I’m delighted to share that Reflections, a garden I designed and Paul Greenyer and his team at InsideOut Home & Garden Improvements brought to life, has won the Residential Project Over $500k category in the Europe Heat of the 2027 Pro Landscaper International Awards.
Paul collected the award at Future Scape in Farnborough. Seeing him holding the trophy was a proud moment, and a lovely chance to celebrate the work that went into this garden.
A steep plot beside a lake
The project began with a steep lakeside plot in Sussex. The setting offered beautiful views, but the slope made much of the garden difficult to use. The challenge was to create a garden that felt connected to the water, with comfortable places to spend time and a clear route through the changing levels.
The clients’ holidays in the Canary Islands helped inspire my early design thinking. I developed the main layout around flowing, dune-like contours, using curves to bring movement through the garden and make the changes between levels feel natural.
Sweeping steel terraces give the garden its structure, with planting, lawn and substantial stone bringing texture and softness. My 3D visuals helped the clients understand how the proposed spaces would fit together and how the garden would connect with its wider setting.
Basalt steps and a close collaboration
One of my favourite parts of the project was developing the basalt steps with Paul. We travelled to Somerset to choose the boulders for bespoke cutting. Those steps became a signature feature: a practical route through the levels with the presence and character of natural stone.
As the project developed, the design became a close collaboration. Paul brought his construction knowledge and practical understanding of the site, adapting details around the levels, the budget and the clients’ needs. His skill, persistence and attention to detail were central to turning the ideas into the finished garden.
There is a great deal of work behind those apparently effortless curves, and Paul and the InsideOut team deserve enormous credit for what they achieved.
On to the international finals
The Europe Heat win means Reflections now goes forward to the international finals in Saudi Arabia in 2027. It is exciting to see a garden I helped shape reach this next stage.
A huge congratulations to Paul and everyone involved, and thank you to the clients for trusting us with their garden. I loved designing Reflections, and I’m proud to see the finished project receive this recognition.
Read the official winners announcement prolandscaperinternational.comIf you’re wondering what your own garden could become, get in touch and we can explore the possibilities together. You can also see the whole garden on the Reflections project page.
Much love,
David
Filed under Project journal on 15 October 2026
