Refined Landscapes win in the BALI National Landscape Awards for a Second Consecutive Year
A second consecutive BALI National Landscape Award for the Refined Landscapes team, this time for The Fire Terrace.
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Garden Design & Build
Bespoke Garden Design for Exceptional Homes
Design-led gardens shaped around your home, lifestyle and the way you want to live outside.
Our Design Ethos
Garden design with structure, atmosphere and intent
A beautifully designed garden should feel connected to the home and the people who use it. It should answer practical needs with proportion, flow and comfort, while bringing a sense of calm, beauty and permanence to everyday life.
Our Hertfordshire garden design team works closely with each client to understand the architecture of the property, the character of the setting and the way the space needs to function across the seasons. The result is a refined design rooted in spatial planning, planting, materials and long-term care.
From masterplan to material palette
Every decision is considered before work begins, from the first spatial layout to the planting palette, material selection and construction detailing.
See your future garden take shape
A full 3D modelled environment brings spaces, levels, materials and planting together, allowing you to explore and refine your design with us before construction.
Our process
A considered garden design process
A clear, collaborative route from first conversation to finished garden, giving you confidence at every stage of the design and build journey.
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Discovery Conversation
We start by understanding your home, your priorities and how you want to use the space, so the design is grounded in the way you actually live.
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Site Visit & Design Brief
A visit to assess levels, orientation, soil, existing features and the relationship between house and garden, shaping a clear, agreed design brief.
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Concept Design & Garden Masterplan
We develop the spatial layout and masterplan: zones, circulation, structure and key features, establishing the character and flow of the whole garden.
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Design Presentation & 3D Visuals
We present the design with plans and 3D visuals, so you can see and understand the proposed garden clearly before any work begins.
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Technical Design & Cost Planning
Detailed drawings, specifications, materials and costings are prepared, giving a precise, transparent basis for construction.
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Garden Construction & Planting
Our in-house team delivers the garden construction with careful attention to detail, from hard landscaping and structures through to planting and finishes.
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Handover & Garden Aftercare
We walk you through the finished garden and provide ongoing garden aftercare to help it establish, mature and continue performing beautifully.
From tired garden to considered landscape
The same garden, redesigned and rebuilt: layout, levels, planting and detail reconsidered as one scheme.
A completed garden design and build project by our team.
Our work
Garden design brought to life
Explore completed gardens that show the design thinking, construction quality and planting detail behind Refined Landscapes projects across Hertfordshire and the surrounding counties.
Atmosphere, detail and finish
What our clients say.
A selection of our Google reviews
4.9
/ 5
You really get what you pay for - we are absolutely delighted! We had a blank canvas of a garden and not being “green” really had no idea what to do with it. Alex and Jake met with us and from there we started the design process. I really enjoyed the creative process and Alex had a vision way beyond anything we could have come up with. Alex was very patient and really listened to our likes and dislikes and from there we shaped our design. With a 3D render of the design we got the job diarised, a large 12 week project over summer. Refined took care of everything- material options (even meeting us on a Sunday to pick tiles - thanks Joe!) dealing with suppliers (materials, plumber, electrician), deliveries, access (thanks Pete!) and plant selection (thanks Alex!). No headaches is what we wanted and that’s what we got. Led by Reece (thanks Reece!), every morning at 8am the team would arrive in their Refined vans & uniforms, always polite, respectful and very hard working. You don’t really know who you are going to get when you book in work. But Jake has ensured that at every touch point the team on the ground represents a quality business, not an easy thing to do. Phase 1 was completed end Sept and the team came back in Nov to finish Phase 2 - hedging & planting. Frankly the results speak for themselves, we are absolutely delighted with the results. This was a big project with a big budget but I really do think you get what you pay for. We have peace of mind that this has been high quality work that will last and they are always available if we have any issues. Next year we hope to see the team in spring to show them their hard work in full bloom. Thank you Jake, Alex, Pete, Joe, Reece, Steve, Matt, Pheobe and team, you’ve done an amazing job. We really have the garden of our dreams!
Angela Crouch
November 2024
Jacob and Isaac created modern and beautiful design options for our family garden. I felt they listened to what we wished for but also were very practical in terms of what would be doable and impactful. We were seeking something that made the garden that little bit special and they did that through the thoughtful design and material suggestions. I would highly recommend them if you are seeking a garden transformation.
Kanan Tekchandani
November 2025
Fantastic company to work with. From the initial meeting, to the planning and the build everything was very professional and friendly. Nothing was too much bother and the final design Isaac came up with for our garden was stunning. Couldn’t be happier and would recommend the team to anyone needing landscaping. They completely transformed our garden and understood what we wanted.
Andrew Underhill
May 2026
A clear view before construction
Renders give you a view of the garden before it is built, so decisions on layout, materials, lighting and planting are made with confidence.
From the Journal
Garden Design Insights
Thinking and guidance from the Refined journal on designing exceptional gardens.
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Jacob Berry at the Landscaping Leadership Forum
Discipline, resilience and the leadership habits behind better-run landscape projects.
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The Quiet Principles of High-End Garden Design
The most successful high-end gardens feel calm and natural to the home, even when every detail has been carefully considered.
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Frequently asked questions
Common questions about our design services and process.
Still have a question?
Speak to the team directly. We are happy to talk through your project before you commit to anything.
How long does the garden design process take?
Every garden is different, so timescales depend on the scale and complexity of the project. The design stages run from an initial consultation through concept and detailed design before the build begins, and we agree a clear programme with you at the outset, so you will always know what happens next and when.
What is included in the design fee?
Our design service covers everything needed to take a garden from first idea to build-ready: site survey and analysis, concept design, detailed design development, material and planting selection, and the technical drawings our build team works from. The exact scope is agreed with you and set out clearly before any work begins.
Do you manage the build process?
Yes. We are a design and build practice: one accountable team manages your project from first concept and technical detailing through to construction and final handover, with no outsourcing.
What is the typical budget range for professional garden design?
Every Refined garden is a bespoke creation; we develop a budget tailored to the specific vision and property. We discuss investment level and project phasing transparency from our very first conversation to ensure the design we create aligns perfectly with your ambitions for the space.
Can I see examples of completed projects?
Yes. Explore our portfolio of completed gardens across Hertfordshire and the surrounding counties, or visit our showroom studio to see materials, finishes and detailing in person.
Do you work outside Hertfordshire?
Yes. We are based in Hertfordshire and work extensively across the county, and we also design and build gardens throughout Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and North London. If you are a little further afield, get in touch and we will let you know how we can help.
Can you include outdoor kitchens, pools, lighting or wellness features?
Yes. Considered gardens often bring together outdoor kitchens, entertaining terraces, lighting schemes, water features and wellness elements. We design these as part of a single, cohesive scheme so everything works together in proportion, detail and function.
Follow the work as it happens
See current projects, process details and behind-the-scenes moments from our team.
