There is a distinct magic that happens when high architectural ambition meets the rugged, ancient landscape of the New Forest. For most who settle in this beautiful corner of Hampshire, the design inclination leans toward traditional brick, stone, and classic English cottage gardens. But every so often, we encounter clients with a completely different frequency in mind—a vision that looks past the native oak canopies and sets its sights firmly on the sun-bleached, laid-back luxury of the Balearic Islands.
When Andy Meredith, founder of the bespoke design-and-build firm Nixor Build, first pulled up to this particular property back in 2021, a Mediterranean paradise was probably the furthest thing from anyone’s mind. What sat on the plot was a classic, unaltered 1970s bungalow. It was dark, deeply disconnected from its landscape, and structurally uninspiring—the quintessential “ugly duckling,” as Andy fondly recalls.
Yet, where others saw a dated footprint, the homeowners saw a blank canvas. Equipped with exacting standards and a clear refusal to settle for the ordinary, they embarked on a multi-phase transformation alongside Nixor Build and for phase two Forest Stone.
The goal? To break the rules of local design and bring a slice of authentic Ibiza garden inspiration directly to Lymington. With Phase 1 of the property build complete and Phase 2’s extensive hard landscaping well underway, we sat down on-site with Andy to tour this spectacular home and discover how premium mediterranean limestone paving is turning a New Forest garden into a world-class outdoor sanctuary.
Phase 1: From 1970s Bungalow to Split-Level Marvel
To appreciate the scale of the garden renovation currently taking shape, you first have to understand the architectural rebirth of the house itself. Turning a flat, single-story bungalow into a commanding, two-story luxury home requires a rare blend of engineering grit and design finesse.
Nixor Build began by completely gutting the original structure and extending upward and outward. In the single story extension they created spectacular, double-height vaulted ceilings, complete with massive structural architectural beams embellished in rich, natural oak. The back of the home was blown open with vast expanses of structural glass, intentionally positioned to capture the shifting, luminous New Forest light.
Inside, the home now revolves around a dramatic split-level kitchen, diner, and living space. “We are incredibly fortunate with the clients we work with,” Andy says, reflecting on the build. “They have an incredible eye for detail and a genuine desire to push boundaries when it comes to the final finishes. It’s not just about spending money; it’s about having a clear sense of direction and a willingness to collaborate to find the right material for the job.”
The Floating Wine Wall: A Masterclass in Custom Design
Nowhere is that collaborative spirit more evident than in one of the home’s standout interior features: a custom-fabricated wine wall.
During the design phase, the homeowner, Krisztina, showed Andy an obscure image of an art studio where objects appeared suspended in mid-air on wires. Her brief to Andy was beautifully simple: “Make it so.”
The team needed to install a structural balustrade to safely separate the split level between the kitchen and the lower living room. Rather than building a standard solid wall or a predictable glass sheet, Andy worked closely with a specialist metal fabricator to create a jaw-dropping partition made of high-tension cables and structural glass.
On these cables, premium wine bottles sit suspended in mid-air. When night falls and the custom architectural lighting kicks in, the entire wall glows, casting a warm, atmospheric ambiance across the open-plan space. It’s functional, completely bespoke, and brilliantly playful—a design ethos that flows directly out of the glass doors and into the garden.
Phase 2: Designing an Ibiza-Inspired Outdoor Sanctuary
With the structural envelope of the house complete, the homeowners shifted their focus to the great outdoors. They didn’t want a traditional manicured lawn or standard patio flags; they wanted a cohesive extension of their living space that mirrored the effortless, bohemian luxury of a Mediterranean resort.
When looking for mediterranean paving solutions, the design parameters were clear. The materials needed to be:
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Textural and Organic: Evoking the sun-baked, tactile surfaces found in coastal Spanish villas.
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Light and Luminous: Enhancing the daylight without causing blinding glare on bright summer days.
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Completely Seamless: Erasing the boundary between the internal split levels and the external landscape.
Sourcing with Forest Stone: A Consultative Partnership
At Forest Stone, we don’t believe in simply checking out pallets of stone from a warehouse. We are family-run and unashamedly obsessed with paving—specifically, what natural stone can do to completely alter the mood and potential of a home. When Andy brought the homeowners down to our Southampton yard, our goal wasn’t to sell them a product; it was a collaborative exploration of design ethos, texture, tone, and longevity.
Originally, the clients were heavily leaning toward a porcelain paving tile, having used it successfully in past properties. Porcelain is fantastic, but given the specific bohemian, rustic charm required for this Lymington build, Andy and the master hard landscapers at PD Groundscape suggested they explorer our natural limestone collections.
The moment the homeowners saw and felt the stone in person under natural light, the decision was easy. The material spoke for itself.
The Stone Selection: Crafting the Balearic Palette
To achieve an authentic look that feels like it was plucked from the hills of San Antonio or Santa Eulària, the design utilizes a carefully curated palette of premium natural stones, mixed across different formats to create architectural interest.
| Material | Application | Design Purpose |
| Lymington Dune Limestone Slabs | Main Terraces & Pool Copings | Provides a smooth, sun-bleached, sandy foundation that stays cool underfoot. |
| Lymington Dune Herringbone Pavers | Feature Zones & Transition Paths | Adds sharp, architectural geometry and high-end residential tailoring. |
| Lymington Beige Coach House Cladding | Retaining Walls & Level Changes | Delivers the rugged, multi-textured, ancient look of traditional Mediterranean dry-stone walling. |
Lymington Dune Limestone: The Foundation of Light
The backbone of the entire garden design is our Lymington Dune Limestone. It is a stunning natural stone featuring a slightly textured surface and a beautiful, muted sandy palette that perfectly mimics the sun-drenched coastal stone of the mediterranean.
