The Palm Terrace
The Palm Terrace
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The vision for The Palm Terrace was to replace a tired, heavily built-up garden with a clean, contemporary outdoor space that felt naturally connected to the home. The existing garden featured an ageing raised patio and an outdated brick archway that restricted the layout and no longer complemented the property. The client wanted these features removed so the garden could be opened up and redesigned around a more practical, modern arrangement.
THE CHALLENGE
As is often the case with older properties, the excavation proved more demanding than initially expected. Beneath the original patio were several substantial layers of concrete, built up over many years. Rather than covering over the existing construction, we stripped the area back properly to create a stable foundation for the new garden.
The second patio presented an entirely different challenge. As part of the transformation, we removed a mature cherry tree approximately 25 feet tall. Beneath the surface, its extensive root system had spread through almost half of the garden.
Hidden Beneath the Surface
With restricted access preventing the use of larger machinery, the entire project had to be excavated by hand. Removing the dense root network required considerable additional labour, patience and care to ensure the ground was properly cleared before the new patio and lawn areas were prepared.
Taking shortcuts during this stage would have compromised the stability of the paving and the long-term establishment of the new lawn. Every affected area was therefore thoroughly excavated and correctly prepared, creating the right foundations for both the hard and soft landscaping.
Precision Beneath Every Detail
To improve the connection between the house and the outdoor space, we proposed a set of bespoke entrance steps leading directly from the rear patio doors. This created a far more inviting transition into the garden and gave the finished design a stronger sense of purpose and balance.
One of the main technical challenges was constructing the new steps while retaining the property’s existing drainage locations. Relocating the drainage would have caused additional disruption and unnecessary expense for the client, so the design was carefully developed around the existing system.
Through precise setting out and detailed construction, the drainage was successfully integrated into the steps, allowing it to remain fully accessible and functional without detracting from the finished appearance.
BEFORE
AFTER
Integrated Drainage
Ground Preparation
Details That Matter
Hand Excavation
Bespoke Entrance Steps
Restricted access meant the affected areas were excavated and cleared manually.
Existing drainage remained accessible and functional within the new step construction.
Custom-built steps created a stronger and more welcoming connection to the home.
The paving and lawn were built on properly prepared foundations for long-term stability.
The Palm Terrace
The completed Palm Terrace is a bright, welcoming garden that now feels like a natural extension of the home. The bespoke entrance steps create an effortless transition from the rear doors, while the two patio areas provide generous spaces for relaxing, dining and entertaining.
The newly laid lawn brings softness and balance to the contemporary paving, creating a garden that feels refined without losing its warmth or character.