Hoxne Garden
 

The idea of modern crafted is central to the design of the house and garden in Hoxne, Suffolk. An old cottage that was extended by the previous owners was given a new lease of life by the current owner, an interior designer with an eye for handmade detail, texture and colour. 

 

The approach to the house is unconventional, a garden subservient to a driveway, parking hidden by planting, a view of the house filtered by native hedgerows, mature trees and a lush wildflower meadow,. This wild-like preamble blends into soft perennial planting as you near the entrance to the house. Suffolk vernacular touch points in the architecture and surrounding boundary treatment, such clapboard and a sand coloured painted render ground the house and garden in its locale.

 

At the rear of the house, the gardens encompass a family lawn, wildflower meadows, ornamental perennial planting, an outdoor kitchen, a dining area, a wildlife pond, an orchard, a sauna, swimming pool and productive garden. In spite of all the garden has to offer in terms of interaction for the owners, their family and friends, the garden is entirely at one with its rural setting with ancient oak trees providing a majestic backdrop to the gardens and offering views to the countryside beyond. 

 

Weaving through the landscape and connecting all the different terraces is a serpentine path of sand coloured handmade clay pavers. This soft palette of neutral tones runs throughout all the hard landscaping and paint colour choices, making the built elements recessive and allowing the planting to take centre stage. Among the planting stars can be counted fragrant roses, myrtle and fennel along with multi-stemmed Acers and a host of ornamental grasses including the eye catching Miscanthus napalensis with its tantalising golden plumes. 

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Photos by Rachel Warne