Garden staircases in Sevenoaks. The gardens are rarely flat, so we build the way down.

Sevenoaks gardens

The town sits on the Greensand Ridge, and the gardens off Kippington, Hollybush Lane and the roads around Knole Park drop away sharply behind the house. Many have a terrace at house level and a lawn several metres below reached by steps that were never designed, just accumulated. These are the gardens where a split-level staircase with proper landings changes how the whole plot is used.

What works here

Larger, planted gardens suit a dark green or anthracite paint finish, which sits quietly among borders, and curved or dog-leg flights that follow the contour rather than cutting straight across it. Where the house is Edwardian or earlier and the garden is more formal, a powder-coated dark grey with vertical balusters sits comfortably against brick and tile. The ridge is sandstone under a thin soil, so we check the ground at the survey and size foundations to suit.

Conservation areas

Parts of Sevenoaks, Riverhead and the surrounding villages are conservation areas. Steps within a garden are usually still permitted development, but we confirm it for each address before drawings are issued.

Nearby

Otford, Kemsing, Westerham, Brasted, Tonbridge, Hildenborough and the villages towards Ightham.

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