Nestled in leafy Fulham, this front garden showcases how strong materials and soft planting can combine to form a striking yet welcoming urban retreat. Living Colour Gardens executed a bold transformation, creating a space that feels both sculptural and gently wild, modern yet rooted in its setting.
Vision & Concept
The goal was to reconcile street presence and privacy, while embedding character and planting softness into a relatively small plot. The design turns practical constraints (bins, boundary edges, visual impact) into opportunities for artistry and texture.
A bespoke corten steel wall planter was introduced along the street edge. It performs several functions simultaneously: it screens refuse bins from public view, creates a clean separation between shelter and garden, and acts as a sculptural object with its rich, rusted surface. The corten steel’s warm patina beautifully complements Fulham’s surrounding red-brick façades, drawing on the urban context while providing contrast and visual interest.
Planting Palette & Atmosphere
The planting scheme leans into a meadow-style aesthetic, softening the structural lines of hard landscaping and contributing movement, texture, and seasonal change. Key species include:
- Salvia ‘Caradonna’
- Erigeron karvinskianus
- Pink osteospermums
These perennials, chosen for their delicate foliage, airy presence, and bloom rhythm, help to create a “wild meadow” impression—even in a confined urban front garden.
Together, the rust tones of the corten and the colours and forms of planting achieve an elegant balance: bold structure paired with softness, city edge paired with natural nuance.
Challenges & Solutions
1. Limited space & urban edge
Front gardens in London often face tight dimensions and exposure to the street. Here, the corten wall functions as a buffer, choosing elegance over defensive barriers.
2. Visual integration
Rather than imposing a foreign aesthetic, the design responds to its context. The rust hues echo the local brick, while planting is light and complementary—not overpowering.
3. Maintenance and longevity
The plants are perennial and hardy, chosen to deliver consistent shape and interest with reasonable upkeep. The corten steel is low maintenance once weathered, providing durability and character over time.
Outcome & Experience
The completed garden delivers a refined, urban oasis—a front garden that doesn’t shy away from boldness but does so with subtlety. The corten wall feels sculptural yet functional; the planting softens edges and brings a sense of motion and natural delight. Passersby sense something unique, while residents enjoy the interplay of structure, texture, and seasons.
In a dense city environment, this front garden becomes a visual pause: it reads as artful, considered, and connected to its surroundings. It’s not about shouting, but about resonating—softly, over time.
Key Lessons & Takeaways
- Dual-purpose elements — A structural feature (e.g. corten planter) can also screen, zone, and beautify.
- Contextual materiality — Use finishes and tones that echo local character (brick, urban surfaces) to ground design.
- Meadow effect planting — Even small urban gardens can feel spacious and soft with the right plant palette.
- Balance strength + softness — Structural edges and sculptural elements are enhanced by gentle layering of planting.