Page 145 - Homes amp Gardens UK February 2021

DESIGN
H O W T O C O M M I S S I O N
A G A R D E N
IN OUR NEW SERIES WE’LL BE BRINGING YOU EXPERT ADVICE AND INSPIRATION
TO HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OUTDOOR SPACES
The Society of Garden Designers (SGD) is a great
place to start your search, as the registered designers
have all been subject to scrutiny and the adjudication
of their projects, with the letters MSGD and FSGD
denoting a qualified member (visit sgd.org.uk/find_a_
designer). ‘Most designers are “civil engineers” with a
love of plants, meaning that the entire project comes
under their jurisdiction,’ says Louisa Bell MSGD.
But it’s not just about the technical side, says Juliet
Sargeant FSGD. ‘A good designer has the imagination
to create a bespoke design for you, the ingenuity to
solve the site problems and the practical experience
to implement the plans cost-effectively.’
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT
DESIGNER? One of your key considerations
will, of course, be style and aesthetic. Acting on a
personal recommendation can be useful, but Ben
Chandler MSGD of Farlam & Chandler feels that
ultimately you must make the final decision and you
should always choose a garden designer whose taste
and style is aligned with your own.
Juliet Sargeant says it is important not to base
your decision purely on beautiful photographs of
completed designs, but also ensure that you are
going to enjoy the process of commissioning a new
garden. ‘Having an initial consultation with the
designer is a good way to see if you can work well
together, allow them time to look at the garden and
listen to your brief,’ says Andrew Duff MSGD.
HOW IS IT COSTED? Price will inevitably
vary based on the complexity of the project but
generally they are all costed around the same basic
set of principles. Andrew Duff tells us that costing is
all about clarity. ‘I lay out all the costs associated
with the design right at the start,’ he says. The build
of the garden is costed based on a detailed set of
design plans, construction drawings and from these
142 H O M E S A N D G A R D E N S . C O M
D E S I G N E R
you’ll be quoted at a fixed price. Ben Chandler
says that he would usually approach at least three
different contractors to enable cross referencing
of costings for the client.
Remember that your garden designer is a business
professional so you may be asked for a deposit
upfront and then they may invoice after the
completion of each stage. Most designers will include
a draft stage in their fee, so you have a chance to look
at a proposed design and discuss changes.
WHAT CAN I DO TO ENSURE THE
BEST OUTCOME? Being clear about your
needs from the offset will help with the design
process and a good designer will make sure to draw
out every detail about exactly what your wants and
needs are. A designer will produce tailored-made
designs to match your budget; if you under-estimate
you could restrict the initial creative concept, if
you over-estimate you could be disappointed if the
design has to be scaled down or re-worked in line
with your actual budget.
When it comes to design, Ben Chandler urges that
you be open and critical from the beginning. ‘If the
client is unsure or does not have a clear direction,
it’s the designer’s job to steer them in the right way,
putting in front of them decisions that enable them
to make informed choices,’ he says.
“THE BEST PROJECTS ARE
FORMED BY A GREAT WORKING
RELATIONSHIP AND THE
PROCESS IS FUN. THE RIGHT
DESIGNER WILL BE ABLE TO
FEATURE TERESA CONWAY
HELP IN THE RIGHT WAY”
BEN CHANDLER, Farlam & Chandler