Architecture and interior design thread

Depressing

Depressing

The joy of watching it come out from under the sofa covered in cobwebs and full of dog hair makes up for it though.

I need some help/inspiration.

We're in the middle of four-storey victorian terrace. We love the house and don't want to move so i've been thinking about what we can do about the patio at the back. It's in a north facing garden hemmed in by the 4 storeys of the main block to the south, a single storey extension off the back of our house to the east and a two storey extension off the back of the end-terrace to the west. As a result this bit of the garden gets absolutely zero direct sunlight.

We've had it paved and put a couple of steps up to the rest of the garden but it's basically dead space. Anything i try and grow there dies, even stuff selected to be shade loving. It's cold, damp, dark and basically not a nice place to be. I'm at a bit of a loss to be honest. My missus has suggested putting a pergola and some lighting in but I can't help feeling that's just papering over the cracks of the real issue and it'll still feel cold, damp and overlooked.

The neighbours to the west are having plans drawn-up for work in summer 2022 which include building a new 2 storey extension where there's currently a single storey outhouse. I've talked to them about it as I was concerned about it making our dingy patio even more dank, but to be honest, there's already a double height extension immediately to the west of theirs which blocks the evening light from that direction.

Basically, i'm starting to think that trying to salvage it as useable outside space is a bust and wondering about extending the house to get some better use of the space. Crap drawing attached. Any ideas? The lower ground floor is the main kitchen and living area where the family spend most of their time. Our single storey extension is an ugly blockwork utility and loo that we've just had done-up to make it useable, but I would not be adversed to knocking it down and starting again for the right plan.

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What city is this in? It can't be that cold if it's London. Ferns, fatsias and dwarf bamboos are thriving in damp, full shade for me.

They're in containers though. Is it maybe your soil that's the issue? In which case, a tonne of nice pots and planters and galvanised buckets etc etc.

(just realised you are looking for building not garden tips. But there are nice plants which will do ok in literally any conditions)

Thanks dude, all options considered. If we do extend it won't be until at least next summer anyway so tips to nicify it in the meantime are welcome.

We're in Faversham in E. Kent (near Whitstable). The area in question is fully paved so soil not an issue. The soil here is actually amazing but lack of light is the issue. Pots and outdoor shelved are the plan for this summer.

here's a pic from the kitchen window.

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• IMG_0726.HEIC

Big planter along the left hand side? Those current pots are all pretty small. More compost = healthier plants. Then several big evergreen leafy things - as above but also something bushy like aucuba japonica or lonicera nitrida? Those should all be unkillable.

Maybe just my own taste but I tend to think gardens need to be as green as possible.

Also - does it particularly need to be usable space? If you have the further along bit for summer use, the patio can just be to look nice through the window from the inside? Even the most avid gardener probably spends more time looking at their garden from the inside than the outside, in this country.

Even more reason to pack it full of shapely green leaves all year round.

What about a courtyard? Maybe a little extravagant but sounds like it might be a nice solution. You could create more of a microclimate for plants that way and have a useable space for outdoor dining

Slatted screen on the left for privacy - decent sized trough planter and jumbo pots with dramatic / sculptural shade loving species in the corners - table and chairs and some lighting - could be kinda hip cosy jungle room come summer ?

As for extending - bit hard to judge without understanding the plan of the house more. The wc position is a constraint to some degree - also depends if you need / want a separate utility space ?

Anyone else bought and a robot vacuum and then obsessively redesigned there home interior to maximise it's usefulness?

Everything in my home is going to be on 100mm stilts soon enough.

Late to the party but yes, absolutely. If the robot can't go under it, we don't buy it.

It's not like mid-c furniture with it's spindly legs is unpleasant to look at anyway.

What's the definition of courtyard? Do you mean further wall it off to make it more of a distinctly enclosed space?

Hip and cosy sounds good!

Love the top one. some food for thought there. Seating, shade-loving planters and lighting first I think. Shall report back on the beautification. Thanks.

Glad i'm not the only one, thanks.

Yeah appreciate orientation etc will be specific + looks like you have a work surface on the wall facing the space. Whilst the obvious move is side return extension, I do think courtyards can be really lovely. Some nice tiles on the floor and wall or interesting brickwork, the right planting etc. and you'd have a neat space

I'm building a pergola this summer to replicate that kind of vibe for our garden patio

That first one is the correct way to do house.
The second is great but not a courtyard.

do we have people with garden design expertise on the forum ? my garden is a source of anxiety for me now since the light nights are coming in and weather is picking up.

my (bastard) neighbours use their garden a ridiculous amount (fair enough it's their space). due to some ructions between us last year around our extension build, the sight of them now makes my anxiety start to spike... so I want to design my garden to maximise privacy and minimise any sightlines into my garden on that side. I'm thinking about having a metre deep border on that side, with lots of tall (6ft) bushy grasses and trees... need to sketch out a scheme I think

It appears to be Pergola's at dawn... (because obvs I'm doing the same, which will give our small garden an internal garden feel).

what orientation are your gardens? ours is north east facing which is apparently the worst garden. but it's long... so actually gets sun all day in summer. feel like I'd kinda like a pergola for that outdoor-with-an-indoor feel vibe but don't know if I'm willing to compromise on the sunlight. guess it's about competing priorities - do I favour my tanlines or my privacy...

also if I recall correctly from noseying at the pics on your extension, you had quite a low wall on one side with one of your neighbours. what did you do for privacy on that side ? bamboo screening ? bigger wall ?

Pergola was Mrs Fatberg's plan. To me it seems counter intuitive to add the things blocking light but I was thinking perhaps a glass roof keeping the rain out could transform it...

pergola? you are like a little baby. go full pavillion imo

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Yeah I would want sun on both days of summer up where you are.
My garden is pretty solid East and its small as hell so rarely gets any real sun so want to create a lighted outdoor space for that indoor outdoor vibe.
Aperitifs are done out the front which is West facing and has nothing facing it so full sun all afternoon/eve.