Inner Gardens, led by celebrity landscape designer and antiques dealer Stephen Block, proudly positions itself as a one-stop destination for artful pieces that elevate both the home and the garden. Block prioritizes the wabi-sabi principle, the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete, at the center of all his work. “Wabi Sabi is where my heart lives,” says Block. “Nothing is perfect except the imperfect. It informs all of my decisions. It’s what makes us human.”

I love elements, objects, trees, and plants that have a past, a soul. These elements have to speak to me. If they don’t, then my heart doesn’t move. Clearly, all parts of the garden won’t have that depth of connection but the major elements will speak to me. If not, I may not feel satisfied.” Block constantly works to transform garden spaces “from ordinary to extraordinary,” and has created designs for notable figures such as Elton John, Ellen Pompeo, Soho House, and more.

Block emphasizes that achieving a true garden oasis hinges on creating a sense of comfort and tranquility tailored to the client. “A richness, a calm, a fullness should be evident. If the details of the garden live within these parameters, it will feel [like] a place they want to inhabit.” For this sense of tranquility and balance to be present, Block recommends utilizing mature, aged pieces and plantings in a garden. “Trees should be as old as can be found; not perfect, but a little worn.

Objects such as fire pits or fountains should show their age; a few cracks and bruises are required. Some old layers of paint create interest. The danger of having everything new and perfect on the interior and the exterior just feels like something is missing, that would be a soul,” he says, also noting that the scale of the landscaping is crucial right off the bat. A luxury home requires a luxurious garden, which entails lush, large-scale trees and bountiful shrubs, without excess dirt or mulch. “The worst thing you can say to a luxury client is ‘it will grow in’ They are usually impatient, like us all.”

Creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces is often a top priority in outdoor design. While matching the overall aesthetic of a home can be challenging, Block has reliable techniques to simplify the process. One of his go-to strategies is incorporating the same materials in the exterior design as those used inside, ensuring a cohesive and harmonious flow. “Carry the same stone from the interior through the exterior. Open the exterior space to the interior with sliding steel doors that make the exterior and interior as one,” he suggests. “I always like to use interior plants that are linked to the exterior to further connect the two spaces. Exterior planters and objects can be used in the interior as well to keep it all connected.”