Landscape & Garden Design
Since 1997, the Nicholsons Garden Design Studio has been creating exceptional gardens that combine beauty, functionality and sustainability. Founded by Managing Director, Liz Nicholson, our award-winning team of garden designers and landscape architects specialise in uncovering the hidden potential of every outdoor space. From elegant Oxford townhouses to spacious country estates, heritage properties and contemporary family gardens, we deliver unique, bespoke designs tailored to our clients’ aspirations.
Our comprehensive approach, from initial concept through to construction, ensures that every detail is thoughtfully planned and delivered. By working alongside ecologists and arborists, we maximise biodiversity and environmental outcomes, adhering to elemental, the green design tool, and Building with Nature standards. Whether you are seeking a residential garden design or a commercial landscape solution, we provide clear budgets, detailed schedules and expert guidance at every step, ensuring your vision is both achievable and inspiring.
Landscape & Garden Design
Since 1997, the Nicholsons Garden Design Studio has been creating exceptional gardens that combine beauty, functionality and sustainability. Founded by Managing Director, Liz Nicholson, our award-winning team of garden designers and landscape architects specialise in uncovering the hidden potential of every outdoor space. From elegant Oxford townhouses to spacious country estates, heritage properties and contemporary family gardens, we deliver unique, bespoke designs tailored to our clients’ aspirations.
Our comprehensive approach, from initial concept through to construction, ensures that every detail is thoughtfully planned and delivered. By working alongside ecologists and arborists, we maximise biodiversity and environmental outcomes, adhering to elemental, the green design tool, and Building with Nature standards. Whether you are seeking a residential garden design or a commercial landscape solution, we provide clear budgets, detailed schedules and expert guidance at every step, ensuring your vision is both achievable and inspiring.
Our Portfolio
The Nicholsons Garden Design portfolio highlights the diversity and imagination of our work. From formal landscapes to naturalistic planting schemes, every garden is crafted to reflect its surroundings and our clients’ aspirations. Browse our past projects for inspiration and see how thoughtful design can transform any outdoor space.
Cotswolds Country Estate
Thames Valley Manor House
Northamptonshire Wildflower Garden
Our Portfolio
The Nicholsons Garden Design portfolio highlights the diversity and imagination of our work. From formal landscapes to naturalistic planting schemes, every garden is crafted to reflect its surroundings and our clients’ aspirations. Browse our past projects for inspiration and see how thoughtful design can transform any outdoor space.
Thames Valley Manor House
Our Process
At Nicholsons, we take a meticulous, design-led approach to every garden project. From the first consultation to the final installation, we craft bespoke, sustainable landscapes that harmonize beauty with functionality. Our in-house design and build team ensures a seamless journey from concept to completion, working in line with the RIBA stages while streamlining the process to suit the unique needs of each project.
Concept Design
At Nicholsons, the concept stage brings your garden vision to life. We work entirely to your brief and translate it into creative, bespoke design concepts using sketches, mood boards and initial layouts. This collaborative stage ensures your aspirations are reflected in every detail while balancing beauty, functionality and sustainability, providing a clear and inspiring blueprint for the next stage of your garden design.
Detailed Design
In the detailed design stage, we create a comprehensive roadmap for your garden. We refine layouts, select materials and create planting schemes, considering both aesthetics and practicality. This stage ensures every element is carefully planned, producing an achievable design that guides the construction of your bespoke, sustainable outdoor space.
Construction
The construction stage is where your garden moves from paper to reality. Our skilled team manages every aspect of installation, from hard landscaping and planting to bespoke features, ensuring precision, quality and attention to detail. We coordinate contractors, oversee schedules and maintain clear communication, bringing the design to life seamlessly while preserving the integrity and vision of your bespoke garden.
At Nicholsons, we believe great gardens should enrich both people and the planet. To support this vision, we use elemental, a pioneering green design tool created to help the landscape industry achieve the best outcomes for climate and nature.
Created by Nicholsons and funded by the British Association of Landscape Industries, the Royal Horticultural Society, the Landscape Institute, the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers and supported by The Association of Professional Landscapers and the Horticultural Trade Association, elemental represents a collective industry commitment to building landscapes that are both beautiful and environmentally responsible.
The tool assesses the full impact of a project, from materials use and carbon accounting to biodiversity, water management and social value. By bringing this knowledge into our design process, we can make informed choices that reduce environmental impact while maximising benefits to ecosystems and communities.
