The season is almost here, and it’s time to start planning your patio and garden. Spring and summer are meant to be enjoyed outdoors, and for many people, preparations are in full swing. Perhaps you’ve been thinking about building a new patio or sprucing up the old one. Plant some new plants, buy new outdoor furniture, or maybe invest in a custom-made railing.
In a three-part series, we've teamed up with landscape architect John Block—Garden By Block—to help you with your planning.
Space-defining elements
John Block works as a landscape engineer and has worked as both a landscape designer and a landscape contractor in various settings in Sweden, Australia, and Norway. Today, he helps both private individuals and homeowners’ associations create high-quality landscape plans with a focus on aesthetics and functionality.
A major trend he’s seeing right now is space-defining elements. People want private spots in the garden where they can spend time with loved ones without being overly exposed to view. But it’s also about using space-defining elements—such as glass railings, plants, and larger pieces of furniture—to create a more interesting and aesthetically pleasing outdoor environment. According to John, glass railings play a major role when you want to create “barriers” in the garden without shutting out the rest of the property. Custom railing solutions are often used when designing a patio. In this case, the railing is adapted to fit the patio or space, rather than the other way around.
In the photo, you can see our stainless steel glass railing, for which the customer chose sections with windbreaks. The elevated deck becomes a secluded “room” of its own, yet doesn’t block out the fantastic surroundings.
Natural colors with vibrant details
According to John, color and form are key elements of garden design. A garden can vary in color and appearance, both during the daylight hours and throughout the year. As the seasons change, the garden shifts in color, and you can experiment with this through your choice of plants and materials. You can vary and control which colors you want to highlight not only through your choice of plants but also through your choice of materials.
John mentions that he often incorporates railings and trellises as room dividers, privacy screens, and plant supports. He usually paints them in earthy colors such as gray-green, gray, dark brown, green, or black. For glass railings, he typically avoids using any color at all so that the spaces can speak for themselves.
“InSometimes I get a little more daring and use a bolder color palette for individual planters, for example. I saw a really beautiful example the other day where they had matched the color of a seasonal bloom with the color of the surrounding furniture. It’s incredibly striking that, at just one point in the year, there’s a ‘perfect match’ between the different elements.”
When it comes to color trends for 2023, John believes in adding color to more details and keeping the “base” of the garden design subdued.
Where you need a railing that is sleek yet still secure, a cable railing is the perfect choice. Here, the customer has chosen a subtle “base,” but opted to paint the furniture a beautiful light yellow.
Materials and Textures in 2023
The demand for more natural materials is growing. John believes in emulating nature as much as possible, increasingly through subtle combinations with industrial solutions. In other words, using materials such as natural stone, wood, and gravel in combination with steel and glass. He hopes that people will prioritize the aesthetic value of materials over their functionality and therefore choose among different natural materials rather than considering artificial materials like composites and artificial turf.
He also believes that matte finishes may make a comeback. Glossy materials can easily dominate and draw the eye, so he sees a trend toward powder-coating details with a matte finish.
That postless glass railing It offers an unobstructed view while providing an exclusive setting.
What role do custom-made glass railings play in garden design?
John has noticed a trend toward spending more money and time on gardens. People want to make the most of all their outdoor spaces as spring and summer approach. Areas such as raised terraces, pool areas, and balconies are often places where people spend a lot of time—places where they socialize with family and friends, enjoy delicious dinners, and simply relax. In such settings, a classic metal or wooden railing can easily “enclose” a space, cutting it off from the surrounding environment. To fully enjoy your beautiful garden, you should therefore choose a glass railing so you can continue to take in the garden while you’re sitting and eating, swimming, or relaxing in the lounge area.
Would you like help designing your garden?
Contact John Block
www.gardenbyblock.com
Instagram: @gardenbyblock
In our next blog post, we’ll discuss how to best furnish and design your patio.
Stay tuned!
