Transforming a dismal urban garden into a vibrant oasis of color and nature
Tiffany Daneff's Transformed Garden: A Blend of Tradition and Modernity
In the heart of central London, Tiffany Daneff's garden has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades. The garden, initially adorned with a patch of lawn, pleached apple trees, and a Magnolia grandiflora, now boasts a revamped design that seamlessly blends with the surrounding streetscape.
The steps leading from the street are paved with bricks, meticulously chosen to match the garden's aesthetic. Interestingly, these bricks are new but designed to look reclaimed, adding a touch of history to the modern makeover. The width and generosity of the stone steps give an illusion of width and space, making the garden feel more expansive.
The Magnolia grandiflora, a tree that originally provided character and shade, continues to thrive in the garden. Outside the kitchen, a Japanese maple with autumn foliage and a young fig tree with lit-up leaves at night add a touch of Asian charm. The largest tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica, about 30 years old, has been flourishing in its current spot.
The kitchen, previously below the level of the garden, now offers a breathtaking view of the garden through new contemporary glass doors that slide open. The herringbone paving in the new garden picks up from the grey herringbone wood floor in the new kitchen, creating a cohesive indoor-outdoor flow.
The raised bed opposite the kitchen is filled with herbs, ferns, and white-flowering plants like cyclamen, bacopa, and hesperis. Lights are sensitively placed in the garden, providing soft uplighting in the pots and to the magnolia. Over-sized planters filled with wildflowers and airy grasses were used to liven up the Victorian terrace at the front of the house.
Designer Alasdair Cameron provided bursts of color with seasonally updated containers. Seven years ago, the owners decided to create a garden with perennials and longevity, as their children had grown up. A new proposal involved lowering the levels of both kitchen and garden to create a lighter and greener space, avoiding the sense of being in a dark well.
The garden is now seen as an extension of the house and a place for continuous improvement. The owners prefer brick pavers over concrete, as they are more aesthetically pleasing. Each brick paver was laid by hand, ensuring a meticulous and personal touch to the renovation.
Despite extensive research, specific details about the major improvements made to Tiffany Daneff's garden over the past 21 years and their transformative impact are not documented in the accessible sources provided. However, it is clear that the garden has been beautifully revitalized, offering a serene and aesthetically pleasing oasis in the heart of London.
The home-improvement project on Tiffany Daneff's garden includes elements of interior-design, as the new kitchen doors and grey herringbone paving in the garden harmonize with the kitchen's grey herringbone wood floor, creating a cohesive indoor-outdoor flow.
The garden design, a blend of tradition (represented by the thriving Magnolia grandiflora) and modernity (showcased by the reclaimed-look bricks and contemporary lighting), is part of the home-and-garden lifestyle transformation.
The homeowners, with a preference for brick pavers over concrete for aesthetic reasons, have invested in a home-improvement project that not only revitalizes their London property's garden but also extends their living space, making it an ongoing project for continuous improvement.
