In south London, Stockwell Park was built in the early 1800s as “an exclusive early Victorian neighborhood with many imposing villas,” according to its residents’ association. These days the enclave’s most desirable gardens belong to homes in the Stockwell Park Conservation Area. On St. Michael’s Road is a long, deep garden we particularly admire.
(N.B.: We recently featured the interiors of the 2,320-square-foot house, which is for sale, on Remodelista. See more in Upstairs, Downstairs: A London Home Designed for Two Households.)
With simple furnishings and foliage, the townhouse garden (which measures nearly 61 feet deep and about 18 feet wide) feels very private despite the presence of neighbors on three sides. Here’s how to steal the look:
Photography courtesy of The Modern House.
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Low-slung furniture won’t interrupt the sight line from the house to the back fence, creating a visual sense of depth.
Woven Lounge Chair
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The low-to-the-ground lounge chair is reminiscent of the iconic midcentury Easy Chair by Danish furniture designer Hans Wegner. Other chairs pay homage to Wegner, including a set of two Japan-made Midcentury Wood Folding Chairs And Ottoman; $1,900 from Portland Revibe via Etsy. A woven rope Tokio Teak Relaxing Chair is $549 from Teak Warehouse.
Outdoor Pillows
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Woven Teak Bench
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See more stylish teak furniture in our post Sleek Teak: A New Outdoor Furniture Collection by Barber & Osgerby.
Teak Coffee Table
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For a smaller space, see Terrain’s Slatted Teak Ottoman ($468). See more of our favorite styles in our posts 10 Easy Pieces: Round Outdoor Coffee Tables and 10 Easy Pieces: Tile Coffee Tables.
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Teak Steamer Chair
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Teak Side Table
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Teak Dining Table
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Patio Umbrella
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Pavers
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Horizontal Slat Fence
In a city garden, your neighbors on three sides may have fences in place before you arrive. If so, piggyback on their choices: a variety of fencing materials (and fence heights) need not detract from a garden’s charm.
In this London garden, for instance, the back fence panels have horizontal slats. The high wall is softened by shrubbery, which also adds the illusion of greater depth:
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See more choices for horizontal-slat fences in our post 10 Easy Pieces: Privacy Fence Panels.
Square Lattice Fence
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With wood lattice, you have a choice of shapes and patterns. In addition to square lattice, diamond lattice (also known as diagonal lattice) and chessboard lattice (with layers) are available. See Niece Lumber to compare styles.
Metal Railing Fence
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Read more at Hardscaping 101: Wrought Iron Fences.
- See more ideas for townhouse garden design in our curated guides to Hardscape Design 101. Read more:
- Landscaping: 10 Classic Layouts for Townhouse Gardens
- My Brooklyn Story: Creating a Townhouse Garden from Scratch in Crown Heights
- True Blue: A Jolt of Color Enlivens a Manhattan Townhouse Garden
- Privacy Landscaping: How to Use Plants in a City Garden
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