Contemporary Front Garden, Chesham Bois

The brief

The clients loved their contemporary home but the approach lacked identity. The boundaries and overall garden shape had to remain, yet the front needed a bolder, more characterful welcome. A key request was to replace the existing wall with “not a wall”—something open, rustic, and different to the neat coping-topped boundaries up and down the street. The new scheme also needed a lighter, more refined driveway and curated planting that suits the house. Karl Harrison designs front garden Chesham Bois.

A clay-paver drive that elevates the entrance

We specified light clay pavers for the new drive to lift the palette and reflect daylight into the space. Laid on flowing radii, the pavers trace the existing geometry of the front garden and amplify it. The result is a gentle, sweeping approach that guides vehicles and pedestrians naturally to the door. The curves are deliberate: they lengthen the sightline, soften the architecture, and make arrival feel composed rather than abrupt. Edging courses tighten the lines and give the paving crisp definition.

Lawn kept, centre refined

The main lawn remains—clean, open and practical—but now features a steel-wrapped, curved planting bed at its centre. This sculpted insert adds focus without cluttering the space. Within the bed we placed reclaimed Cornish granite forms and layered planting for round-the-year texture: grasses for movement, structural evergreens for winter, and seasonal perennials for colour. In the evening, subtle uplighters pick out the stone and foliage, giving depth and a calm, contemporary mood.

The “not-a-wall” boundary

The boundary becomes a feature in its own right. Built from limestone rustic blocks, the wall is intentionally imperfect—no coping stones, no polished face—just honest texture and warmth. It’s lightly broken and see-through in places, with steel-lined openings that carry concealed lighting. At dusk, these apertures glow from within, sending bands of light across the garden and footpath while keeping sightlines open. It’s a wall that frames rather than fences, quietly subversive yet welcoming.

Planting that fits the architecture

The planting is deliberately modern: clipped forms near the entrance for polish, looser grasses and perennials along the curves for movement, and evergreen anchors to keep the frontage smart in winter. The palette complements the light pavers and limestone—soft greens, silvers and seasonal whites—so the house remains the hero. Maintenance is straightforward: mulch, a spring feed, and light pruning.

Why this approach works

• Respects constraints (boundaries and footprint unchanged) while reinterpreting the space

• Light clay pavers brighten and add refinement without feeling showy

• Curved lines increase visual depth and create a graceful arrival sequence

• Sculptural centre bed provides year-round focus with minimal maintenance

• Rustic limestone wall delivers a unique, open boundary that neighbours don’t have

• Discreet lighting extends use and adds evening elegance

If you’re planning a front garden in Chesham Bois, Amersham or the Chilterns, and want a design that’s modern, welcoming and truly individual, Karl Harrison Landscapes Ltd would be delighted to help. Book a consultation and let’s shape an entrance that sets the tone from the very first glance.