Tucked away in Notting Hill sits this flourishing city garden by the landscaping studio Hicks & Hart. As seasoned creators of “joyful gardens that reflect your life and style,” Hicks & Hart have conjured a living and breathing sanctuary that feels both timeless and entirely fresh. Tucked away in of London's most vibrant neighbourhoods, it feels like a welcome green escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Catherine Hicks, like many Londoners, was looking to create her own private sanctuary when she and her family moved into their house over a decade ago. As one half of Hicks & Hart, she and her co-founder Kate Hart got straight to work on updating the house's neglected garden.
Although the space had “good bones”, the garden still had its challenges, its small size being one of the largest. Creating a lush and personal space within a tiny footprint (6m wide and 10m long to be exact) is a tall order even for the most seasoned garden designer, but Catherine and Kate were up for the challenge. The approach they decided on was to work with a lot of what they already had, retaining the core features of the garden, such as the built-in BBQ and a polished concrete terrace, in order to allow more time to focus on layering in characterful and functional elements.
To add visual interest and to create clear “zones” in the garden, a long bench was added between the new raised beds to form a lounge area, the decking underfoot stained black to further delineate from the rest of the garden.
The planting began with Acer trees, which now arch over the seating zone and offer dappled shade. Seasonal interest in the garden is provided by a variety of pots scattered throughout which can be moved as needed. The combination of these pots and the two mature trees results in a lush, layered, and lived-in scheme.
Catherine and Kate brought the idea of “the power of green,” something they've taken away from their time studying at Inchbald School of Design, into the garden. The pared-back approach to colour makes the space feel immersive but not too busy: a rich backdrop that lets the textural aspects of the garden shine through. Not to mention, with many of the plants and trees being evergreen, it provides year-round bounty.
The result is a city garden that feels immersive and entirely liveable. With ample structure and a uniform palette that delights regardless of the season, Hicks & Hart's Notting Hill project stands as a testament to what thoughtful design can bring to a garden.
Today, the Hicks & Hart studio sits just behind the critical doors to the garden. The space is as much part of home life as it is a space for Catherine and Kate to use professionally. It's a beautiful backdrop for client Zoom calls, a testbed for planting ideas and a source of daily and ever-changing inspiration.
