In this debut column, landscape designer Nathan White of Smokebush Studio shares homegrown wisdom, with tips shaped by his own courtyard garden. Stay tuned each month as Nathan takes us through what to prune, plant and buy to keep your outdoor space thriving.
Increasingly, I’m drawn to gardens with a gentle, almost nostalgic warmth – spaces where structure and softness sit in balance. Textural planting palettes, subtly layered greens and a sense of seasonal movement are at the centre of my creative thinking. Lately, this has meant revisiting classic species and reinterpreting them through a contemporary lens, using composition, scale and tone to give renewed relevance. Above all, I’m interested in creating gardens that feel lived in from day one: lush, welcoming and connected to a home’s character.
Over the past 12 months I’ve worked on a diverse mix of projects, each grounded in an understanding of how people genuinely want to live, move and feel within their outdoor spaces. From intimate city courtyards that maximise every visible centimetre to leafy family gardens designed to accommodate children, pets and gatherings, many of my projects have involved reworking existing landscapes rather than starting anew.
Across all projects, my focus has remained on strengthening the connection between indoors and out, so the garden reads as a natural extension of the home or venue.
