Five Years On: How Our Secret Garden Design Changed This Rochdale Home

We designed the Secret Garden and its front garden back in 2019.

Recently, David went back to have a chat with the client, Anthony, to hear his reflections on the design process and how the garden was looking some five years on from the install, to find out how he was enjoying the space and how it had impacted his life in general.

Note: When Anthony refers to “you” in the quotes below, he is speaking directly to David.

The Moment We Knew

From the moment we met, it was clear that Anthony and Jill valued a collaborative approach.

"David is his portfolio. When he turns up, he's a talking portfolio… And when you turned up, we made our decision. We said, 'Right, this is the guy. He is the guy we're going to work with because he knows what he's talking about.'"

Anthony recalls how our conversations made the design process both exciting and accessible: "Some experts, they'll baffle you… Well, that was never the case with you. We always understood what you were talking about and why you were talking about it."

Designing with Excitement and Detail

The design phase itself was full of possibilities and experimentation.

"The design phase was, 'Yep, we can look at this. We can look at that. Here's some drawings. Here's what I'm thinking about.' We began to see the idea of the raised planters and all of that… We thought, 'Yeah, this is going to be wonderful.'"

Even after visits, the conversations continued. "We would be talking for a long time after your visits about what we were understanding and about what else we could do." Anthony also emphasised the care and attention to detail that were shown throughout the project. "You were always available… we got that definite sense that you wanted this to work. You wanted it to succeed."

Life in the Secret Garden

For Anthony and Jill, the results speak for themselves. "I love it. One of the first things that Jill does in the morning is just to see this because there's always something new, something extra. This year, the ginger lilies are about a month early. I'm looking forward to seeing how that goes."

The garden has truly become an extension of the home. "These are like extra rooms. The front, the back, extra rooms. We've doubled the square footage of the ground floor."

Anthony sums up the experience with one simple recommendation: "I'd say work with David Keegan. Definitely work with him. He'll work with you. You'll enjoy it… You build a conversation about what it is you're trying to realise that will be going way beyond what you might have had as a mental image about what you thought was going to be here."

Watch the Full Interview

Curious to see the garden and hear more from Anthony? Watch the full interview video to discover how the Secret Garden has evolved and the lasting impact it has had on the family’s life.

Every Garden Tells a Story

And the Secret Garden has been unfolding for half a decade. If you're ready to begin a story of your own, we’d love to help you plant the first chapter. Get in touch to sow the first seeds.