A luxury garden should feel like a private world – perfectly in tune with your home, beautifully crafted, and rich in detail. It’s not just about planting; it’s about creating a complete experience, from the sound of water on a summer evening to the glow of a fire pit as the night draws in.
At Gardens by Keltie & Clark, our luxury garden design in the Cotswolds blends timeless elegance with carefully sourced bespoke landscape features you simply won’t find at a garden centre. Working with estate owners across the region, we design and curate unique, high-end garden focal points that reflect the personality of the property and its owners – features that are as much art as they are function.
A water feature is more than a visual highlight – it’s a sensory experience. The gentle movement of water brings life to a garden, while the reflections create a sense of depth and space.
We design and commission water features that are entirely site-specific. In a formal garden design, this might mean a geometric reflecting pool placed to catch the symmetry of a Georgian façade. In a more naturalistic garden, it could be a sculptural stone bowl spilling into a rill that winds through planting, drawing the eye and ear deeper into the landscape.
The placement is deliberate: we consider how sunlight hits the surface, how the sound of moving water will carry to seating areas, and how reflections will change with the seasons. The aim is always the same – to make the feature feel as if it was destined to be there.
A fire pit transforms a garden from day space to night space. The warmth invites guests to linger outdoors, the light adds atmosphere, and the structure itself can be a stunning centrepiece.
We approach fire pit design as both a functional and aesthetic challenge. The materials must feel as luxurious as the setting: corten steel that develops a rich patina over time, hand-carved stone with a tactile, timeless quality, or smooth cast concrete for a contemporary edge.
Placement is key. We often integrate fire pits into terraces, sunken seating areas, or outdoor living spaces so they feel part of the architecture of the garden. Surrounding seating can be built-in, in natural stone, timber, or upholstered weather-resistant fabrics to create a permanent, year-round gathering spot. The addition of integrated lighting can make the area glow softly at night, extending its use well beyond the summer season.
For larger estates, we may design multiple fire features – perhaps a grand central piece for entertaining and smaller, more intimate fire bowls dotted throughout the garden for moments of quiet reflection.
Read more about firepit design and construction in our blog: How to make an outdoor firepit.
High-end garden focal points often take the form of objects that anchor the space and guide the eye. Large-scale, beautifully crafted planters are one of the most versatile ways to achieve this.
We work with exclusive makers such as Torc Pots, whose sculptural pots are designed as works of art in their own right. These pieces can be used to punctuate formal garden design layouts, frame entrances, or add height and drama to a courtyard. Planted with seasonal displays or specimen shrubs, they bring both architectural presence and living texture to a space.
Just like sculptures, statement planters are positioned with precision – chosen not just for their beauty, but for how they interact with the rest of the garden.
In luxury garden design, the statement piece is the punctuation mark – the detail that draws the eye, sparks conversation, and defines the personality of the space. We work with leading sculptors and specialist makers to source or commission pieces that are unique to the property.
This might be a contemporary steel form that plays with shadow and light, a figurative bronze that feels timeless, or a series of smaller works that lead the visitor on a journey through the garden.
Every piece is positioned with the same attention you would give to hanging a painting – considering how it’s approached, how it looks from multiple angles, and how it interacts with surrounding planting and architecture.
Furniture is one of the most personal touches in a luxury garden. It determines how a space is used, whether for dining, lounging, or quiet contemplation.
We source high-end furniture from artisan workshops in the UK and specialist makers overseas, giving our clients access to designs that aren’t available on the high street. These may be handcrafted teak dining sets that last decades, sculptural daybeds designed as centrepieces, or sleek, modern loungers upholstered in performance fabrics.
By choosing pieces that match the garden’s scale and style, we ensure they feel integrated rather than added, enhancing the experience of the garden as a whole.
Our design philosophy is rooted in creating bespoke landscape features that reflect the character of both the home and the people who live there. Every element is chosen with purpose – here are a few examples from our recent projects:
A bespoke water feature for a relaxing courtyard sanctuary
In this award-winning Cheltenham townhouse garden, we designed and created a number of bespoke features to represent the elements of water, fire, earth and wind. The garden centred around a specially commissioned water feature to set the scene. We also incorporated a bespoke firepit area for socialising, and commissioned intricate screening that doubled up as sculptural artwork.
A circular design to invite playfulness and frame the house
In another Cheltenham garden, we used a sweeping circular layout to invite exploration and a sense of playfulness and fun – to match the clients’ personalities and love of entertaining. The bespoke features begin from the first step – oversized stepping stones take you from the drive through to the rear garden where a tunnel of moon gates – circular wooden archways – frame the outdoor kitchen and entertaining areas – a perfect example of how form and function can meet in high-end garden design.
