Travis Perkins
C
omments by Martyn
Fowkes, Travis Perkins
Category Manager
- Landscaping and
Drainage Q: Is there more of an
emphasis on hard landscaping
these days with the idea that
gardens should be a useable
extra room?
Q: What are some of the top-
line things that you need to
think about when planning a
landscaping project? A: “Many homeowners are
starting to think of their
gardens and outside spaces
as an extension of their home,
with projects replicating the
interior design of a home
outside.
A: “Cost is a major factor, it’s
really important to understand
your budget before you start
making contact with suppliers
and deciding on your product
type, style and overall
appearance.
Also, make sure you ask your
installer how long it will take
to complete the job and
get some advice from them
about how the style you have
chosen will cope with rain and
drainage.”
28 Landscape & Urban Design
One trend we have seen
increasing is creating
expansive kitchen-dining
rooms that spill out into the
garden through bi-fold doors.
This look can be achieved by
using porcelain paving both
indoors and outdoors, giving a
seamless aesthetic and design
continuation.”
Q: What sort of design cues
could you take from the style
of your home to influence the
style of the garden?
A: “Natural riven sandstones
and European clay pavers fit
really well with older, more
traditional properties and
polished stone and porcelain
paving suit modern dwellings.
Colour is important, consider
the outside walls of your
property as these have to work
with the colour and tones of
the hard landscaping.”
Q: How can you add interest
to a back garden with hard
landscaping (e.g. raised beds,
built-in features - how is
this archived, by rendering
blockwork? Any other ways
of building in structural
features?)
A: “Using porcelain paving
vertical on a block wall to
create matching planters and
even seating is a new idea.
Steps and different levels
also create interesting zones
and can break up larger open
spaces.”
Q: Paving and other hard
landscaping materials go in
fashions - what are some
of the most used materials/
styles/sizes to complement a
contemporary home? (e.g. is it
all dead straight, untextured,
large-format tiles? What
sort of materials/shades are
popular?)
A: “Vitrified porcelain paving
is currently in fashion with
really nice textures, sizes and
colours available. Large size
and linear project packs are
becoming more popular, but