Outdoor Living Room
Customer reference for landscaping services as told to pickapro by Una from Dublin 3 on 20-Feb-2009
When was the work done?
Between Easter and June of 2008.
What was involved?
I bought a 125 year old terraced cottage. It's a very restricted site in that it has no side entrance so everything comes in through the front hall which is actually even narrower than normal. There was already French doors opening out onto the back garden and there was decking but it was rotten and very steep and dangerous. I give Will and John a brief to redesign the garden based on where the sun hit at particular times of day. I said I wanted low maintenance and I meant low maintenance! I told them I want to look at it in a years time and I don't want to have to do anything. They said well you'll have to do something in 4 or 5 years and I said I could live with that. And that's exactly what they delivered.
How did you choose Merton Design?
It was through a friend who knew somebody who did glass pieces for outdoor walls and who worked with Will and John. She suggested I should see what they've done. So, I'd seen their work in a friend's garden and in a magazine before I looked at their website.
Had you definite ideas in mind before you talked to Will and John?
No, the only thing I was specific on was the colours. I wanted purple and I wanted slate grey. I wanted a full deck where 8 to 10 people can sit out in the fresh air, like another sort of sitting room or dining room. And I said it needs to be low maintenance.
How did the project run?
Workmanship was fantastic. They told me at the start how many weeks it would take and it was done 4 days before it was due.
I'd come home in the evening and genuinely you wouldn't know they were there apart from what was done in the garden. Everything had to go through the house but everyday they pulled up everything they put down to protect the walls and the floors. They worked Monday to Friday as they said they would. They were conscientious about ringing me if they had to make any changes. Because I'm in a terraced house, they were conscious of the neighbours and consulted both of them as well so that was good.
They just got on and did it. It just all came together very quickly. The major work including the excavation was done in about 6 weeks.
The subcontractors they used to do the demolition were very nice guys too and very trustworthy.
What was the biggest benefit to you of using Merton Design?
I think if you tell them this is what I'd like in the end, they listen to the brief very well and they deliver on the brief. They delivered exactly what they said they'd deliver. And there was no overrun on prices either.
They think the practicalities through too. For example, I wouldn't have thought we'd need a purpose built shed for the cushions. I'd have just thought I could bring them into the house every night. I know now I'd go mad with them in the house.
If the brief is good and you give them room to experiment with that brief, they certainly deliver your brief. And for me it was beyond my expectations.
What's your favourite part now?
I've now got a garden that friends come to and are blown away with it. I haven't had to touch it once, apart for watering it the first few weeks. I don't have to pull up weeds or cut anything back. A lot of people come in and say fantastic garden, it must take you hours and the joy is I don't have to do a single thing.
Would you recommend Merton Design to others?
Sure I would yes, absolutely.
Any tips for other people?
When I gave them the brief I said when I used the garden and I think that's important. They really got an understanding of what I wanted then so they can come up with a very good design that suited me rather than trying to fit absolutely everything in to one garden.
