This stunning former farm cottage sits in the rolling Howardian Hills north of York with panoramic views and a tangible rural charm. We were asked to transform the gardens immediately around the cottage, creating spaces for relaxing, dining, growing herbs and an elevated sense of arrival, and completed the project in early 2024. As one heads up into the Howardian Hills the stone that many of the houses have been built with takes on a warm and patinated texture, dotted with russets and terracotta tones. These colours are matched in their warmth by the rich hues of the wonderful pantiles across our client’s cottage and outbuildings and those of their neighbours. We reacted to this warm palette and rural context by using corten steel water bodies and step detailing to unite the buildings and gardens, supported by a floorscape that has its origins in the rustic cobbled path, but which sits quietly out of focus. In contrast to the warmth of the materials palette we planted the garden with a heady mix of cool blues, purples and pinks dashed with bright green highlights. To the side of the house, we created a greater sense of intimacy and shelter by way of pleached crab apples which, as they settle into the site, will evolve into a suitably knarled and elegant elevated screen. As part of our work we opened up views to the distant hills, to better connect the garden to its amazing setting. The clients chose the most wonderful furniture, simple in its lines and honest in its materiality, weathering down to the softest of warm greys.