The feedback that matters most comes 6 months after we finish.
Not the reaction on completion day — everyone's pleased then. But the feedback that tells us the design actually worked is what people say once they've lived with the garden through a season.
The things we hear most:
"We spend more time outside than we expected." — A well-designed garden removes friction between indoors and outdoors. Covered seating for light rain. All-weather surfaces. Morning-facing spots for coffee.
"The children play out more." — When the garden works as a space, children use it instinctively. Fewer screens, more outdoor time.
"It feels like we've gained a room." — Especially from clients with smaller gardens. A well-designed small space extends the usable area of the home in a way a neglected garden never does.
A study of approximately 20,000 people found that spending at least 120 minutes per week in nature was associated with significantly better health and wellbeing (White et al., 2019).
The design brief is simple: remove friction between indoors and outdoors. Make it easy to step out. Make it worth staying.
The gardens we're proudest of aren't the most impressive on completion day. They're the ones that keep drawing people outside.
📍 Surrey
#gardendesign #outdoorliving #surreygardens #landscapingsurrey #montroselandscapes
