Longridge House

: Secret Landscapes (Homebuilder), Mark Latchford (Lead Architect/Designer)

Nestled in a rural Oxfordshire village, our clients wanted to transform a neglected garden into a beautiful series of outdoor living spaces that would maximise their time spent outside with friends and family.

The resulting, Balinese-inspired design weaves luxurious seating areas into a carefully considered setting packed with pollinator-friendly plants, specimen trees and natural materials to encourage wildlife to thrive. An open-plan outdoor kitchen and 12-seater bar provides a central hub to gather around and enjoy meals together outside. Fitted with a wood burning pizza oven, gas BBQ, sink and mini fridge, the space is softened by warm grasses and vibrant planting beds. This area flows into a spa pergola with a sunken hot tub below a cleverly sliding timber deck and floating bench. Built-in heaters and lighting make for an intimate atmosphere for night-time entertaining, with two changing rooms with green roofs on either side. Next, a Corten water bowl creates a sonorous backdrop for an open-air lounge area set around a contemporary fire table. Scented borders and a permeable gravel path lead along the formal lawn to a secluded woodland where ancient tree ferns and wood piles create a rich habitat for local wildlife. The shady canopy conceals a cosy seating space for an evening spent around the rustic firepit. The new garden is both vibrant and tranquil, blending seamlessly with its rural surroundings while providing a restful oasis for the family to enjoy.