Celebrity Gardens Under the Microscope: Design Expert Delivers Verdicts
Celebrities frequently invest millions in their lavish mansions, with manicured gardens often serving as the crowning glory. However, according to a leading homes and gardens expert, even with unlimited budgets, pristine lawns, and high-end furnishings, true style cannot simply be purchased. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Jordana Ashkenazi, founder and design director of Element One House, has assessed the outdoor spaces of numerous stars, evaluating everything from plant choices to furnishings.
Ashkenazi highlighted one surprising indicator of less-than-chic taste: the ubiquitous bi-fold door. Her comprehensive reviews span from Nigella Lawson's fairy-lit oasis to the Beckhams' countryside grounds and Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan's immaculate £3.5 million Essex estate.
Amanda Holden's 'Over the Top' California Dream
Amanda Holden transformed her £7 million Surrey mansion with a 'California-style' garden last summer, employing a team of designers and landscape gardeners. Despite the significant effort and budget, Ashkenazi deemed the result "over the top."
"I'm not sure she's picked the right country for this garden," Ashkenazi commented. "It is a lovely space and clearly very high budget, but it feels a bit OTT for the UK and leans more towards a holiday resort in LA than an English garden. The bi-fold doors in particular verge on tacky. With a £7 million home and that level of spend, you would expect something far more luxurious to properly set the scene."
Verdict: Over the top.
Nigella Lawson's 'Chaotic' Fairy-Tale Retreat
Nigella Lawson's garden features sprawling greenery and twinkling fairy lights, creating a fairylike atmosphere. Ashkenazi described it as feeling "magical rather than try-hard," praising the romantic, intimate ambiance designed for evening use.
However, she noted, "The fairy lights are cute, but overall, the garden does feel a bit chaotic. We have seen that her kitchen can lean towards organised chaos, and that same energy seems to spill out into the garden. Nigella can absolutely afford a beautifully designed outdoor space and a regular gardener, so unless this slightly overgrown look is very intentional, it does leave you wondering whether it has just been left to do its own thing."
Verdict: Chaotic.
Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan's 'Manicured' Yet Flawed Paradise
Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan boast an immaculate lawn, swimming pool, sun loungers, a bridge, and a koi pond at their Essex mansion. Ashkenazi called the lawn "gorgeous and absolutely faultless," but criticised the bi-fold doors as an ill-fitting afterthought.
"They completely don't work with the rest of the property and end up cheapening an otherwise beautiful look," she said. "The pool and sunbeds feel calm, considered, and beautifully laid out. In the UK climate, it does feel more aspirational than practical. I do like the outdoor dining sets, but the furniture legs feel a little too spindly for a space of this scale."
Verdict: Manicured.
Other Star Gardens: From 'Practical' to 'Pristine'
The expert also evaluated several other celebrity gardens:
- Lorraine Kelly: Her garden was dubbed "totally fine" but not luxurious or pretty, with practical, sociable dining space. Verdict: Practical.
- Lisa Snowdon: A pretty, colourful garden with a relaxed feel, but with tired, dated outdoor furniture needing an upgrade. Verdict: Dated.
- Peter Andre: A garden criticised for being grey and thoughtless, with safe, predictable furniture that looks plonked in. Verdict: Thoughtless.
- Geri Halliwell: A calm, classic English garden with understated elegance, though the climbing frame was noted as tired and undersized. Verdict: Charming.
- Alison Hammond: A vast garden with potential, but dominated by dated fencing that detracts from the space. Verdict: Dated.
- Kelly Brook: A whimsical, magical garden with secret garden appeal, though one side appears overgrown and the kitchen door is impractically small. Verdict: Magical.
- David Beckham: A pristine, well-thought-out garden with homegrown produce, praised for being wholesome and thoughtful. Verdict: Pristine.
- Ben Shephard: A simple, wholesome garden focused on usability rather than design, with a neat, lived-in feel. Verdict: Wholesome.
Ashkenazi's analysis reveals that even among the wealthy and famous, garden design success hinges on thoughtful execution, authenticity, and suitability for the British context, rather than mere financial expenditure.
