Consider the impact a garden gate can make when it’s beautiful, functional and perfectly at home in its setting. More than just an entryway, a well-designed gate helps establish and emphasize a garden’s style, whether grand and formal or simple and welcoming. Crowned with a lush bower of vines in bloom, it exudes gentle, old-world charm. Fashioned from wrought iron and flanked by stone pillars, it speaks of roses, fountains and clipped boxwood hedges. Likewise, a gate can be designed for privacy and security or can offer tantalizing glimpses of the sanctuary within.
Historically, garden gates were made of iron or wood, but today’s gardener can choose any material that’s sturdy and sufficiently waterproof. Glass, copper piping, driftwood, bamboo, sheet metal and recycled material all lend themselves to one-of-a-kind creations. A gate crafted of reclaimed wood gives the garden instant rustic flair, while one built around an old iron bed frame hints at whimsy, innovation and a touch of mischief.
A successful gate also complements the style of other elements in its setting, including the fence and architecture of the house. It is a garden’s grace note, often the first feature to greet and delight visitors, and the last to send them on their way.
[1] Dutch Black paint and brass numbers give this Dutch door and its sturdy arbour a formal elegance. The full- or half-door option can either usher guests to the diminutive patio beyond or shield the garden from the nearby street.
[2] French door Bought for $10 at a local flea market, this French door, with its glass panes still intact, separates a tenant’s cozy container garden from the homeowner’s yard. The open design of the door and lattice fence creates a sense of enclosure while still allowing views from adjoining spaces.
[3] Crows The graceful inward curve of the fence makes this gate a focal point and—along with the trim and colour scheme of the square pickets—captures the look of Victorian garden architecture. Carved crow-shaped finials add a gothic touch and playfully hint at the
abundance of these feathered friends in the neighbourhood.
[4] Banas Carved out of yellow cedar, the intricate pattern on this front gate (which faces into the yard so it can be admired from the porch and garden) was inspired by a bench at a Mexican resort. The handsome wrought-iron latch complements the solidity of the design.
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