A London Interior Designer Reflects on Magical Garden Designs - Steps and Stones

When interior designers say the words "garden design", they are crossing an invisible boundary - from interior to exterior. Historically, interior designers have focused exclusively on what lies within the home. But today some of London's most prestigious interior design teams are starting to apply their wealth of knowledge and experience to garden schemes. The resulting whole-estate approach means that top interior designers can now offer homeowners full-service comprehensive expertise that covers every possible need. London is a splendid city in which to work as an interior designer who also focuses on gardens because it is so easy to find fabulous garden furniture, plantings and exterior illuminators from the many outstanding garden centres and wholesalers across the home counties.


If there are walls on either side of a set of steps, you may hear your interior designer start to talk of a "brick-light". The name comes from the fact that its size and shape are precisely the same as a brick! This clever little illuminator can be set back into the wall to provide a general wash of light across the steps. Some prestigious London hotels will use this approach, but it can also be effective for private homes, provided your interior designer specifies a special louvre cover that focuses the light downwards. Some clients crave extra drama - in such circumstances, your interior designer may choose to incorporate directional spotlights, set into the wall to chase the light down. For even more atmosphere, especially in Central London where street lights may be bright, directional spotlights can be set into the wall to light each step individually. Your interior designer may turn to fibre optics - their tiny pretty fixtures are ideal for this type of application. If you have only a few stone steps, it may be best to conceal a lengthy low-voltage strip under the front trim of the steps to provide a continuous downward wash of light. This works well only if the light source is well-hidden; otherwise the effect will be too glittery and glamourous and your interior designer might as well be designing a London hotel!


Well that brings to an end my series titled "Welcome to my Designer Garden! A London Interior Designer Reflects on Magical Garden Designs". Thank you so much for reading.



London Renovation Company - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design and renovation services.