Hidden from view, at the foot of a 19th-century Parisian building, nestles a beautiful garden that had been neglected for 30 years. It can only be accessed from the apartments of our customers, who tell us their dream of a fragrant, flower-filled garden in which their children can run and play hide-and-seek. The main shortcomings of the garden were that it was surrounded by high walls and that the 30m² at the end of the garden were packed with 6 25m-high ailantus, a dense, shady, unadapted mass.
After a felling operation approved by the municipal authorities, three ailantus were suppressed and three new trees — privet, hornbeam and hackberry — were planted. A fig tree was contained to half its size to better fit the size of the garden. The walls were clad with a variety of climbers, and bamboos added at the end of the garden to help blur the garden’s borders.
Clumps of shrubs and perennials have been redesigned in a blurred, flowery spirit, and the oval of deceased boxwood that used to adorn the center of the garden was replaced by synthetic lawn to limit maintenance. A wide gravel terrace opens out in front of the apartment, allowing for easy access to a chill-out outdoor space where the garden furniture makes it easy to relax and enjoy meals outside.
The end of the garden has recently been embellished with a magnificent top terrace for entertaining guests. The dining area is surrounded by delicate trellises with climbing jasmine. An outdoor kitchen and a custom-built garden shed enable independent outdoor entertaining.
