Chris and Mark set out to produce a steel and timber pergola for the Hodgeson family. Andy and Elaine Hodgeson live in a modern, new housing development in Brentwood, Essex. The couple run their own printing company and have two little girls, Sophie and Emma.
The family want a classic yet contemporary pergola that will extend from the back of the house and be in keeping with the modern style of the property. They plan to have the area around the pergola paved and would like to introduce climbing plants to the structure in time.

Inspiration Station:

Chris and Mark discuss pergola design at Myddelton Gardens (tel: (01992) 717711), a large formal garden near Enfield. This garden has a very large and rustic pergola which is constructed from timber uprights and planted with evergreen climbers like Clematis. It also incorporates a rose garden. The team plan to recreate these elements in a contemporary design at the Hodgeson house.

Mark also pays a visit to The London Metal Company, a metal fabrication company in south London, to get his basic design for the pergola built in steel. Meanwhile, Chris looks at suitable planting for a structure of this size and scale. He visits The Hanging Gardens Nursery and selects Clematis and climbers to complement the style and practical nature of the pergola. He chooses Clematis 'Warsaw Nike', Clematis 'Texensis, Clematis 'Frieda Montana', Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus Tricuspidata), Potato Vine (Solanum Jasminoides), Woodland Honeysuckle and Canary Island Ivy.

Stockist List:

Metal pergola frame
The London Metal Company - metal fabricators
Tel: (020) 8337 0090

Plants (Climbers and Clematis)
The Hanging Gardens Nursery - plant nursery
Tel: (0800) 9707 661

'Weatherdale' paving slabs (floor for pergola space)
Bradstones - stone and paving supplies
Tel: (01159) 417887

General building supplies (sand, cement, preservative etc)
E.H.Smith - builder's merchants
Tel: (01245) 459600

Go back to Garden Highs - An Introduction