Sarah Alcroft

1. Carve Out a Secluded Seating Area Whether you have a compact yard or want a mini retreat within a larger space, consider enclosing a seating area. Several designers at the show sectioned off small areas to dampen noise and create a sense of security and seclusion. In her Alzheimer’s Society “Microbes and Minds” garden (pictured), Tina Worboys enclosed a bench, a bubbling fountain and an apple tree within two simple curved walls.

Photos by Paul Craig Photography Kitchen at a Glance Who lives here: A family with two children and a dog Location: Surrey, England Size: Kitchen: 560 square feet (52 square meters); pantry: 25 square feet (2.3 square meters); laundry-mudroom: 172 square feet (16 square meters) Designers: Tim Higham of Higham Furniture (kitchen design) and Rebecca Hughes Interiors (interior design) To ensure that the kitchen felt light and open, Higham, who uses Houzz Pro software, concentrated the bulk of...

1. Relaxed, Naturalistic Designs The naturescapes of previous years, which evoked wild landscapes, retreated somewhat this year as many designers embraced a relaxed, naturalistic style tailored specifically for a domestic yard. Designer Baz Grainger, for instance, found a beautiful balance between a natural, wildlife-friendly aesthetic and a usable, sociable space with his grassland-inspired Killik & Co “A Seed in Time” garden, seen here.