Jeanette Suhr was contacted by a family in need of garden assistance.

The family was a bit lost—they had tried to manage the garden for a couple of years but found it challenging to organize different zones. As landscape designers often say, it’s easy to become “blind” to your own space. During the site visit, the family’s needs were mapped out—who they were and which parts of the garden they used most.

Their two main wishes were a pergola and the use of natural stone. The decision was made to build upon a terrace they had recently constructed.

Jeanette’s design immediately incorporated a pergola and divided the garden into three zones, also playing with the lines already present on the property.

Large Corten steel planters were used for zoning, allowing the family to enjoy a great dining area, a lovely shaded spot under the pergola for the hottest days, and a cozy place for evening gatherings. The last zone extends the terrace around the house, featuring a slate flagstone path. This area is where the last rays of evening sun can be enjoyed.

In this garden, light Oppdal slate was chosen, partly due to the way it absorbs light.

“The slate changes with the daylight, and there’s a fantastic shimmer to the stone. On gray days, it appears more gray, while on sunny days, it has a shimmer-like effect. It’s a fantastic, timeless, and sustainable material that I love to use in my designs.”

The material combination of larch wood, Corten steel, and Oppdal slate is beautiful. It creates striking contrasts, both between the Corten steel and the wood/slate, as well as the hard slate against the softness of the larch wood, which is locally sourced from the area.

The garden was designed with strict divisions, and to soften the design, organically shaped slate flagstones were used to add balance while maintaining harmony with the sharp lines.

A stepping stone path was created leading to the afternoon nook. It was laid out because people naturally tend to take the shortest path. Here, the garden is divided by a large Corten planter, and instead of walking around it, the family can use the stepping stone path as a shortcut through the garden.

Jeanette emphasizes that you shouldn’t be tied to just one area in the garden, but rather make use of all the space. Especially for those living in the north, where there’s limited sun and summer, it’s great to move with the sun throughout the day. The idea behind the extra small slate patio is to allow the family to enjoy the last rays of sunlight in the evening—perhaps around a fire pit for a cozy atmosphere.