Crucially, this stone undergoes a specialized acid-etching process during manufacturing. This subtle treatment opens up the grain of the limestone, giving it a soft, slightly ruffled matte texture that offers excellent slip resistance too.
For a family with young children building a large swimming pool, safety was non-negotiable. The Lymington Dune provides the ultimate peace of mind: it allows kids to run freely around wet pool edges without much risk of slipping, all while maintaining a luxurious, high-end finish that feels incredible under bare feet.
Textural Contrast: Herringbone and Coach House Cladding
A common mistake in large-scale garden design is using a single material in the same format across every zone, which can leave a space looking flat and institutional. To avoid this, Nixor Build integrated distinct texture changes across the garden’s layout.
The main seating terraces flow out from the house, but as you move through the garden zones and transitions, the layout shifts into a striking herringbone pattern using Lymington Dune Pavers. This geometric change guides the eye through the space and defines different outdoor “rooms” without requiring physical barriers. The pavers here used to denote the outdoor dining space next to the outdoor kitchen.
To handle the structural level changes across the garden, the team selected our Lymington Beige Coach House Cladding. These hand-finished, tumbled pieces of limestone introduce an authentic, Mediterranean charm. They break up the clean lines of the large-format slabs, adding a rugged, characterful look to the retaining walls. This type of cladding stone works so well here as it really channels the stone walls found in the Balearic Islands – enhancing the Ibiza vibes.
The Anatomy of the Dream Garden
Step out onto the first completed terrace section, and the true scale of this multi-level playground begins to reveal itself. This garden is being constructed as a series of experiential zones, each designed for a specific mode of outdoor living.
1. The Micro-Cement Outdoor Kitchen
Currently under construction by the skilled crew at Nixor Build, the outdoor kitchen is set to be an integral part of this garden. The structure is framed with heavy-duty cement board and will be fully finished in a sleek, seamless micro-cement, offering an industrial contrast to the organic limestone flooring.
The homeowners have selected high-spec integrated appliances to fill the space, including:
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A premium Kamado ceramic charcoal grill for slow roasting and smoking.
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Integrated outdoor refrigeration and a streamlined sink unit.
Positioned right on the main terrace, it ensures the cook is always at the center of the party. And that food will be at the heart of gatherings at this property. The cupboard doors are specified to be from an Indonesian hardwood to give the bohemian feels.
2. The 10m x 4m Swimming Pool
The ultimate centerpiece of the Ibiza vibe is a massive 10-meter swimming pool, surrounded entirely by custom-cut Lymington Dune pool copings (to be constructed from our material by PD Groundscapes). The pool features a fully integrated raised sundeck at one end and a “swim-up deck”, creating the distinct feeling of a private boutique hotel.
3. The Treehouse Sauna & Garden Studio
Tucked away into the rear of the plot, where the garden meets a canopy of mature trees, Nixor Build is constructing a wellness zone. Perched up among the leaves on structural timber stilts will sit a panoramic Finnish sauna—slightly hidden from view, offering an isolated escape from daily life. Balancing the opposite side of the lawn will be a contemporary architectural garden studio, serving as a quiet home office and garden room.
Site Access Logistics: Cutting a Pool in Four Pieces
While the final film portrays a calm working day, getting to this point has required some seriously heavy lifting and critical thinking around logistics.
“One thing people won’t easily see from the footage is the sheer logistical complexity of this site,” Andy explains with a grin. “Access is tight, the moves have to be precise, and moving bulk materials in and out of this secluded Lymington plot requires absolute military precision and careful thought.”
The swimming pool itself, sourced from the innovative team at One Pools, provided the ultimate logistical puzzle. Typically delivered as a massive, single-piece pre-molded shell, the tight access lanes of the property made a standard delivery entirely impossible.
The solution? The pool was custom-fabricated as a solid structure in the factory and then deliberately cut into four individual modular pieces for transport.
Once the ground works team completes the extensive deep-hole excavation, a heavy-duty crane will lift the four segments over the property lines. Once dropped into position, specialist technicians will weld the structure back together, remold the protective GRP skin, and finish the internal tiling on-site. It’s a complex engineering feat happening right beneath the surface of what will eventually look like a tranquil paradise.
Sourcing the Vision
At Forest Stone, there is nothing we love more than watching a project evolve from the early, chaotic days of diggers and raw earth up to the breathtaking moment the final stone is cleaned ready to hand over to the client. This collaboration with Nixor Build and PD Groundscape represents everything we stand for: a passion for sourcing beautiful, responsibly extracted materials that empower creative designers and landscapers to build without limits.
If you are looking for mediterranean garden inspiration for your own property, remember that the secret lies in the interplay of light, layout, and texture. Don’t be afraid to mix your formats, embrace the organic variations of natural limestone, and choose materials that are built to weather beautifully for decades to come.
We will be returning to this spectacular Lymington property later in the year to check in on Andy, Paul, and the team as the pool shell lands and the outdoor kitchen comes online. Stay tuned to our channels for the next episode of this incredible New Forest transformation.
Watch the Full Feature Film
Want to see the site walkthrough, explore the split-level house design, and hear the full interview with Andy Meredith firsthand? Watch our long-form project film below:
Are you planning an extension or a complete garden redesign? Whether you are dreaming of clean, large-format porcelain or the rustic warmth of natural Mediterranean stone, pop down to our Southampton yard or get in touch with our team today. Let’s pave your way.
