A Tropical Hideaway With a busy work and family life, the owners of this rather quirky garden in south Dublin wanted to create a space where they could relax and unwind amongst nature. Having previously worked with Damien Keane Garden Design on transforming the larger part of garden, the team was invited back to work their magic on this smaller, triangular side space.
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e were given a budget of €30,000 to create a semiprivate space, which would be very laidback and tranquil, within an established larger garden,” says Damien. “The space needed to be free-flowing and informal but also contemporary and usable throughout the year for entertaining friends and for relaxing amongst the plants.” The brief also asked that the garden have three access points and the client was keen for the design to include a lot detail when it came to the planting. As one of Ireland’s leading landscape and garden designers, Damien has years of experience in creating bespoke outside spaces for a wide range of clients. While one half of the business focusses on larger landscaping projects, the other side is dedicated to cultivating smaller yards and city spaces like this one – or as Damien calls them, ‘Keanespaces’.
Creating the concept
After visiting the plot, Damien returned to the client with a concept plan, including a sketch plan for his team, who complete all aspects of their projects, from start to finish. “The client already knew our style – very soft and laidback,” he says. “It was all very lush and tropical so there was no lavender or hydrangea included in the plans.” What they did include, however, were
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