With over 60% of us valuing outdoor space in homes in Britains towns and cities, according to an occupational demand survey from Savills, it is no wonder we like to make an external mark on our own little corner of England.
Landscape gardener Randle Siddeley (Lord Kenilworth) from SLD Siddeley Landscape Design believes an urban garden lends an opportunity to create suspense, discover and surprise, no matter how small the space. He says that even if you are in a seemingly gloomy corner, new shade to light grasses on the market now can solve the problem.
Fire-pits and fireplaces are all the vogue this summer, points out Lord Kenilworth, along with luxury barbecues, fridges and gadgets making up Mediterranean-style outdoor kitchens.
Lord Kenilworth personally favours granite you get different textures that do not attract algae over York stone, which has been done to death.
Garden furniture in spun plastic that can stay outside all year round is another must.
Try to keep planting 70% evergreen do not rely too much on bedding plants. Well-structured gardens with herbaceous perennials require less work, he adds.
Here are some town and city homes with striking outdoor spaces currently for sale:
Stanhope Place, Bayswater, London £5.5 million
Refurbished Georgian six-bed townhouse with two balconies leading off the first floor reception room, a west-facing decked terrace off the family lounge and a decked flat roof measuring over 25×25-ft. For more information, contact Simon Barnes Property Consultants 020 7499 3434
Medina Terrace, Hove, Sussex £2.9 million
Five-storey house on the Hove seafront with balcony off the first floor reception room and a roof terrace with permission to convert into a self-contained glass atrium. For more information, please contact Hamptons International 01273 230230
Turnchapel Mews, Clapham, London £2.35 million
An unusual five-bedroom home spanning the top of four mews houses and the ground floor of one owned by former Antiques Roadshow presenter Josephine Fitzalan Howard with a superb 90-foot roof terrace. For more information, please contact Savills 020 7581 5234
Mountside, Guildford, Surrey £1.25 million
Five-bedroom extended Twenties house with terraced garden with infinity pond and balcony off the sitting room. For more information, please contact Hamptons International 01483 502222
