November 8, 2024
With over thirty years of experience, award winning Garden Designer Fiona Stephenson transforms garden spaces. Fiona’s extensive plant knowledge together with her skilled use of geometry can extend your living space creating an ‘extra room’, bringing the outside in and vice versa. Fiona works with all her clients to create a garden which complements their lifestyle. Helping her clients expand their perception of space is the key.
Why did you launch the business?
Plants became an obsession for me when, as a young mum an interest in completely renovating my derelict garden led me to study at the Inchbald School of Design gaining a Garden Design Diploma with Merit in 1987. With the affirmation of friends whose gardens I had successfully redesigned, I decided that it was time to launch my business. I wanted to share my love for plants and the process of garden design. Using the underlying geometry of creating space together with a complimentary palette of plants, a garden can be completely transformed in terms of visual impact, use and lifestyle.
What do you enjoy about running your business?
From beginning to end, I love the transformation of what can often be
viewed as ‘..just the garden..’ into an exciting and inviting extension to the interior living space. A beautiful new room but outside, and a beautiful new room which changes with the seasons!
I really enjoy working with clients and using my knowledge to bring life to their dream outside space. Clients, who often feel their knowledge limited, but who I invite to play a role in the design process resulting in a garden which is uniquely theirs.
What’s your favourite part of running Fiona Stephenson Designs?
When a garden project is completed, it feels like a magic wand has been waved. Gardens feel wider, longer and most importantly more inviting. To experience the changed space is unbelievable, such is the power of underlying geometry when it comes to the ‘before & after’ of rethinking your outdoor space. It is a privilege to see the transformation through, not only from beginning to end, but on-going as we always keep in touch with how the selected plants are settling in and growing on over time.
What are your favourite aspects of living and working in Surrey?
Surrey is such a fantastic great mix of urban living, market towns and
villages, yet with a close proximity to central London with all it has to offer. This diversity extends to house style and garden style and size. From sprawling country gardens to urban gardens and townhouse terraces, I always apply the same passion for design, plant knowledge and visionary skills to create inviting outdoor spaces whatever their size. I love my work…!!
Do you have any favourite businesses you can share from around your area?
Stephenson Wright (Interior Designers) Gomshall Mill (Eatery); CT Cars; Sitechnics (surveyors); Annare (Cafe) Future Light Design (Home Technology), Plant Passion (Florist);
