Project Description
Mediterranean Kitchen Garden Design
This garden transformation in Leigh-on-Sea was designed for a client who have recently completed an extensive renovation of their large detached home.
One of the clients is a jewellery designer, working from a studio at the rear of the garden, while the other is looking to work from home more frequently. As such, they required a new multi-functional garden office and workspace that could accommodate both professional and personal use.
With two young children and a passion for cooking, the clients envisioned a Mediterranean kitchen garden, a place that celebrates outdoor dining, family connection, and relaxed entertaining. The design needed to address accessibility challenges caused by the steep level changes in the existing decking while capturing the warmth and style of their Italian heritage.
Garden Office & Structure Design
To the left of the garden sits a 10m x 3m bespoke garden office, providing a dedicated workspace that blends seamlessly into the landscape.
The existing conifers have been replaced with a mix of trees offering varied foliage and texture, creating a lighter and more inviting feel while still maintaining privacy.
The front of the decking is clad in Corten weathered steel panels, with discreet Yellow Balau doors offering access to hidden under-deck storage. These rich, natural materials bring warmth and a contemporary edge to the overall design.
Outdoor Kitchen & Entertaining Space
The main focal point of the garden is a bespoke outdoor kitchen located on the rear patio, a chef’s dream setup that reflects the couple’s love for cooking and entertaining.
This stunning feature includes:
- A barbecue, gas hobs, sink, and chiller/fridge
- A food preparation zone and wood-fired pizza oven
- A large railway sleeper table with integrated bench seating
Down the centre of the table, Corten steel troughs double as herb planters and ice-filled drinks coolers, combining practicality with creativity. Above, a flat-top tree provides an eye-catching canopy and dappled shade – the perfect centrepiece for outdoor dining in summer.
Family Play Area & Flow
The design ensures the garden works beautifully for both adults and children.
An artificial lawn in the back left corner serves as a dedicated play zone, complete with a large slide positioned over a planting bed that leads to the main lawn beyond.
A travertine-effect porcelain pathway runs from the decking steps across the garden, connecting each area seamlessly and leading to the outdoor kitchen patio. The path continues past the garden office, framed by timber arches that create rhythm and structure while drawing the eye down the garden.
To the right-hand side, decorative “hit and miss” fencing replaces the existing boundary, adding texture and visual interest.
Planting & Materials
The planting scheme embraces a Mediterranean palette of evergreen shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and tall translucent grasses to create structure and movement.
A dedicated herb and fruit bed sits along the right-hand boundary, planted with espalier fruit trees and a variety of culinary herbs – perfect for the clients’ kitchen garden aspirations.
At the rear of the space, pleached evergreen trees form a soft green screen, providing privacy while keeping the garden feeling open and airy.
Before the Garden Design
The transformation from a steep, impractical garden to a multi-functional Mediterranean retreat is captured beautifully through ED Gardens’ detailed design sketches, concept visuals, and before-and-after photography.
The result is a family-friendly outdoor space that balances work, play, and relaxation, designed for modern living, inspired by timeless Italian style.
Garden Design Inspiration & Concept
The design takes cues from traditional Italian courtyards and contemporary Mediterranean architecture, blending timeless materials with modern functionality.
The existing decking footprint remains, but its height will be raised to create a smoother, single-step transition from the patio doors to the garden. The steps have been repositioned to the left-hand side and made shallower, making it easier to access the lower level.
New Yellow Balau hardwood decking replaces the existing boards, paired with a balustrade featuring stainless steel tension wires for an open, uninterrupted view of the garden. On the left, two grey Perspex panels create a stylish backdrop for a mid-level landing – a perfect spot for pots and planters that add softness and seasonal colour.
