News
Inspiration and updates from the team at J&S Scapes
This is where we share updates from J&S Scapes. From recent projects to useful tips and seasonal ideas, our blog is designed to inspire you and help you make the most of your outdoor space. Check back regularly for fresh content and a closer look at the craft that goes into every garden we create.
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Gardens have changed.
They’re no longer something you just maintain.
They’ve become spaces you actually live in.
Places to:
- cook
- relax
- host
- switch off
We’re seeing more clients move away from “a patio and a table”…
And towards fully considered outdoor spaces with:
- defined seating areas
- covered structures
- outdoor kitchens
- lighting that works into the evening
Not more added in.
Just better thought through.
We were brought into this project at a very early stage - with the opportunity to shape the landscape alongside the vision for the home itself.
The brief was to create a garden that felt both contemporary and timeless. Structured, but welcoming. Architectural, yet grounded.
Clean lines and carefully chosen materials set the tone - dove grey gravel, graphite brick and Corten steel repeating throughout the space. Large angular planters help define distinct areas, while tall grasses soften the geometry and add movement.
Beyond the main seating areas, the garden balances everyday function with quiet retreat: a lawn for family life, a greenhouse and vegetable plot tucked behind classic borders of roses, lavender and perennials.
Instant hedging frames the space, giving privacy and helping the garden feel established from the outset.
A new beginning - designed to feel like it has always belonged.
#GardenDesign #LandscapeDesign #ContemporaryGarden #UKLandscaping #GardenInspiration #OutdoorLiving #ArchitecturalGarden #PerennialPlanting #CortenSteel #BuiltToLast #JandSScapes #APL
Steps are often one of the most important elements when designing a sloped garden.
Rather than fighting the change in level, carefully designed steps can help connect different areas of the garden and guide you through the space naturally.
Combined with terraces and planting, they can transform what feels like a difficult slope into a series of usable and enjoyable outdoor spaces.
We’ve written a blog sharing some of the key considerations when designing gardens on a slope, link in bio 👆
#slopedgarden #gardendesigntips #OutdoorLivingUK
An outdoor kitchen should feel like it belongs.
At our APL Award-winning Meadow Way project, this @grilloliving kitchen was designed as part of the overall scheme - positioned, framed, and connected to the surrounding spaces.
Clean, architectural, and built for the way the garden is used.
Not added in.
Designed to be there.
#outdoorliving #gardendesign #APLAward #AwardWinning
Projects like this begin long before the first slab is laid.
Following a detailed briefing, we created a full garden design for this newly built home - incorporating structured planting, considered lighting and a water feature to add movement and atmosphere.
From design through to hard landscaping and planting, every stage was planned carefully and delivered as discussed.
The build started and finished on time.
The planting plan was reviewed in detail beforehand.
And attention to detail remained consistent throughout.
Hearing that a client feels confident recommending us, and that their garden is being enjoyed and admired, is always the most rewarding part of what we do.
If you’re considering a garden project, starting with a clear design makes the entire process more predictable and enjoyable.
#LandscapingDesign #GardenDesignUK #BuckinghamshireGardens #LuxuryGardens #DesignLedLandscaping #OutdoorLiving
A brilliant day at the APL Awards - and one we’re really proud of.
Five gardens shortlisted, and to come away with two category wins meant a lot to the whole team.
Days like this give you a moment to pause and reflect on the work that goes into every project - the planning, the problem solving, the attention to detail, and the effort from everyone involved along the way.
A big well done to the whole team on site - this is what it’s all about.
And to designers Danny Nelson and Jamie Hunt @editlandscapedesign , it’s always a pleasure collaborating and bringing these spaces to life.
A great day, and a fantastic result - couldn’t be prouder of the team.
#aplawards #jandsscapes #awardwinninggardens #landscapinguk #gardendesign @apl_news
Many gardens across the Chilterns include a slope.
While slopes are sometimes seen as a challenge, they can actually create some of the most interesting and beautiful garden spaces.
Terraces, planting, views and layered spaces can transform what feels like a difficult site into something truly special.
We`ve written a blog sharing some of the design approaches used when working with sloped gardens.
Click the link in bio to read the full blog 👆
Porcelain and natural stone are two of the most common paving choices we discuss with clients.
Both can look exceptional.
Both can work beautifully.
And both have their place.
Porcelain tends to offer a cleaner, more consistent finish with minimal maintenance - ideal for contemporary schemes and structured layouts.
Natural stone brings variation, texture and a softer feel that evolves over time - often complementing traditional architecture and layered planting.
The right choice usually comes down to how the space is being used, how much maintenance feels realistic, and how the materials sit alongside the wider design.
There isn’t a “best” option - only what’s right for the garden as a whole.
If you’re in the early planning stage, material decisions are much easier when they’re considered as part of the full design.
#LandscapingDesign #GardenDesignUK #PorcelainPaving #NaturalStone #OutdoorLiving #DesignLedLandscaping
Levels, defined with purpose.
A natural fall in the garden became an opportunity to create layered outdoor rooms - from dining terrace to mid-level seating, down to lawn.
Corten steel, porcelain steps and structured planting bring clarity to the change in height, keeping the transition confident and cohesive.
Designed to flow.
Built to last.
#GardenDesign #TerracedGarden #LandscapeDesignUK #OutdoorLiving #CortenSteel #PorcelainPaving #JandSScapes #APL
Creating outdoor rooms within an existing space.
This project required us to work within a vast, underwhelming patio and transform it into somewhere inviting and purposeful.
The brief was clear:
- A defined dining space
- A place to relax
- Screening for privacy
- A style that reflected the house
Rather than redesigning everything from scratch, the approach focused on breaking the space down into distinct areas.
The dining terrace was framed with an aluminium pergola to provide enclosure and definition. Pleached trees introduce screening, their raised canopies forming a soft arch above the pathway. Brick detailing set within the paving subtly segments the patio and reduces the sense of scale.
Beyond the dining area, generous steps lead to the lawn, while a separate relaxation space captures the evening sun - gently divided by planting to create a sense of destination.
A simple water bowl was adapted into a running feature, adding a quiet trickle of sound. A decked walkway cuts through the planting, reinforcing the feeling of moving between outdoor “rooms”.
The planting palette reflects the client’s love of Japan, incorporating Acer, Hakonechloa macra, Pachysandra and Sarcococca to create softness and seasonal interest.
Thoughtful design allows even the most expansive spaces to feel balanced, connected and easy to live in.
#Berkhamsted #GardenDesignUK #OutdoorRooms #LuxuryGardens #DesignLedLandscaping #BuckinghamshireGardens #JandSScapes
