Reflecting on being part of the Chelsea Flower Show 2025
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 was a landmark moment for Austin Design Works. After Rachael Austin’s design was selected by the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers (SGLD) for their trade stand, we embarked on a journey that would challenge, inspire, and ultimately celebrate everything we love about garden and landscape design. Now that the dust (and soil) has settled, we’re reflecting on what this extraordinary experience meant to us - and how it felt to be awarded an incredible four-star award by the RHS.
From mood board to reality
The concept for the stand was always ambitious - a theatrical journey through garden design, unfolding in three stages: fantasy, design, and reality. It began with a whimsical, hand-drawn woodland inspired by the nursery rhyme Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, moved into a zone that celebrated the precision and creativity of the design process, and ended in a dreamy garden scene under an arch of roses and festoon lights.
When people saw photos of the finished stand, many were astonished at how perfectly it matched our original sketches and mood boards. That reaction was deeply rewarding, because this is exactly what we do as architects and landscape designers - we bring visions to life. But as Rachael herself admits, when she first got the call from SGLD to say she’d won, her first thought was: “Oh no… now I actually have to build it!”
Above: the design taking shape from models and drawings to installation at Chelsea and the completed stand.
A passionate community
One of the most striking parts of the Chelsea experience was the sense of camaraderie on site. From the moment we arrived to install the stand, it felt like one big family. Everyone we met was there because they truly love what they do - whether it was designers we’ve long admired, or newer talents like Charlotte Harris, who won Best Show Garden in 2023. The atmosphere was one of mutual respect, passion, and pride in every detail.
Chelsea also reaffirmed our core belief in the value of quality craftsmanship. From the way each wooden step was expertly joined to maximise longevity, to the perfect harmony between planting and hard landscaping, every detail mattered. And it showed. The care, precision, and quiet brilliance of the makers and growers behind the show was truly inspiring.
Our thanks and looking forward
Receiving a four-star award from the RHS was the perfect recognition of all the hard work, creativity and care that went into bringing the stand to life. It was a huge collaborative effort and a journey we won’t forget.
We would like to thank every collaborator, maker, grower, and creative behind this project. A special thanks to Jenny Bowers for her enchanting illustrations, and to David and Elly Austin for their tireless help during the construction phase.
Chelsea was more than an opportunity to showcase a design - it was a chance to connect. To share stories, learn from others, and be part of a wider celebration of gardens and those who love them. We left the show energised, inspired, and more committed than ever to creating thoughtful, beautiful, lasting design.
