LET’S TALK DESIGN
Why Having the Right Designer on Board Makes All the Difference
With Feryal · Secret Gardens design team · 4 min read
01
A unified design concept
02
Direct contact with contractors
03
Expert material advice
04
A design that’s achievable
WATCH FIRST
Feryal explains why the right designer changes everything
Building a garden involves many moving parts: layouts, materials, planting, pools, lighting, contractors, consultants and a long list of decisions along the way. Without a clear direction, it’s easy for a project to drift, go over budget or end up looking different from what you imagined.
In this episode of Let’s Talk Design, Feryal from the Secret Gardens design team explains why having a designer involved from the beginning is one of the smartest decisions a homeowner can make.
A Unified Design Concept Guides Every Decision
“One of the most important things of having a designer on board is that they will create this unified design concept that will help with the design decision.”
Every garden project involves hundreds of small choices. Which stone for the pathways? What colour for the pool tiles? Which plants, where, and how many? Should the pergola be timber or aluminium? Without an overall vision, each decision is made on its own, and the result can feel disjointed, like a collection of nice pieces that don’t belong together.
A design concept changes that. It sets the style, mood, materials palette and layout for the whole space. Once it’s in place, every later decision becomes easier because there’s a clear reference point: does this fit the concept?
The result is a garden that feels intentional and cohesive, where the hardscape, planting, water features and furniture all tell the same story.
Direct Contact With Contractors Prevents Costly Mistakes
A beautiful design on paper only matters if it’s built correctly. This is where many projects run into trouble.
“Another very important thing is that we are always in direct contact with the contractors and the consultants, ensuring that no mistakes are happening during execution.”
— Feryal, Secret Gardens
When the designer stays involved during construction, they act as the link between your vision and the people building it. They can:
✓ Make sure drawings and specifications are interpreted correctly on site
✓ Catch errors early, before they become expensive to fix
✓ Answer technical questions quickly so work doesn’t stall
✓ Coordinate between different contractors and consultants
✓ Check that finishes and details match what was agreed
Without that oversight, small misunderstandings can lead to big problems: the wrong levels, mismatched materials, or features placed in the wrong spot. Fixing these after the fact costs time, money and stress.
Expert Recommendations on Materials
Choosing materials is one of the hardest parts of any garden project. There are endless options for stone, tiles, decking, cladding and planting, and they don’t all perform the same way outdoors.
Feryal highlights that a designer will “recommend the best materials for you.” That means materials that suit your style and also hold up to sun, heat, water and daily use. A good designer knows which finishes age well, which ones need high maintenance, and which ones simply won’t last in your conditions.
This guidance saves you from trial and error, and from paying to replace materials that weren’t right in the first place.
A Design That’s Actually Achievable
Inspiration images are a wonderful starting point, but not every idea you see online will work in your space, your climate or your budget. Part of a designer’s job is to turn those ideas into a plan that can be built.
“The best design concept that’s actually achievable and serves the client’s requirements.”
That balance matters. An achievable design takes into account:
The size, shape and orientation of your plot
Your budget and priorities
Local conditions and how the space will be maintained
How you and your family actually want to use the garden
The best designs aren’t just beautiful. They’re practical, buildable and built around the people who’ll live with them.
It Makes Your Life a Lot Easier
Above all, having the right designer on board takes the pressure off you. Instead of managing every decision, chasing contractors and second-guessing materials, you have an expert guiding the process from concept to completion.
“This actually makes the client’s life a lot easier.”
You get to enjoy the exciting parts of creating your garden, without the stress of managing every detail yourself.
Ready to begin?
Bring your ideas to our design studio and let’s create an outdoor space your family will love for years to come.
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