The season is almost here, and it’s time to start planning your deck and garden. Spring and summer are meant to be enjoyed outdoors, and preparations are in full swing for many people. Perhaps you’ve been thinking about building a new deck or sprucing up the old one. Plant some new plants, buy new outdoor furniture, or maybe invest in a made-to-measure balustrade.
In a three-part series, we've teamed up with landscape architect John Block – Garden By Block – to help you with your planning.
Space-defining elements
John Block works as a landscape engineer and has worked as both a landscape designer and a landscape contractor in various capacities in Sweden, Australia, and Norway. Today, he helps both private individuals and condominium associations create high-quality landscape designs with a focus on aesthetics and functionality.
A major trend he’s seeing right now is the use of space-defining elements. People want private spots in the garden where they can spend time with loved ones without being overly exposed to view. But it’s also about using space-defining elements—such as glass balustrades, plants, and larger pieces of furniture—to create a more interesting and aesthetically pleasing outdoor environment. According to John, glass balustrades plays a major role when you want to create “barriers” in the garden without shutting out the rest of the property. Custom railing solutions are often used when designing a deck. In this case, the railing is adapted to the deck or space, rather than the other way around.
In the photo, you can see our stainless steel glass balustrade where the customer has chosen to divide the space into sections using windbreak. The raised deck creates a secluded “room,” yet doesn’t block the view of the fantastic surroundings.
Natural colours with vibrant details
According to John, colour and form are key components of garden design. A garden can vary in colour and appearance, both during daylight hours and throughout the year. As the seasons change, the garden shifts in colour, and you can experiment with this through your choice of plants and materials. You can vary and control which colours you want to highlight not only through your choice of plants but also through your choice of materials.
John mentions that he often draws railings and trellises as room dividers, privacy screen , and plant supports. He usually paints these in earthy colours such as grey-green, grey, dark brown, green, or black. On glass balustrades , he usually makes sure not to use any colour at all so that the environments can speak for themselves.
“InSometimes I get a little more daring and use a bolder colour palette for individual planters, for example. I saw a really beautiful example the other day where they had matched the colour of a seasonal bloom with the colour of the surrounding furniture. It’s incredibly striking that, at just one specific time of year, there’s a ‘perfect match’ between the different elements.”
When it comes to colour trends for 2023, John believes in adding colour to more details and keeping the “base” of the garden design subdued.
Where you need a slim yet safe railing, a wire balustrade is a good fit. Here, the customer has chosen a subtle “base,” but opted to paint the furniture a beautiful light yellow.
Materials and textures in 2023
The demand for more natural materials is growing. John believes in emulating nature as much as possible, increasingly through subtle combinations with industrial solutions. In other words, using materials such as natural stone, wood, and gravel in combination with steel and glass. He hopes that people will prioritise the aesthetic value of materials over their functionality and therefore choose among different natural materials rather than considering artificial materials like composites and artificial turf.
He also believes that matt finishes may make a comeback. Glossy materials can easily dominate and draw attention, so he sees a trend toward powder-coating details with a matt finish.
That frameless glass balustrade It offers an unobstructed view while providing an exclusive setting.
What role do custom-made glass balustrades play in garden design?
John has noticed a trend toward spending more money and time on gardens. People want to make the most of all their outdoor spaces as spring and summer approach. Areas such as raised terraces, pool areas, and balconies are often places where people spend a lot of time – places where they socialize with family and friends, enjoy delicious dinners, and simply relax. In such cases, a classic metal or timber railing can easily “enclose” a space, cutting it off from the surrounding environment. To fully enjoy your beautiful garden, you should therefore choose a glass balustrade so you can continue to enjoy the garden while sitting and eating, swimming, or relaxing in the lounge area.
Would you like help designing your garden?
Contact John Block
www.gardenbyblock.com
Instagram: @gardenbyblock
In our next blog post, we'll discuss the best ways to furnish and design your patio.
Stay tuned!
