Callum Ward, 25, joined Shaun Malik, 56, to create beautiful gardens and functional outdoor spaces across Yorkshire.
Callum has worked as a model since the age of 16, winning concerts for big brands such as Zara, Tom Ford and Lacoste.
He found solace in landscaped gardens while living in the capital, such as the Pergola Gardens at Hampstead Heath and the Kyoto Garden at Holland Park.
When work dried up during the pandemic, he traded in his busy life in London for Calverley’s calmer pace with his wife and toddler.
“I didn’t have a garden myself, of course, like no one else in London,” Callum told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“When I came back here, I had a beautiful garden that had been destroyed over the years because no one had taken care of it. I started doing it again and experimenting with ideas, and Shaun noticed it.
“Before you knew it, it became my job – it was a natural and easy progression.”
Shaun has 20 years of experience as a garden designer and his company, Shaun’s Outside, offers a complete design and build package – from planting the seed of a new idea to overseeing the smallest details of the construction. .
He praised his son-in-law for bringing new ideas to his designs, helping the company meet growing customer demands during the pandemic.
Shaun said, “It rekindled that passion so you don’t stagnate as a business. It advances ideas and because we are gender and we get along anyway.
“All of a sudden we’re being asked to work more on a project that we initially thought was one job. We don’t feel like a boss and a worker, we are a team.”
The pandemic presented many challenges for independent businesses, but Shaun’s Outside was busier than ever during the shutdowns as people sought to use their outdoor spaces.
“It has definitely changed what people expect from their gardens,” Shaun added.
“It’s a form of therapy, people have fun and are more interested in plants.
“But people also want more usable space because they don’t go out a lot – vegetable gardens, bars and pizza ovens. A little more fun and space to get together with family.
“We create dreams.”
Shaun and his team create a bespoke design for each project, tailored to the needs of the household.
They are currently working for a family with three teenage children, demolishing a garage to create a garden room in which they can retire.
“I’m starting to see the whole process, which I’m very grateful for,” Callum said.
“We design for lifestyles, making gardens work and work well for a family. Every family needs a different garden. As a designer, you can push and change things as people’s lives change.
“If a design is too unique, you can miss out on opportunities. We were building a wall the other day and spotted an opportunity to install a wall seat. If you’re just a designer or just a builder, you won’t notice it.
“We are really making an impact. “
You can check out previous projects and find more information about Shaun’s Outside website and Facebook page.
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