From Wish List to Smart Garden Design: An Edible City Garden for the Whole Family (24 m²)

If you’re a family of four putting together a wish list for your garden, it can quickly turn into a long list. But what if you only have a small garden to work with? Then you’ll need to use the available space wisely. Landscape designer Kim-Lan from Studio Jong Baw showed that a small garden doesn’t have to feel small. By cleverly combining functions, creating different areas, and consciously incorporating greenery, she created an edible urban garden that suits the family and the way they want to live outdoors.

Tanne and her family’s tiled garden in Culemborg was in need of a makeover. They wanted to enjoy their garden more, but weren’t quite sure where to start. How do you translate all your wishes into a design that actually works in such a small space?

That's why they enlisted the help of landscape designer Kim-Lan. We asked garden owner Tanne how the design process went and what she thinks of the final result.

Why This Garden Requested a Design

We decided to hire a landscape designer because we weren't quite sure how to incorporate all of our ideas into our small garden.

Last summer, I attended a friend’s baby shower, where I met Kim-Lan from Studio Jong Baw. We were really impressed by the fact that she designs gardens with an ecological perspective. We believe it’s very important to take care of the world around us.

Actually, we wanted to renovate the kitchen, but our garden was also on our to-do list. And there was no harm in having a garden design drawn up in advance, right? That way, we’d have something to dream about…

the previous situation

From Initial Ideas to a Suitable Garden Design

The design process began with our wishes and ideas, after which Kim-Lan translated them into a concrete plan for our garden.

She created a really beautiful design for our little garden. When she presented it to us, we were so excited that we forgot all about the kitchen and jumped right into the hydrangea project. Besides, when you’re tackling your very first renovation with two small children, it’s best to start outside, right? The garden was just landscaped in the spring of 2026, so everything still has plenty of time to grow!

the design

The 24 m² puzzle: finding a place for everything

Our wish list actually had quite a few items on it for such a small garden.

Our garden isn’t big, but our ambitions certainly were. We wanted a garden that would truly be an extension of the house. Our living room opens onto the garden and has lots of windows, so we wanted to see plenty of greenery. A cozy spot for the whole family to eat, of course, and a play area for the kids. We thought it would be wonderful to pick fruit from our own garden. We also needed to find a solution for the heat.

While more privacy was our main priority for the front yard, we wanted our backyard to be a playful space that didn’t look too contrived. And ideally, we wanted flowers in warm colors with lots of lovely scents.

What design choices made the difference?

In hindsight, the design made it possible to fulfill many more of our wishes than we had initially thought.

It has everything we ever wanted. Kim-Lan told us there were more possibilities than we thought, and she really showed that in the design. She also did a great job of capturing our style, even though we didn’t know exactly what we wanted ourselves. We even have two seating areas in the backyard and lots of edible plants. The jasmine still needs a little time to grow, but once the pergola is covered with it, we’ll have shelter and more privacy by the lounge area and the play area.

During our first meeting, she described the garden as a place where there’s something to discover, but that didn’t seem possible in our small garden. But it was! The children’s play area is hidden behind the largest flower bed in the backyard and the pear tree. While they play, they can snack on blackberries and gooseberries.

The biggest surprise: a tree in a small garden

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the pear tree.

My husband and I definitely didn’t want a tree before we met Kim-Lan. We thought our yard would be too small for one, but we’re so glad she included the tree in the plan anyway. And now we’re both completely in love with it. The morning the landscaper showed up at the door and said, “I’ve got a 5-meter tree with me,” I had to take a moment to process it. But it’s a really beautiful, airy tree. It’s even growing pears already! It’s now truly the centerpiece of the garden, and the kids can’t wait for the pears to ripen so we can make pear sauce and juice.

The garden feels like a gift

We’ve spent a lot of time there over the past few days with the warm weather and have often eaten outside. And, not least: the garden has been given the thumbs-up by our strict Board of Supervisors—the kids!

For Tanne and her family, the garden has turned out exactly as they hoped: a place to spend time together, play, eat, and enjoy the greenery. Despite the limited space, the garden doesn't feel small because its various functions and areas are cleverly connected.

The garden was designed by Kim-Lan Jong Baw of Studio Jong Baw, and the landscaping was carried out by Puper Hoveniers. The photos were taken by Tanne herself shortly after the landscaping was completed. The garden will continue to grow and develop over the coming months.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out many more small gardens in My Little Garden or read more about Landscape Design and Landscaping