New Year - New Garden!

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Say Nick Gough and Douglas Vieira from the Distinctive Gardener

“New Year – New Garden!” - that's what Nick Gough and Douglas Vieira from the Distinctive Gardener are often heard to say around this time of year. And what an exciting year it promises to be with new design commissions already underway and their gardens set to feature in Real Homes Magazine and Small Gardens USA in the next few weeks alone. 

“And 2018 ended on a high too, with a four page feature in the December issue of Modern Gardens Magazine. The article was about a magical courtyard garden we designed, built and planted last summer in Ealing” says Nick. 

“We were lucky to have four of our gardens that we designed last season photographed for magazines in 2018. And what was really great was each one of the gardens are so different – a small courtyard garden, a large contemporary garden with stunning pergola and water features, a family garden with trampoline and rabbit run, and a stunning long narrow classic/contemporary garden divided into different rooms or zones”

Nick established the company back in 2015, having had a passion for gardening and design all his life. It was in this year that Nick's own newly restored large walled garden won three gardening awards. 

“Having lived in Acton for 9 years, we moved back to Ealing in the summer of 2014. We found a lovely house in South Ealing, but, as my wife often reminds me, it was the garden that first cast a spell over me as soon as I saw it.”

Hidden away behind a simple side gate, the garden opened out into a large tree filled oasis. "I couldn't believe it!", says Nick. Left for many years, Nick set to work restoring and developing the garden. It now includes an impressive circular terrace, a large pond with waterfalls, a flower-filled parterre and a woodland walk. The garden is open every July as part of the National Garden Scheme and has raised thousands of pounds for charity. 

“People come from all over West London to see the garden on our Open Days. I even had one visitor who asked me to create part of my garden in a design for their garden. The ultimate compliment!”

Prior to The Distinctive Gardener, Nick had several diverse careers, including working in corporate entertainment and as a TV presenter. This skill has been put to good use at The Distinctive Gardener, as most of the gardens he and Douglas have designed can be seen in video tours presented by Nick. 

“It's amazing how popular the videos of our gardens are” says Nick “We post them on local Facebook groups in West London as well as The Distinctive Gardener You Tube Channel. Not only do people love being able to see our work on film, but they also seem to find the films really relaxing and inspiring too!”

In 2017, Nick went into partnership with Acton based Brazilian designer Douglas Vieira. “Co-designing with Doug is brilliant! It's great to have someone you can really throw ideas around with. We always work from a detailed client brief and having the two of us working on a design encourages us to always think outside the box – but within the client's budget!”

Nick and Douglas are really looking forward to the year ahead. “It's the people we meet and our desire to design the very best garden we can for them that is our real motivation. Being able to create a new garden, no matter how large or small, is a wonderful thing” says Nick. “And with imaginative planting and the options of things such as automatic watering systems and integrated lighting – even the most inexperienced or reluctant gardener really can have the garden of their dreams!”

“The reaction we get from our clients when we finally present them with their new garden is always so exciting” says Nick “We often have clients who have just come through months of home improvement work, and for them, the garden is always the icing on the cake. It's not until a new kitchen diner is complete that client's fully realize just how important their new garden really is. Floor to ceiling windows and doors really do bring the outside in. It's so important that the garden reflects the interior design of the house itself. If we have done our job well, the initial transition from inside to outside should be seamless.”

"The brief was to extend our home into the garden and create separate outside spaces where we could dine, relax as a family and entertain our friends. Their design did not disappoint and we are still amazed at how they transformed our long, narrow and unloved garden into such a beautiful place." Claire & Sean

"Nick and Douglas are a very special team, talented, intuitive, with an effortless understanding of gardens and an absolute pleasure to work with." Emma & Brian

"Our garden is utterly transformed, feels so much bigger and has become another room in our home. We are all delighted - It's been a pleasure to work with Nick and Douglas, such a charming pair!" Tamsin & Lee

"Nick, Douglas and their team have created our very own Chelsea garden here in Acton W3. We are thrilled with the results. The whole process from design through to the construction was incredibly professional, fun and unobtrusive."  Mamta & Allan

"Nick & Douglas not only understood my brief of creating an interesting, low maintenance and beautiful space, but their true passion shows in their meticulous and varied planting." Sunita & Kavita

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January 2, 2019