I was gifted this 2 acre site in 2002, by my father. The field was North facing and sloping. I designed the house myself, in a cottage style taking inspiration from old buildings in Morocco & West Africa. The two major takeaways being soft curves/no right angles, and the light orange colour. It took 3yrs to get planning. The house was built in 2006.
To create a flat site within the field we had to excavate, leaving a 4.5M wall of soil with slopes either side. The retaining of the back slope was achieved using RSJs with sleepers within. I tiered the 4.5M excavation with two 2.25m retainers. Gaps were left between the sleepers to allow for egress of water and planting so I could soften/create a living wall. Along the Eastern slope I installed a Concrete retainer with cantilever granite steps to allow access to the first tier. The steps would also overlook the planned Koi pond.
As the site was so big low maintenance was a priority. The design was quite formal close to the house, changing to traditional further away, in keeping with the natural surroundings. For the sake of brevity I will breakdown the whole garden down into simple descriptions and let the photos do the talking:
- Hardwood Masaranduba deck surrounding and softening house
- Sunken seating area with built in fire pit/seating, circular Donegal quartz crazy paved patio with granite ball waterfeature, surrounding raised beds and synthetic grass lawn
- Koi pond with correct filtration system and pumps. Lights glazing and rippling pond to create shimmers on white retaining back wall. The shimmering looked classic at night
- Gardenroom with custom built fire pit/barbecue with chimney created using granite, Infra red heaters, Donegal quartz crazy paved floor and picket fencing, overlooking the Koi pond
- Lower Pink patio with Buxus balls and silver granite steps down to driveway
- Walkway along first tier with raised bed and 3 stainless steel waterfeatures, picket fencing, granite path with 14mm Ballylusk gravel chippings
- Creation of Gamesroom for my son and his cousins, including pool table, arcade multigamer, dart board, gaming T.V. and sound system
- Granite steps up to Gamesroom with Egyptian Limestone patio, inbuilt seating, retaining walls with fencing and cast Iron Greek chiminea
- 12×14’ Garden shed behind Gamesroom to house ride on mower and tools for garden maintenance
- Large upper lawn area with Native mountain ash woodland for wildlife, 2 inground trampolines and swing
- Further granite steps up to laneway surrounded by raised Heather beds and large sculpture
- Two sets of electric gates, first at entrance to laneway built using Dunlavin stone, second at entrance to property built with Wicklow granite
- Laneway down to large gravel driveway in front of house. Due to incline paving strips installed, large reclaimed granite boulders bordering, 2 Famine bowls planted with Cornus contreversa framing.
- Multiple Sorbus ‘Autumn Joy’ specimens underplanted with heathers for wildlife framing the sloping driveway
- Installation of massive soakaway at base of slope and along outer edge of 14mm level Ballylusk gravel driveway
- Lower lawn area with mature Grisellinia hedge, central raised circular bed housing specimen Cornus contreversa, Circular seating area surrounded by raised seat for Jembi drum circle, 4 granite mushrooms, Giant Yew stump gifted by Charlie of King tree services. This area also doubles up as a foot ball pitch for the Ladds
- Groups of silver birch planted around drum circle to contrast with green of hedge
- 3 granite lintols placed within birch to act as sculptures/foils for garden lights
- 2 yellow skips planted with lavenders and specimen Acer ‘Bloodgoods’. The skips framed capped pillars and gate to landscaping yard
- 10×8’ shed converted into 8 man sauna, with changing room
- Double plunge pool created using 1000Ltr tanks and cladded in re-used timber from pallets
- Wood burning hot tub
- Raised bed created using Dunlavin stone, planted with Acer ‘Sangu-kaku’ and prostrate Rosmarys, backed by 2M hit & miss fence
- Basketball court
- Boxing area with kitted out gym & 6 man Infra-red sauna
- Fully insulated 40’ container housing sauna, steam room and home cinema system
- Secure and screened yard for Mini digger, trailers etc.
- Sculptures scattered around the property, picked up mostly from Done Deal over the years
- Low voltage garden lighting strategically placed around the whole garden
The whole project has taken me 15yrs to build. Thanks to my business I have re-cycled many materials taken from jobs which has saved me a fortune. The garden is still in progress and gets great use from my 12yr old son and his mates. The sauna and plunge pool, I use daily, which really helps my mental health. I can’t recommend a relationship with cold/staying out of your comfort zone enough. The wood burning hot tub is used regularly to sooth aching muscles. This is my dream garden which gives me and my family great pleasure. Thanks Dad 😊
Merile Murdock, a member of the ‘Enniskerry Gardening Club posted this five star review after a visit:
“Kevin Baumann has landscapes in his DNA and as well as transforming many run down gardens with his clever spacial ideas has built his own Shangrala in the mountains with wonderful results. He has much experience in choosing the best hard landscaping options and materials as well as carrying out the work meticulously and with flair for a long lasting finish. He has a very conducive manner regarding the clients wishes and fulfilling them”.
