Harborne Blue Garden

A garden, beautifully connected

A smoother transition from the house. More space to enjoy the garden. Bold blue planter walls softened by planting. This Harborne project brought a contemporary extension and its outdoor space together through thoughtful design and suspended porcelain paving.

A demanding site, a clear brief

The brief called for level thresholds and a garden that felt like a natural continuation of the house. The existing patio sat below the doors, with ageing paving, changes in level and retaining edges that needed attention. Difficult access, tight clearance and existing airbricks made the construction details as important as the appearance.

Why we chose suspended paving

The design developed a single-level porcelain terrace on a suspended metal framework, with the paving set immediately beneath the existing door sill. Broad steps connect the terrace to the higher lawn. This approach helped resolve the awkward levels while allowing the existing drainage channel to remain and preserving an airflow path to the airbricks beneath the raised paving.

The space beneath the paving

A rail-and-pedestal approach can leave space beneath the surface for drainage, ventilation and access. On suitable sites it may reduce the need to break out existing surfaces. Its suitability depends on the base, available clearance, loading, drainage and the detail where the paving meets the building. This garden demonstrates one carefully planned application, rather than a construction detail suitable for every property.

Modular blue steel retaining walls

The modular blue steel walls give the garden its character, forming crisp retaining and raised-planter edges against the pale porcelain. The modular approach saved construction time on this project. It also helped bring the hard landscaping together as a coherent design, with repeated blue forms balanced by timber screening and planting.

Water, screening and planting

A water table adds a focal point beside the terrace. Horizontal timber screening provides a clear backdrop, while ornamental grasses, purple flowers and softer foliage balance the crisp lines of the paving and planter walls. As the planting has matured, the garden has gained texture and softness around its strong blue structure.

The outcome

The completed garden links the house, terrace and lawn through a considered sequence of levels, materials and planting. Suspended porcelain paving answers the demanding threshold and clearance conditions, while the blue walls give the space a distinctive identity.

Discuss your paving project

F.B & Sons installs suspended paving systems across the UK. Our full garden design, landscaping and maintenance service serves Birmingham and the West Midlands. Tell us about your site and requirements so that the construction approach can be assessed for your own project.

Your garden project

Tell us what you would like to create. We will help you explore the right design and construction approach for your space.

Start your garden project

Back to all case studies