Home Lodge + Mold +

Home Lodge sits within a small hamlet in rural North Wales and forms part of a wider historic estate. Built from local stone and Welsh slate, the house had already been thoughtfully transformed by the owners and architect, and the garden needed to feel equal to that level of care and intention.

The brief centred on privacy, outdoor living and a more welcoming sense of enclosure, particularly close to the orangery and main patio where exposure to the road and views of the septic tank most undermined the enjoyment of the space. Two patio areas were required: one more intimate and sun-facing, the other larger and more flexible for informal dining and entertaining. Screening, additional parking, a fire pit or barbecue area, and a safer relationship to the stream also formed key parts of the brief.

The design responds with a more relaxed garden structure, using curves and gentle shifts in level to organise movement and soften the harder geometry of access and parking. A sunken seating area adds shelter and intimacy, while the larger entertaining terrace creates a generous outdoor room connected more naturally to the house and extension.

Material choices were guided by the character of the property and by a wider understanding of historic gardens in the locality. York stone, aggregate gravel, reclaimed Victorian brick and sandstone edging introduce a language that feels honest and settled, rather than imposed. These materials were also specified in the original brief as a way of retaining continuity with the building and the gathered stock of reclaimed elements already on site.

Planting plays a dual role: softening the framework of the design while contributing to privacy and seasonal interest. Fruit trees, herbaceous perennials, lavender and retained characterful planting all help the garden feel rooted in its setting, while also acknowledging the history of the property and the enthusiasm of previous owners for plants. Screening along the driveway and parking areas was an important part of this strategy. [oai_citation:0‡Design Brief CLAD280721.pdf](sediment://file_0000000013f4724398e2586f0f91a141)

The project was built in phases over five years, much of it undertaken by the client. Although the stream itself had not historically flooded, a blockage in a nearby culvert caused water issues after the sunken area was installed. Because drainage had been planned carefully from the outset, the garden was able to deal with this effectively, reinforcing the value of resolving practical infrastructure alongside atmosphere and use.

The result is a garden that feels more private, more useful and more legible — one that supports family life and entertaining while still retaining the openness, stream setting and cottage-like informality that make the site distinctive.