No matter what sort of landscaping project you have in mind, whether it’s a new decking or patio, or whether you’re intending to really go all out with exciting new garden design plans, proper research and planning will make all the difference, ensuring that you’ll like the end result no matter what.
Of course, you can do a lot of investigative work online to see what you like and what you don’t, but it can also be particularly fruitful to explore your local community and see what architectural gems you can discover in real life, as well.
Those of you in the Merseyside area are particularly lucky because you have Port Sunlight on your doorstep, a truly shining example of early urban planning, founded by William Hesketh Lever in 1888.
The village – which has remained largely unchanged since its inception – was originally built to house the workers at the Lever Brothers’ soap factory (which later went on to become global superbrand Unilever!).
A little stroll around and you’ll see over 900 Grade II-listed buildings dotted around 130 acres of beautiful parkland and gardens, so there’s plenty of opportunity for you to come away with lots of ideas and thoughts for your own landscaping designs.
What’s especially interesting about the site is that it showcases revival design at its best, with over 30 architects brought in to create the buildings, memorials and monuments, with almost every period of British architecture featured somewhere along the way.
Revival design is basically exactly what it sounds like, drawing inspiration from the past and movements like the Art Deco style and the Arts and Crafts aesthetic to bring together various different elements, with the end result being something both unique and sophisticated.
Although it only took 50 years or so for Port Sunlight to be built, it often feels as though it was developed over centuries because of the combination of different styles. You’re sure to leave the village brimming with all sorts of amazing ideas for your own home!