Being Garden Designers in Norfolk

(and why we might just be exactly who you’re looking for)

Joe and Laura Carey - Blakeney, North Norfolk, 2023

Here we are.

Hello, I’m Joe - and here I am sitting next to Laura in beautiful Blakeney, North Norfolk.

Having come from wildly different parts of the UK, we have made our home in this area and set up our Garden Design Studio. If you don’t already know - North Norfolk is breathtaking. The wild coastal landscapes are not only home to some of the UK’s most rare species of animals - but the inimitable combination of plants and natural materials make it such an inspiring place for two garden designers to set up shop. If gardens and gardening are about bringing us closer to nature, and creating in us an appreciation for the natural world - where better to be inspired than the stunning salt marshes of Salthouse, or the vibrant regal woodlands of Holkham.

We have designed many gardens across the UK, we tend to be led by the context of each space. Our ‘local’ projects (meaning ones in Norfolk) are often inspired by what we see just by living in this beautiful setting. It always amazes me that a wild landscape such as this has inspired all types of garden; from the ultra modern to the informal and naturalistic.

I think this boils down to what we have trained our eyes to be doing as designers. Its not necessarily about simply lifting what you see and trying to recreate it back home. This is perhaps where many people go wrong - and is often why you see budding gardeners with trolly loads of plants at a garden centre that might look good on the shelves - but will not sit harmoniously in their new home. For us, its not about creating a tick list and forcing the garden to ‘perform’ a function.

When we first meet with a client, we are constantly looking beyond the immediate needs (although these are important). We are looking to deliver something more than just a useful space with some nice planting. A garden is an experience; one that is enjoyed throughout the seasons. It is a living breathing ecosystem, and we get the privilege to be part of it’s existence.

Sounds a bit wishy-washy? Perhaps. However, most of us can recall a time when we have felt inspired, refreshed or restored by a garden. It’s very hard, impossible in fact, to bottle this and sell it on shelves. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’. In the same way you would expect an architect to go beyond the basics of door widths and ceiling heights, a garden designer should be constantly looking to curate both plants and materials, in order to create something really special.

This is us. We don’t do ‘off the peg’. We work with clients to set out a vision for their garden. Our combined creativity and horticultural know-how is one thing - but its our passion for gardens and how they make us feel that’s the true vehicle with which we deliver something special.