SECRET GARDENS DESIGN
BY CAROLYN GROHMANN
Secret Gardens Design was formed in 2000 and is run by Carolyn and her partner Robin Torrie.
Carolyn was born in Edinburgh into a family of keen gardeners. She grew up in Inveresk village on the outskirts of Edinburgh surrounded by beautiful gardens including the National Trust’s Inveresk Lodge. She became a garden designer after completing a Ph.D. in European History. Her design style is firmly rooted in creating sustainable gardens which enhance biodiversity and are gentle on the environment.
Robin has worked in landscaping since 2006, initially working for himself and then as the manager of the landscape section of the award winning landscape and water features specialist, Water Gems. He has taught on the Landscape Architecture Masters course at Edinburgh University and most of the award winning gardens on this website were built under his expert guidance. Robin now divides his time between Secret Gardens and Luths, an engineering consultancy specialising in sustainable design and energy efficiency.
WHAT WE CHARGE
What we charge is dependent on the nature of your project. Our fees may be charged as a percentage of the total construction cost of the project, as fixed fees or at an hourly rate. As every project is unique do please contact us to discuss your requirements.
WHAT WE DO
GARDEN DESIGN, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, PLANTING
Carolyn’s designs range from small courtyard spaces to large country gardens. She provides a full design service including overseeing the construction and planting of each garden. Increasingly she works alongside architects as part of the wider design team as clients seek to ensure the design and functionality of their garden matches that of their house.
Carolyn seeks elegant solutions to practical problems and creates peaceful gardens which give pleasure and solace in an often abrasive world. Her gardens are rich in planting with a contemporary twist to structures and hard-landscaping features.