Through elemental, we ensure every garden is not only a place of beauty and functionality but also a positive step towards a more sustainable future.
Our Process
At Nicholsons, we take a meticulous, design-led approach to every garden project. From the first consultation to the final installation, we craft bespoke, sustainable landscapes that harmonize beauty with functionality. Our in-house design and build team ensures a seamless journey from concept to completion, working in line with the RIBA stages while streamlining the process to suit the unique needs of each project.
Concept Design
At Nicholsons, the concept stage brings your garden vision to life. We work entirely to your brief and translate it into creative, bespoke design concepts using sketches, mood boards and initial layouts. This collaborative stage ensures your aspirations are reflected in every detail while balancing beauty, functionality and sustainability, providing a clear and inspiring blueprint for the next stage of your garden design.
Detailed Design
In the detailed design stage, we create a comprehensive roadmap for your garden. We refine layouts, select materials and create planting schemes, considering both aesthetics and practicality. This stage ensures every element is carefully planned, producing an achievable design that guides the construction of your bespoke, sustainable outdoor space.
Construction
The construction stage is where your garden moves from paper to reality. Our skilled team manages every aspect of installation, from hard landscaping and planting to bespoke features, ensuring precision, quality and attention to detail. We coordinate contractors, oversee schedules and maintain clear communication, bringing the design to life seamlessly while preserving the integrity and vision of your bespoke garden.
At Nicholsons, we believe great gardens should enrich both people and the planet. To support this vision, we use elemental, a pioneering green design tool created to help the landscape industry achieve the best outcomes for climate and nature.
Created by Nicholsons and funded by the British Association of Landscape Industries, the Royal Horticultural Society, the Landscape Institute, the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers and supported by The Association of Professional Landscapers and the Horticultural Trade Association, elemental represents a collective industry commitment to building landscapes that are both beautiful and environmentally responsible.
The tool assesses the full impact of a project, from materials use and carbon accounting to biodiversity, water management and social value. By bringing this knowledge into our design process, we can make informed choices that reduce environmental impact while maximising benefits to ecosystems and communities.
Through elemental, we ensure every garden is not only a place of beauty and functionality but also a positive step towards a more sustainable future.
Stay updated on our latest projects
For our latest projects and behind-the-scenes insights into Nicholsons Garden Design Studio, make sure you are following us on Instagram.
Stay updated on our latest projects
For our latest projects and behind-the-scenes insights into Nicholsons Garden Design Studio, make sure you are following us on Instagram.
“Having bought a newly developed house, we wanted to showpiece the mature garden and neglected woodland area. Having done a little research, we decided that the half-acre plot warranted a design-to-build solution; and reached out to Nicholsons (and so the journey began). Nicholsons were responsive right from the get-go; and as soon as their designer visited and emersed themselves in the garden area, we knew we had made the right decision! Ruby was able to articulate her ideas to create this wonderful zoned garden, that included a mature woodland area, a lawned area surrounded by beautiful beds, a “working” garden kitchen, and a gorgeous landscaped area where the family could entertain or simply sit and enjoy the garden creation. The team turned the design into a working schedule, and explained how they would progress with the program. They were an excellent team, who we got to know very well; always able to address any challenges as we went through the build.”
– Private client
“Having bought a newly developed house, we wanted to showpiece the mature garden and neglected woodland area. Having done a little research, we decided that the half-acre plot warranted a design-to-build solution; and reached out to Nicholsons (and so the journey began). Nicholsons were responsive right from the get-go; and as soon as their designer visited and emersed themselves in the garden area, we knew we had made the right decision! Ruby was able to articulate her ideas to create this wonderful zoned garden, that included a mature woodland area, a lawned area surrounded by beautiful beds, a “working” garden kitchen, and a gorgeous landscaped area where the family could entertain or simply sit and enjoy the garden creation. The team turned the design into a working schedule, and explained how they would progress with the program. They were an excellent team, who we got to know very well; always able to address any challenges as we went through the build.”
– Private client
Can we design or build your garden?
Nicholsons specialise in whole garden projects and would like to hear from you if you have a medium to large garden requiring design or construction. Start your process by filling out the form below, or give us a call on +44 (0)1869 340342
Can we design or build your garden?
Nicholsons specialise in whole garden projects and would like to hear from you if you have a medium to large garden requiring design or construction. Start your process by filling out the form below, or give us a call on +44 (0)1869 340342
