Susan Dunstall Garden Design

06/08/2025

Thank you to Jo for sharing the transformation of her beautiful English Country Garden.

I worked with Jo to design a garden to be enjoyed all year round for guests renting her luxury rental holiday home in the Cotswolds. Head to the link below to read more about my Merchant House project.

www.susandunstall.com/portfolio-merchant-house

04/08/2025

The first step we take when we work on a new project is to survey the garden, taking measurements and levels on site. Designing a garden needs a vision and this is where 3D modelling comes in really useful as a design tool to help the client understand the reality of the design.⁣
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Our design process uses modelling software in conjunction with CAD drawings, along with moodboard images which help to define the style and planting for our garden designs.

Swipe left to take a look at the 3D model for our Old School House project.

Photographer:
Architect:
Construction:

23/07/2025

Merchant House is a luxury holiday home in the Cotswolds near Daylesford and Soho Farmhouse. It’s so lovely to see the walled garden in full bloom — it gets better every year!

Photos & Video credit: Merchant House
Garden Design: Susan Dunstall Garden Design

24/06/2025

The Old School House is a Grade II listed building in the Cotswolds. A multi-phase renovation has transformed the property to offer modern comforts while retaining its historic charm. The project consisted of two parts: the renovation of the main house and the creation of a multi-functional pool house, swimming pool and landscaped gardens.

Our Brief was to create a fully accessible garden to include terraces and planting beds around the house and pool and kitchen garden, with greenhouse.

The shade created by Liquidambar-parasol-trained trees which will grow together to form an overhead green canopy will be most welcome in the mini heatwave this week!

Click the link below to watch the YouTube video of the completed project.

https://youtu.be/REbr9g43X8Q?si=-tdROaPT6cqJ1v-e

Photographer & Videographer: Adam Carter Photography Limited
Architect: Ashleigh Clarke Architects Ltd
Construction: BoxCapital Developments

27/05/2025

Chelsea Flower Show 2025 – the highlight of my year, with some exciting Show Gardens this time.

Some favourites were:

The British Red Cross garden had a new approach to using Alpine plants in staged planters.

Jo Thompson’s ‘The Glasshouse Garden’ used an exciting colour palette of plants in deep reds and moody pinks.

The ‘Japanese Tea Garden’ by Kazuyuki Ishihara – I loved this one, as did the RHS - Royal Horticultural Society who gave it Best in Show.

As always the David Austin stand inside the Great Pavilion – this year a heavenly scented Secret Garden launching their new rose for His Majesty King Charles III.

If you went this year what was your favourite show garden?

Photo 1: British Red Cross
Photo 2: Jo Thompson
Photo 3: Kazuyuki Ishihara
Photo 4: David Austin Roses

23/05/2025

Our recent landscape and garden design for a beautiful Victorian home in Snowdonia, is featured in the latest issue of Homes & Gardens Magazine

The garden was designed to make the most of the amazing location and views across the bay with terraces for outdoor dining, sun loungers near the swimming pool for relaxing and a firepit area for evening sundowners.

Privacy and seclusion from the neighbouring properties was a key requirement, so larger mature trees were planted on the perimeter – which was tricky due to the challenging site access.

We had the pleasure of collaborating with Lauren Gilberthorpe Interiors, who led the interior design. The glazed extension, designed by Donald Insall Associates, reaches out into the garden, artfully blending the kitchen, living, and dining areas to create a seamless connection with the outdoors and frame uninterrupted panoramic views.

Grab your copy of Homes & Gardens to read the full feature by Vivienne Ayers and discover how we worked together to create a harmonious indoor-outdoor living experience.

Architect:
Trees:
Paving Stone:
Photographer:
Interior Design:

15/09/2023

Here's the article I wrote for OX Homes magazine in their Summer 2023 edition on climate-resilient planting

Building a climate-resilient garden is the topic that garden designer Susan Dunstall discusses in the Summer 2023 edition of OxHomes magazine.

23/08/2023

I'm pleased to share that my tips on creating a Climate-Resilient Garden are featured in the Ox Homes Summer Edition!

With warmer wetter winters and hotter drier summers, discover how to transform your garden into a climate-resilient space that promotes biodiversity and conserves resources by clicking the link below.

If you have any questions please leave them in the comments below 🌿

https://library.myebook.com/FYNE/ox-homes-summer-2023/4985/

17/08/2023

NATIONAL ALLOTMENTS WEEK :: last week was with a focus on soil health.

On my allotment I decided to adopt the No-dig approach as pioneered by Charles Dowding No Dig Gardening where you leave your soil undisturbed as much as you can. Just adding compost, either homemade or bought in twice a year. It works on all soil types including heavy clay and my Cotswold brash.

And no back-breaking digging!

Runner bean glut are this week pickings, proving it’s working!

How do you eat yours…?

14/12/2022

A lovely project I have been working on with Ashleigh Clarke Architects Ltd

PLANNING SUBMITTED || we're delighted to share that planning has been submitted for alterations, extensions, a new garden outbuilding and a carport for a Detached Cotswold Stone Home in Warwickshire.

This project involved the design of a rear extension integrating two buildings, a new carport with an office above and a new garden outbuilding for this beautiful family home.

The new extension and internal alterations allow for a dining space and family room on the ground floor and feature aluminium sliding doors and sidelights and aluminium bifold doors which flood the interior spaces with natural light whilst also providing a seamless connection to the surrounding gardens and countryside.

The contemporary contrast of aluminium frames set against traditional features of Cotswold stone and timber vertical cladding ensures that the design works in sympathy with the existing building whilst also providing a striking aesthetic.

The Cotswold stone garden outbuilding features traditional design elements such as painted timber stable doors with stone lintels and quoins.

The carport with additional office space on the first floor is also constructed of Cotswold stone and features a dormer window which matches the existing house whilst also affording views of the surrounding gardens.

If you have a renovation project in mind for 2023 please contact Lisa in the studio.

t. 01451 828 419
e. [email protected]

Garden Design by Susan Dunstall Garden Design

21/12/2021

As it should be …..