If French gardens are formal and English gardens are not, then British textile designer Neisha Crosland’s London garden is the perfect combination of both.
Known for her oversized graphics and symmetrical geometric motifs, the Royal College of Art-trained textile designer finds inspiration in nature, especially in her garden where the influences of her second favorite city (her husband is Parisian) are apparent in the controlled wildness of espaliered and trimmed trees mixed with potted ferns and raised vegetable boxes.
(N.B.: Crosland’s designs are available in her newly launched online shop.)
Unless otherwise noted, photography by Christine Hanway for Gardenista.
Above: Topiaries and a and boxwood hedge bring formal aspects to the garden.N.B.: Want to try growing the same kind of vines against your walls? For instructions and materials, see Design Sleuth: Neisha Crosland's Espaliered Vines.
Above: The designer Neisha Crosland wears her own mix of Parisian chic and English comfort. Photograph by Antony Crolla.
Above: Crosland uses a large scale vintage mirror to create a focal point of interest on an otherwise blank wall.
Above: Potted plants are arranged casually against trained vines.
Above: The glass and metal doors bring a Parisian feel to Crosland's London home.
Above: Lush ferns sit in planters of assorted sizes.
Above L: Ferns inspired by Crosland's Gypsy Design have been sand blasted into stone by artist Paul Clifford and form part of a water feature inthe garden. A sample of Pollen (R) in gray from Crosland's recently launched herWallpapers 8 collection is available either through Neisha Crosland (retail) or through Turnell & Gignon (trade). Photo by Jan Baldwin Studio.
Above: An espaliered tree has been trained to fill out the bay of the garden wall.
Above: Gentleman's Cap Lime (R) from the designer's Wallpapers 8 Collection echoes the twisted but controlled vines in her garden. Photo by Jan Baldwin Studio.
Above: An old toy car with a rusty patina blends in with the garden.
Above: Galvanized metal raised vegetable beds stand in a nine square grid.
Above: Square raised vegetable beds share a similar geometry with the trimmed boxwood hedges.