Which garden features would look best in your garden?

Custom gazebos, follies, and canopies have been a central fixture in estate and public gardens for centuries, providing a space to seek refuge and host gatherings. These outdoor structures have evolved from simple, open-air solid-roofed structures to more decorative art fixtures that make a statement.

 If you’re looking to incorporate a gazebo, folly, or canopy into your garden design, here are some tips and ideas to consider:

1. How will you use your custom gazebo, garden folly, or canopy?

Gazebos, follies, and canopies serve different purposes to different families. The most common purposes are to provide additional seating areas in the garden, host outdoor events, and/or create a focal point in your garden. Tanglewood has also worked with clients on unique, one-of-a-kind fixtures such as sculptural outdoor showers by the pool and folly swings that extend the architecture from the house into the garden. 

When considering how your family would use this space, also think about how it will interact with the rest of your garden and home. Oftentimes, these fixtures become integral parts of your landscape or home design. From your vision, our design specialist can then begin to define the function and form of your gazebo, folly or canopy.

2. Decide where the best location will be for your gazebo, folly or canopy!

The size of your custom gazebo, folly, or canopy should be proportional to the size of your garden. It should also be placed in a location that enhances the beauty of your outdoor space without overwhelming it. Take into consideration the existing landscape and the views you want to highlight when deciding on placement.

Referring back to your purpose – are you creating this space to capture the beautiful water views while you enjoy a cup of coffee? Is this to be more of an art fixture that ties in with the landscape design? If you are going to be entertaining large or intimate gatherings, how close or far away from the house is appropriate depending on what you will need from the house to host?

 Your purpose will help guide these answers to ensure you are not over-designing or enlarging the addition.

3. Select a material that matches your style!

Another big consideration is the combination of materials you choose for your gazebo, folly, or canopy. The colors and textures you select will have an effect on the overall aesthetic of your garden design. Consider using materials that complement the natural surroundings and the architecture of your home. Popular materials include sapele mahogany wood, and copper. 

For example, for more industrial or modern aesthetics, steel is a desired material to create a minimalistic effect with clean lines and neutral colors. Those looking for more traditional, victoria styles often lean towards sapele mahogany, wood and copper.

You can view design examples for both steel and wood HERE.

4. Spice up your design with decorative elements!

Gazebos and follies can be decorated with plants, vines, and other decorative elements to create a cohesive look with the surrounding garden. Consider incorporating climbing plants such as roses, clematis, or wisteria to add color and texture. Or if you enjoy specific garden design elements adding them into the columns or within the ceiling can make it a space you love and admire.

Other interesting design features could be incorporating unique shapes in the roof, adding open air custom doors to create the illusion of an enclosed space or adding decorative finials and ridge cresting.

5. Consider designing a space that perfectly matches your custom conservatory!

To reinforce the indoor/outdoor character of conservatories, matching gazebos and canopies can be placed elsewhere on the property to complement the conservatory and create a mimicking focal point that draws attention from the house to the garden!

When going back to your purpose of one of these additions, think about how you want to make this new space unique to your estate but also adding design elements that you may love from your house or custom conservatory. Maybe it is the brick, steel details, or maybe you love stained glass! Integrating specific features can allow your space to be unique to your garden!

6. Enhance the ambiance of your custom gazebo, garden folly, or canopy with lights!

Imagine… after a long day of work you surprise your significant other to a romantic dinner under the stars in your custom gazebo over looking the water. While custom gazebos and follies are beautiful and functional by themselves the addition of lights can help enhance their presence, making them a beautiful focal point in your garden even after dark. String lights, lanterns, or even chandeliers can be added to your structure for added ambiance.

Incorporating a gazebo, folly, or canopy into your garden design can add an element of charm and beauty to your outdoor space. By considering the purpose, size, location, materials, decorative elements, conservatory matching, and lighting, you can create a structure that enhances the natural beauty of your garden and adds functionality to your outdoor living space.

Interested in building a custom gazebo or garden folly in your garden?  Feel free to reach out to us at 410 479 4700 or fill out our contact form.

If you’re looking for more inspiration, be sure to check out the new portfolio page we recently added to our website!