Japanese Inspired Shou Sugi Ban Garden in Canonbury N1

Japanese Inspired Shou Sugi Ban Garden

The brief

The clients had the vision of creating an aged and well loved garden where newly built features like the deck and pergola would not starkly stand out from the rest of the garden. Our lead garden designer felt these clients, being creative types involved in floristry and fashion, would really enjoy the quirky and charming application of Japanese technique Shou Sugi Ban to weather the hardwood deck.

Shou Sugi Ban Japanese Inspired Garden in Canonbury North London

Experimental Carbonisation in Decking Design

Shou Sugi Ban is a traditional Japanese technique of burning the surface of wood. The carbonisation process creates a protective barrier that is fire retardant, water resistant, and pest deterrent. However, it is really the stylistic draw of Shou Sugi Ban that made this decking design sing to our Canonbury clients.

Close up of Shou Sugi Ban Decking Installation in Canonbury North London Garden

Our garden design team spent a few weeks applying different degrees of burn to sample decking pieces. Different sealants, varnishes and paints were also applied to see how the interaction of other materials interplayed with the grain of the burnt wood.

The clients were invited to view the different samples and techniques at our workshop. A deeply carbonised version of the hardwood with light application of pigment was chosen for the final decking design.

Sample Decking with Pigments Applied in North London Garden Workshop

Garden Decking Installation and Complementary Pergola Design

The garden building process started with removal of astroturf, and moving excess earth from the sloped portion at the back of the garden to level out the front section. This meant the deck could sit level, and would only require a small step up to reach it.

Then the deck was installed and Shou Sugi Ban with pigment applied to the upper surface.

Garden Decking Installation in Progress with Application of Shou Sugi Ban in Canonbury Garden North London

We cannot recommend Duncan and his team highly enough. From the very beginning Duncan’s communication was excellent. He listened, offered good advice and really took the time to experiment with different Japanese inspired techniques in his North London garden workshop. The Shi Shugi Ban result is even better than we could have hoped for. He and his team were a pleasure to have around. They always arrived on time, were friendly, honest and respectful of our home. Our garden has become a new room in our house and we are more than delighted with the workmanship and the whole service Duncan and his team provided. Great job!

— Paula, Canonbury N1

The clients also decided after seeing the deep colour of the deck, that it would be nice to leave the timbers of the pergola untreated, so the natural silvering process would contrast nicely with the darkness of the Shou Sugi Ban treated hardwood.

Pergola Installation Contrasting with Darkened Shou Sugi Ban Deck in Canonbury North London Garden

Completed Deck and Pergola Garden Build in Canonbury Garden North London

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Ashley, Hackney Central E9
All of you were so great, professional and kind. I wanted to thank you for listening to my needs and incorporating them into the garden design so well. Your advice and recommendations were perfect. I can’t stop singing your praises for the work you did in my garden. I am very happy and pleased with the craftsmanship and attention to detail. We have been out there a ton and are loving it!

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Juliet, Dalston E8
I count myself as extremely fortunate to have used the services of Duncan and his wonderful team. Duncan listened to my 'dream' of what I had in mind and somehow he was able to untangle my thoughts and create the reality! Duncan, Jack and Dan were fantastic. Punctual, tidy, always considerate, thoughtful and totally professional. The workmanship is exemplary. Living in a small terraced house the work was difficult for them and for me but they were brilliant at being positive and encouraging. These days it's not easy to find a business that does exactly as they've set out to do from start to finish. With such a stunning end result I couldn't be happier.

See more

Laura, Stoke Newington N16
We had the pleasure of working with Hillman Gardens on both our back and front gardens as part of our Victorian renovation in Stoke Newington, Hackney. Duncan helped us to create an English garden design that was both beautiful and low maintenance, whilst accommodating the needs of grownups and little ones. Duncan was easily able to realise our design ambitions within our budget, whilst adding his own creative flair and planting expertise. His team were a pleasure to have on site and worked quickly and enthusiastically. After the back garden project we invited the team back to create a new front garden, and have since recommended them to several friends and neighbours

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Claudia, Crouch End N8
I can’t recommend Duncan and his team highly enough. Creative, professional, and fun to work with. Great design and construction too!

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Gareth, Forest Gate E7
Duncan did an incredible job transforming both the front and back of my terraced house. In the back garden, from a minimal brief (I’m not a designer) he totally understood what I was looking to achieve and managed to create a design that far exceeded my expectations. The results were stunning and incredibly creative, with every detail carefully considered for both space and design. This was crucial in such a small space.

At the front of the house he managed to continue the design scheme from the back, whilst also incorporating more traditional elements, including Victorian tiling. Duncan’s consultative approach to the plants we used was also superb. Again, plants aren’t something that I know anything about, so he very knowledgably talked me through the options, considering both the look but also my need for low maintenance!

