The New Bell-Shaped Lawn...

In my previous post about the Urn en Flambeau Parterre I mentioned that the urn was in the middle of the Versailles lawn (we had named it thus because of the statues and urns that lined the hoggin paths encircling the lawn. The downside of the lawn as it was designed was that although it was the largest lawn possible with the space provided, it was severely asymmetric and there was no real backdrop for the urn parterre upon which to rest the eyes. So, with a little playing around we came up with the design below, which creates a symmetrical bell shaped lawn by placing a copse of trees (le petit bosquet) behind the parterre, and subsequently creating a separate field beyond it towards the farm, where we plan to sow our wild flower meadow.

Above: New Lawn

Below: Previous Lawn

The lovely symmetrical view from the back terrace, between the sphinxes, to the urn and the bosquet:

The view looking back to the manor from the bosquet:

The view through to the wildflower meadow - "The Elysian Fields" - from the terrace:

Terrace and Lawns...

In this post I wanted to explore options for gardening around the terrace, and for playing with land levels. We plan to arrange 'sunken' lawns on either side of the formal 'cocktail' lawn which runs off of the back terrace. The 'Cocktail' lawn is so called because it will be the natural area where people will spill out of the house and down from the terrace to with their cocktails at parties. Of all the lawns it will be the most highly manicured. It will be a finely cut, densely sowed lawn, mowed in boustrophedon fashion. 

Arranged down each side of this lawn (whose elevation is somewhere between the terrace and natural ground level) there will be 6 yew trees topiaried in a conical shape, in 2 sets of 3 on either side of steps leading from the cocktail lawn to the sunken lawns.  At the far end of the cocktail lawn will sit the two sphinxes, guarding the entrance to the expansive bell shaped Versailles lawn, and beyond that to the wildflower meadow and farm. Thus, as one gets farther away from the house, the landscape becomes ever less formal and ever more naturalised.

These sunken lawns will not actually be sunken, but be at natural ground level, although they will seem sunken as you go down several steps from the back terrace to get to them and you can not see the surrounding landscape because of hedging on each side.

They run down either side of the manor from the Chapel and the Carriage house, finishing on either side of the cocktail lawn. As they run passed the terrace on either side of the house, there will be tiers of retaining walls flowing down from the terrace to the lawns, which will be planted in a strict formal planting with flowers and box hedging.

The lawn on the Chapel side will serve as a croquet lawn (did someone say Pimms Vicar?). The lawn on the Carriage House side will serve as alfresco dining for a cafe if we ever have a Country Store, as well having the pool and pool house; and a pétanque pit behind the carriage house.

Above and Below: Concept photos of how either end of the 'sunken lawns' will look. Note the tiered retaining walls.

We would like the gardens around the terrace to give a lot of colour to ensure that the hedging does not become monotonous. Planting it with bulbs, such as they have done here at Harewood House, and some perennials should do nicely...

and Bowood House...

Some other good examples of raised terraces with formal lawns and tiered gardens...

I would also like the terrace balustrade to have urns on the plinths like these examples...

 

Maybe even with torches inside the plinths...

or at least candles for something special after dark...

London Calling...

Finally the time for our holiday has come! Tonight I fly to Sydney, where I will meet Peter, and then from there we are flying to London for a friend's wedding, some R&R and catching up with family. My father is also flying over from the US to join us there.

I shall be taking a break from blogging for a few weeks while we are there, although there are a few posts already prepared to role out over the next week or so. But, I will return next month with lots of ideas for further posts, including sharing our experiences of more country houses. David.

Hold That Elevator...

Further to my previous post 2 years ago on elevators we are now in the process of getting quotations for a domestic lift, so I thought I would write a second more comprehensive post.

There are essentially 2 types of lift mechanism - mechanical winch from above or hydraulic jack from below. Most domestic lifts are run by the second means, and the most common (because it is the least expensive) is a simple square carpeted platform that is pushed up the shaft from below, without a ceiling or sides to the carriage (well, in fact no carriage full stop, unlike the winch models which require a box to pull up the lift shaft.). This platform idea seems very rudimentary, so we are varying it by having a full carriage but pushed from below. This will allow us to go to town on the detailing inside the carriage with wooden paneling, beveled mirrors and a chandelier. As with everything at WBP, it is the detail that will set us apart.

I am fascinated by the fin de ciecle wrought iron lifts. They were amazing...

and Art Deco lifts:

Modern copies...

I would like to have a glass and wrought iron door as an homage to these great contraptions of yesteryear. Also, it will be next door to the wine cellar, so the wrought iron and glass doors will compliment each other.

The Inside:

The wooden paneling will be similar to that below: 

 The bare light bulb lets it down somewhat.

I like the 2 tone paneling below, although we will have beveled mirror where they have lighter panels, to give a sense of space. No one wants to feel like they are in a vertical coffin.

although there are simpler forms of paneling...

It must have a charming light in the ceiling...

Something like the basket below would be suitably sparkly (c.f. top photo).

Down lights are just not the same...

It would be nice to have ornate brass-work for the buttons...

and maybe a brass floor indicator (that would be pushing it in a 2 story house)...

No seating, though an interesting idea...

now all we need is a bell boy...

or girl... 

Though we don't want a bumbling Bell Boy, we need to be more Hotel Babylon than Faulty Towers...

But I digress. Other lift ideas...