The Ultimate Guide to Landscaping and Garden Design for Builders: What I learned in UK gardens

[@RonRobertson-lafrance]

Now you're really talking my language, gardens, Gertrude Jekyll, and structures. I was first introduced to Gertrude Jekyll with a book given to me by a client almost 40 years ago. I loved her writing and subsequently read nearly every book she wrote. She had lots of great ideas about how to lay out outdoor spaces. Thanks for doing this video.

[@BrentHull]

Agreed. Thx for sharing.

[@ladylyonteeth3952]

This is beautiful. Could watch a whole series on landscape organization design, Brent!❤

[@BrentHull]

More to come! Thx

[@piedpiper7051]

I love gardens & follies. They make a property an adventure. Thanks Brent.

[@BrentHull]

Agreed. Thx.

[@jelsner5077]

Even in my small city lot, I built a "folly" 8'x8' with a pyramid roof matching the house on the back corner. I was using it as a summer library, but now it's more of a glamorous tool shed. Makes me smile every time I look at it.

[@BrentHull]

I love it! Thx.

[@SpanishEclectic]

Outdoor space is so important. Even with a suburban lot, it's possible to be sure that all views from inside incorporate something visually pleasing. In landscape design there are all kinds of tricks to disguise the ugly and provide privacy. The English have this stuff down. While most people will never have the kind of acreage necessary for a "natural setting designed by the hand of man", it's so fun to look at the work of Lancelot "Capability" Brown, Humphrey Repton, William Kent, and others who made their mark on 18th and 19th Century gardens. One of my favorite English gardens for follies is the Painswick Rococo garden. I was very pleased to see you are sharing this vision with other builders.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks, I totally agree.

[@lazygardens]

Deciding the purpose of the space - the activities you want to enjoy there - is as important for a garden as for a house. And then "form follows function" can take over. I love the Jekyll gardens.

[@BrentHull]

Thx me too.

[@Stolat79]

Your yard contains rooms. In every house I’ve owned I have created gardens from 6,000sqft yards with terraced walls, Japanese gardens, lawns, English cottage to 1/4 of an acre with pools, patio, lawns, courts, cottage gardens, Japanese meditation garden with koi pond. Your yard and gardens tell a story of your home. They’re additional rooms to be enjoyed. Working on my 8th garden now here in Hawaii, it’s a different challenge and I relish it.

[@BrentHull]

I love it. So glad to hear.

[@genoaiken508]

I spent many years studying music at berklee college of music. You really treat building as an art. It beautiful to hear you explain it everytime.

[@BrentHull]

Wow, thank you!

[@markgarland9000]

Wow. Unbelievably perfect timing! I'm in process of conceiving a folly for my relatively small urban plot where my "English Country Cottage" sits. About 150 ft. outside my kitchen picture window is the rear property line, and where my structure will sit. Non-formal and functional as a sitting area is what I'm going for. Great presentation and guidance here. Thank you!

[@BrentHull]

So glad it helped. Good luck.

[@pegasis0066]

You can't have a great house without great landscaping.

[@BrentHull]

So True. Thx.

[@michaelbissen1946]

Thanks Brent. I now think about all my projects with a story in mind. Great stuff!!!

[@BrentHull]

Fantastic! Thx

[@kittykoncz3733]

Yet again, a wonderful video. I'm learning so much from your contents! Thank you🧡

[@BrentHull]

So glad! Thx.

[@JoshPiland]

Great to see you inspired Brent!! Lancelot Capability Brown

[@BrentHull]

Exactly! Thx.

[@StudPack]

As a previous commenter said..."pigeonaires (dovecotes) and garconnieres" abound where I grew up but I love the word folly... sure is a lot easier to say 😂 Thanks Brent for another interesting video on what makes a building pleasing to the eye👊👍

[@BrentHull]

Thx for watching.

[@scotteric8711]

Brent, do please visit and cover some of the Gardens of France!

[@BrentHull]

Ok. THx.

[@geno3437]

This was INCREDIBLY helpful As I'm designing my land, I was trying to work out what I ought to be doing with the land I am building in a Spanish style, so I don't know well whats normative for garden spaces in that language but I'm using this as a jumping off point to start the research Thank you

[@BrentHull]

Good luck.

