Explore the secluded, coastal garden featuring a private dock, nestled in the most costly district of the United Kingdom.
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In the picturesque town of Poole, homeowner Stephanie Atkins gazes upon her garden from the local marina and sees a transformed landscape of silver leaves and waving grasses. Far from the house she once knew, the garden now mirrors the harbour, creating a connection that Atkins cherishes.
Atkins, the owner of the house, did not want her home to be a statement. Instead, she desired it to settle quietly into the landscape. The garden, therefore, became the statement, showcasing an array of plants suitable for coastal gardens.
Contemporary gardens in Dorset, particularly those near the coast, emphasize strong, simple planting that can withstand fierce coastal winds. These gardens often feature coastal grasses and hardy shrubs with silver-grey foliage, echoing the maritime environment.
Helen Elks-Smith's garden, overlooking Poole Harbour, is a prime example. Designed to blend quietly into the landscape while embracing the coastal setting, it boasts silver leaves, waving grasses, and other resilient plants suited to a frost-free but windy climate.
The design of these gardens aims to enhance the sense of place, creating a naturalistic yet modern aesthetic that frames spectacular sea views and encourages connection with the seaside environment.
Contemporary coastal houses in Dorset often integrate their gardens visually and spatially with their surroundings. They maximize natural light and uninterrupted views, extending this philosophy to garden design that complements the local dunes, cliffs, and sandy beach landscapes.
Homes like the redesigned beach house in Swanage and the coastal home near Lyme Bay use natural and timber materials in the structure and garden to maintain harmony with the coastal environment.
In summary, Dorset coastal contemporary gardens for seaside homes tend to:
- Use strong, simple, wind-resistant planting, including coastal grasses and silver-foliage species.
- Employ local materials and colors reflecting the surrounding landscape.
- Design gardens to blend with the natural setting, allowing sea views to remain the statement feature.
- Create a naturalistic but sophisticated seaside atmosphere that suits a generally frost-free, windy climate typical to Dorset’s coast.
For those interested in exploring specific plants or designers, Helen Elks-Smith is a notable coastal garden designer in Dorset to consider. Her work exemplifies the harmonious blend of contemporary design with the coastal landscape, creating gardens that are as much a part of the scenery as the sea itself.
- Stephanie Atkins' home in Poole showcases a lifestyle that harmonizes with nature, as her garden, abundant with plants, gardens, and flowers, mirrors the local maritime environment.
- In the modern homes along Dorset's coastline, home-and-garden design subtly integrates with the surrounding landscape, utilizing local materials and colors to create a seamless connection with the dunes, cliffs, and sandy beaches.
- The contemporary gardens near Poole Harbour and other coastal areas in Dorset are notable for their emphasis on native, wind-resistant plants such as coastal grasses and silver-foliage species, enhancing the overall landscape and encouraging a sense of connection with the coastal environment.
