Elevating a woodland viewpoint

The setting

On the outskirts of Colchester, bordering the ancient Welsh Wood, this property sits at an elevated position with a stunning woodland garden stretching out behind it. The garden was rich with wildlife and seasonal interest, yet the house was entirely disconnected from it. The culprit was a dilapidated multi-level decking structure and a disused spa pool that consumed much of the usable space directly outside the property, blocking the view rather than framing it.

KT Garden Spaces was brought in to resolve that disconnection and give the owners back their garden.

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The Vision

During the initial onsite consultation, Keith proposed something deliberately simpler than what was already there: a single-level decking platform, generous enough to serve as a proper entertaining space, positioned to create an elevated viewpoint directly out into the woodland beyond. Replacing the cluttered, deteriorating structure with something clean and considered would let the garden become the focal point rather than compete with it.

The design extended further into the detail of how the deck would meet the garden. Rather than a standard staircase, an inset terraced set of steps was planned, eliminating any sense of steepness in the descent and creating a gradual transition between levels. The steps themselves were edged with Millboard Coppered Oak bullnose boards, providing a deliberate colour contrast against the warm Golden Oak of the main deck surface. The width and positioning of the steps were carefully planned so that from inside the house, looking out through the doors, the view of the garden beyond remained entirely unobstructed.

One further detail gave the design its character: wide boarding stained in Ebony along the base of the platform, which from the garden looking back toward the property creates an illusion that the deck appears to float above the ground.

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Material choice

The owner had researched composite decking options extensively before approaching KT Garden Spaces, and had reached the conclusion independently that Millboard stood apart from other products on the market. The Golden Oak Enhanced boards were chosen specifically to complement the internal oak flooring of the property, and to reflect light back into the house. The visual continuity between inside and outside was a conscious part of the brief.

The selection of KT Garden Spaces as the installer was equally considered. The owner carried out an extensive process before making a decision, and the relationship that followed was one of ongoing trust. Following the initial project, KT Garden Spaces was invited back to source and install a glass balustrade, and later to update the adjoining patio area.

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A note on responsible disposal

Deconstructing the existing deck generated a significant volume of timber waste. Rather than send it to landfill via skip hire, KT Garden Spaces arranged for North Essex Wood Recycling, a local social enterprise, to collect and re-utilise the material. It is a small but deliberate part of how the business approaches every project: looking for the responsible option where one exists.

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The result

The finished deck returned the property to its garden in a way it had never quite managed before. The view that was always there, of the woodland and its wildlife, is now the first thing you see when you step outside, or look out through the doors from inside. The terraced steps invite you down into it. The deck gives you somewhere to pause and take it in.

“As with all our projects at KT Garden Spaces we embrace the sense of achievement in re-inventing an outdoor space and the fact the client is suitably thrilled with the finished result.”

Keith Tierney, KT Garden Spaces

Project details

Location: Outskirts of Colchester, Essex
Type: Residential
Services: Raised single-level deck installation, terraced step construction, glass balustrade installation, patio update, responsible timber waste recycling
Products: Millboard Enhanced Grain in Golden Oak, Millboard Coppered Oak bullnose boards, Millboard Ebony wide boarding