[@thetubekid]

Love this! I have been waiting a video on this topic. Thank you! I wish more would consider the organization of their entire property. Everywhere you go should give a sense of space, interest and adventure! There is so much opportunity in not just our homes but all the outside space! Thanks Brent!

[@BrentHull]

I totally agree!

[@pcatful]

Just a bench in the right place can add mystique to a garden. My grandparents had paths leading up a steep Ivy covered slope and I never forgot the stone seat built right into hillside.

[@BrentHull]

Amen. True.

[@jimgeelan5949]

Brilliant thank 😊

[@BrentHull]

You’re welcome 😊

[@chateaugrief]

Dome and Obelisk in front of a reflecting pool, bridge over running water, and pyramid in lake...those follies have obvious esoteric magical purposes. Interesting to see. I wonder if the hierarchy and materials of the layout of the grounds also reflected these ideas.

[@BrentHull]

To my eye they did. Thx

[@Fedgery007]

Love everything about this!

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thx.

[@gregpendrey6711]

Yes Sir. I'm here for this.

[@BrentHull]

Great. Thx.

[@Real_Tim_S]

This is a topic after my heart. No house should exist without consideration for the environment it is set in IMHO. A suggestion based on readings and observations of works by those better than myself: The form closer to the house should reflect the shapes, formality, and structure of the house itself. The materials and plantings you use should be more manicured and precise closer to the house and gradually blend into the planting's natural form closer to the outer boarders of the garden - giving a sense of connection between the house/building and the natural surroundings. Fundamental concepts of geometry make hiding some basic structure and orienteering-bearings into the complete landscape subtly easier to comprehend while exploring the various partitions of the landscape. Sight-lines, sight-lines, sight-lines!

[@BrentHull]

Well said. Thx.

[@ryansoo4000]

One area often not discussed when talking about garden follies is how often foreign architecture was brought into English and European landscapes. When the British first started coming back from China, Japan and India in the 18th century the upper classes all wanted a room in their homes (or a small outbuilding) that reflected those regional styles. It was the same thing in the 1920's when Howard Carter discovered King Tut's tomb and everyone wanted something Egyptian. Not all outbuildings were based on the classical styles of ancient Rome and Greece.

[@BrentHull]

Good point. Thx.

[@ericwiken1990]

Hey Brent, I have really enjoyed your videos over the last year or so and have learned a lot. Wondering if you have any recommendations/resources for the design of window boxes. Looking for information on appropriate proportions and details. Thanks!

[@BrentHull]

Hi, thanks. I have seen good design in period millwork catalogs. Especially from the 1920's. That is where I would start. Good luck.

[@homesteadorbust]

Of all the videos this one resonates with me the most. We are building a nursery and one of the things I want to do is portray historical gardens and copy those ideas. Which books did you find on this subject?

[@BrentHull]

There are too many to list. But i would start with Gertrude Jekyll, she has tons. Thx,

[@shinnick22]

RIP Roger

[@BrentHull]

Yes.

[@AdamTillontheWeb]

Doubt I’ll ever own property big enough for a folly, but one of the things that made our house a home was putting in an amazing garden

[@BrentHull]

Word! Thx.

[@Jared_Albert]

Arborist here I often tell clients tha the difference between the mcmasions and the mansions is the trees

[@BrentHull]

Great point. Thx.

[@ltandrepants]

pigeonaires and Garconnieres in louisiana

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thx.

[@stevemiller7949]

Personally, I feel trees are underutilized near the house. A great house deserves at least one majestic sized tree near it. This is rarely the case. The day is coming when people will realize the value and joy of shade. If you are dealing with a barren site, plant several trees near the house. Maybe you will feel the need to remove some as they get bigger. So what? It's OK for plantings to be dynamic and change. Just get some shade going, is my recommendation.😊😊😊

[@BrentHull]

Noted. Thx.

[@АлексейМаринчев-м1з]

Brent, what I have mostly seen so far in the States is the raws of framework homes standing side by side very closely to each other. How many "Windsor estates" one can find around? Your video is fascinating as always, but it seems to be totally useless for practical application unlike your trimming and finishing recommendations. What ponds, bridges and green labyrinths one can create in his small backyard?😂

[@BrentHull]

Look, I don't have room in my backyard either, but it can inform how I go about organizing views from the house and how things are arranged.

[@АлексейМаринчев-м1з]

@@BrentHull I wonder how many members of royal families have been watching your videos ?😃. As for landscape designers they know a lot more.