The work Duncan has done has totally transformed the feel of the whole house. I look forward to the many years of enjoying the new space!

Duncan was super easy to communicate with, has a very high level of craftsmanship and went above and beyond to get it exactly how I wanted it – even helping advise on the finishing touches – furniture etc. A pleasure to work with. Couldn’t recommend him highly enough

See more

Anthony, Walthamstow E17
The garden is going great three years in and we are loving it - my favourite is the banana tree - it’s become my pet!

See more

Jenny, London Fields E8
Duncan and team did a fantastic job transforming both our front and back garden. The job was professional from start to finish. Courteous, well organised and efficient, the team carried out high standard work, were very responsive to the brief and gave great advice throughout. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

See more

Duncan & Jane, Clapton E5
We were delighted with the work done by Duncan and his team in landscaping our back garden. The project was to landscape around a home office that we had recently had installed incorporating various elements into the design such as a path and a pond. Duncan was very responsive in quickly coming up with a sensible design, which was then implemented to the highest standards and with great attention to detail. I cannot exaggerate how pleased we were with the final result: it blended in the home office, incorporated all the elements we required, and at the same time enhanced the sense of space within the garden.

See more

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Ashley, Hackney Central E9
All of you were so great, professional and kind. I wanted to thank you for listening to my needs and incorporating them into the garden design so well. Your advice and recommendations were perfect. I can’t stop singing your praises for the work you did in my garden. I am very happy and pleased with the craftsmanship and attention to detail. We have been out there a ton and are loving it!

Like Ashley's garden?

Take a look

Juliet, Dalston E8
I count myself as extremely fortunate to have used the services of Duncan and his wonderful team. Duncan listened to my 'dream' of what I had in mind and somehow he was able to untangle my thoughts and create the reality! Duncan, Jack and Dan were fantastic. Punctual, tidy, always considerate, thoughtful and totally professional. The workmanship is exemplary. Living in a small terraced house the work was difficult for them and for me but they were brilliant at being positive and encouraging. These days it's not easy to find a business that does exactly as they've set out to do from start to finish. With such a stunning end result I couldn't be happier.

Like Juliet's garden?

Take a look

Laura, Stoke Newington N16
We had the pleasure of working with Hillman Gardens on both our back and front gardens as part of our Victorian renovation in Stoke Newington, Hackney. Duncan helped us to create an English garden design that was both beautiful and low maintenance, whilst accommodating the needs of grownups and little ones. Duncan was easily able to realise our design ambitions within our budget, whilst adding his own creative flair and planting expertise. His team were a pleasure to have on site and worked quickly and enthusiastically. After the back garden project we invited the team back to create a new front garden, and have since recommended them to several friends and neighbours

Like Laura's garden?

Take a look

Claudia, Crouch End N8
I can’t recommend Duncan and his team highly enough. Creative, professional, and fun to work with. Great design and construction too!

Like Claudia's garden?

Take a look

Gareth, Forest Gate E7
Duncan did an incredible job transforming both the front and back of my terraced house. In the back garden, from a minimal brief (I’m not a designer) he totally understood what I was looking to achieve and managed to create a design that far exceeded my expectations. The results were stunning and incredibly creative, with every detail carefully considered for both space and design. This was crucial in such a small space.

At the front of the house he managed to continue the design scheme from the back, whilst also incorporating more traditional elements, including Victorian tiling. Duncan’s consultative approach to the plants we used was also superb. Again, plants aren’t something that I know anything about, so he very knowledgably talked me through the options, considering both the look but also my need for low maintenance!

The work Duncan has done has totally transformed the feel of the whole house. I look forward to the many years of enjoying the new space!

Duncan was super easy to communicate with, has a very high level of craftsmanship and went above and beyond to get it exactly how I wanted it – even helping advise on the finishing touches – furniture etc. A pleasure to work with. Couldn’t recommend him highly enough

Like Gareth's garden?

Take a look

Anthony, Walthamstow E17
The garden is going great three years in and we are loving it - my favourite is the banana tree - it’s become my pet!

Like Anthony's garden?

Take a look

Jenny, London Fields E8
Duncan and team did a fantastic job transforming both our front and back garden. The job was professional from start to finish. Courteous, well organised and efficient, the team carried out high standard work, were very responsive to the brief and gave great advice throughout. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

Like Jenny's garden?

Take a look

Duncan & Jane, Clapton E5
We were delighted with the work done by Duncan and his team in landscaping our back garden. The project was to landscape around a home office that we had recently had installed incorporating various elements into the design such as a path and a pond. Duncan was very responsive in quickly coming up with a sensible design, which was then implemented to the highest standards and with great attention to detail. I cannot exaggerate how pleased we were with the final result: it blended in the home office, incorporated all the elements we required, and at the same time enhanced the sense of space within the garden.

Like Duncan's garden?

Take a look