Daneff's Garden Renovation: A Transformation in Design [2] Revitalizing Country Gardens and Outdoor Spaces: Embracing Sustainability and Natural Beauty
The transformation carried out by Tiffany Daneff, a former Editor of GardenLife, demonstrates a change in garden design, aligning with her interest in creating a more mature, light-filled, and refined space as part of the home-and-garden lifestyle. This renovation, a testament to her passion for gardening, is also a reflection of the broader trend of revitalizing country gardens, focusing on sustainability and natural beauty [1]. Tiffany Daneff's garden renovation embodies the concept of revitalizing country gardens and outdoor spaces, highlighting the fusion of indoor and outdoor living spaces while emphasizing sustainability and natural beauty [2].
