How to create a luxurious coastal garden according to award-winning designer Sam Ovens

Expert advice for exceptional outdoor spaces

For many homeowners, the garden is one of the biggest opportunities to enhance both the enjoyment and long-term appeal of a holiday home. Yet creating an outdoor space that feels truly special requires more than simply choosing beautiful plants or adding a few features - it requires an understanding of the landscape, architecture and the way guests want to live. In Devon and Cornwall, where gardens are shaped by a mild climate and some of the UK’s most dramatic landscapes, thoughtful design is key to creating spaces that thrive.

In this Q&A, award-winning landscape designer Sam Ovens shares his advice on designing gardens for luxury homes across Devon and Cornwall. From making the most of coastal settings to creating outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed throughout the year, Sam explores how considered design can transform a garden into one of the most rewarding parts of a home.

Use the page links below to navigate the blog post:

The biggest opportunities that homeowners overlook
How to design a garden that complements the landscape
Blending what's resilient and visually striking
Where homeowners should invest first
Style vs substance for outdoor living
Designing gardens to enjoy all year
Luxury doesn't mean high maintenance
Environmentally-conscious planting
Landscape design trends to watch out for
Cornwall homes with stand-out gardens

Working with the South West landscape

"The best gardens don't fight the landscape, they embrace it."

What are the biggest opportunities you see in Devon and Cornwall gardens that homeowners often overlook?

One of the greatest advantages of gardens in Devon and Cornwall is that they're already part of an extraordinary landscape. Whether it's dramatic coastline, rolling countryside or sheltered estuaries, many properties have a natural backdrop that people elsewhere could only dream of. More often than not, gardens here aren't about creating a view, but embracing one.

The South West also benefits from a relatively mild climate, which, in our more sheltered gardens, gives us the opportunity to grow an incredible variety of plants and enjoy outdoor spaces for much longer than many people expect. Homeowners often focus on the house first and see the garden as the finishing touch. But when it's designed well, it becomes one of the most enjoyed parts of the home.
 

Many luxury homes in Cornwall and Devon have incredible views. How do you design a garden that complements the landscape?

The best gardens don't fight the landscape, they embrace it. When a property enjoys exceptional views, the garden should be about drawing those views in. It should act as a transition between the home and the wider landscape rather than trying to become the main attraction.

With contemporary architect-designed homes, it's often about simplicity and restraint. Strong, clean lines, carefully chosen materials and planting that echoes the surrounding environment help blur the boundary between architecture and nature. A successful garden feels as though it belongs to the site, allowing the house and landscape to work together instead of competing for attention. A successful garden shouldn't obviously look designed, it should sit harmoniously within its surroundings.
 

Coastal gardens can be beautiful but challenging. What advice would you give to homeowners looking to create an outdoor space that's both resilient and visually striking?

The key is to lean into the challenges rather than trying to fight them. Salt-laden winds, exposed locations and changing weather all influence how a garden performs, so selecting the right plants and materials from the outset is essential.

On an exposed coastal site, particularly along the North Cornwall coast, the planting palette may be more limited, but that doesn't mean every garden has to look the same or be any less exciting. Rather than relying on a single show-stopping plant, I focus on creating interest through texture, movement and naturalistic planting that responds gracefully to the elements. Durable materials, thoughtful shelter and a planting palette suited to the local environment create gardens that become more beautiful with age rather than requiring constant intervention.

Creating outdoor spaces for modern living

"It's similar to architecture: if the framework is well considered, the finer details naturally elevate the finished result."

Our property Sea Edge in Downderry had its garden brought to life through Sam's eye for coastal planting
 

If someone has recently purchased a premium property in the South West, where would you recommend investing first?

I'd start by investing in the overall structure rather than individual features. The layout, circulation, levels and relationship between the house and garden have the biggest influence on how a space feels and functions. Quality materials that can withstand the elements are equally important.

Once those foundations are right, everything else, from planting to outdoor kitchens and lighting has much greater impact. It's similar to architecture: if the framework is well considered, the finer details naturally elevate the finished result.

Outdoor living has become a huge part of modern homes. Which features genuinely add value and enjoyment, and which trends are style over substance?

For me, successful outdoor living is about creating spaces that people genuinely want to use every day, not simply features that photograph well. Comfortable seating, thoughtful lighting, shelter from the wind, and places to dine or relax with family all add lasting value because they improve the way people experience their home.

I encourage clients to invest in timeless design and quality craftsmanship rather than chasing the latest trend.
 

How do you approach designing gardens that are enjoyed throughout the year, rather than just during summer months?

A successful garden should evolve with the seasons rather than having one brief moment of colour. I think about structure, evergreen planting, winter interest, seasonal textures and how the space feels in every month of the year.

Just as importantly, I think about how people will use the garden throughout the seasons. A sheltered seating area that catches the winter sun, subtle lighting for darker evenings or planting that brings movement and interest in colder months all help create a garden that's just as enjoyable in October as it is in July.
 

Luxury doesn't always have to mean high maintenance. How do you create a garden that’s still manageable for busy homeowners?

True luxury is simplicity and ease of living. A beautiful garden should enrich people's lives, not become another demanding responsibility. Good design can significantly reduce maintenance through intelligent planting, durable materials and practical layouts.

Gardens designed for the future

“A truly exceptional garden feels as though it could only ever belong to that particular place.”

Noordhoek in Porthcothan also received Sam's magic touch. The garden features grasses and plants designed to thrive in its beachfront location. 

How can homeowners embrace biodiversity and environmentally-conscious planting without compromising on beautiful design?

Sustainability and beautiful design should never be viewed as opposing ideas. In fact, the most elegant gardens are often the most environmentally responsible.

Working with nature rather than against it means selecting plants suited to local conditions, encouraging wildlife through diverse planting, improving soil health and managing water thoughtfully. Biodiversity isn't simply about adding wildflowers, it's about creating healthy ecosystems where plants, insects and wildlife support one another. These principles create healthier, more resilient gardens that also happen to be visually richer because they feel alive and connected to their environment. Good ecological design doesn't have to look untidy, it can be refined, sophisticated and highly considered.
 

Looking ahead, which landscape design trends will we see more of across Cornwall and the South West?

I think we'll continue to see a move towards gardens that feel wilder and more connected to the surrounding landscape, rather than highly formal spaces with tightly mown lawns and clipped hedges.

Clients are increasingly looking for authenticity, longevity and quality over novelty. That means more naturalistic planting, sustainable materials, climate-resilient design and outdoor spaces that genuinely support wellbeing. I also think we'll see a greater appreciation for gardens that mature gracefully over time, rather than those designed for immediate impact alone.

If you could give every luxury homeowner in the South West one piece of advice before they begin transforming their garden, what would it be?

Start with a clear vision rather than a collection of individual ideas. A luxury garden isn't defined by expensive features, it's defined by thoughtful design that responds to the character of the property and the landscape around it.

A truly exceptional garden feels as though it could only ever belong to that particular place.

Cornwall homes with stand-out gardens

Left to right: Constantia in Constantine Bay, Red Cove in Mawgan Porth, Ednovean House in Perranuthnoe and Laflouder Thatch in Mullion.

As luxury holiday home experts, we know that exceptional outdoor spaces are every bit as important as beautifully designed interiors. Whether you're dreaming of a wildlife-friendly garden, a sheltered coastal retreat that makes the most of the view, or a colourful cottage garden filled with colour, our Portfolio team can help you make informed decisions.

If you're planning to transform your holiday home's outdoor space, we'd love to help. Get in touch with our team to discover how thoughtful garden design can help your property stand out while creating memorable moments for every guest.

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