Celebrity gardens ranked from tacky to tasteful: From a TV presenter’s ‘over the top’ LA-inspired lawn to a chef’s magical but ‘chaotic’ space

Celebrities are known for splashing the cash on their lavish mansions worth millions – and for many, a manicured garden is the pièce de résistance.

But despite their impressive budgets, pristine lawns, and high-end garden furniture, style cannot be bought.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, a homes and gardens expert has delivered her verdict on stars’ outdoor space – from plants to furnishings and the biggest indicator your tastes are less than chic: bi-fold doors.

Her verdicts include Nigella Lawson’s outdoor oasis adorned with fairy lights, the Beckhams’ countryside grounds, and Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan’s immaculate lawn at the back of their £3.5million Essex mansion.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jordana Ashkenazi, founder and design director of Element One House, revealed which stars know how to keep their gardens sophisticated (and the ones who don’t).

Amanda Holden  

Jordana: I’m not sure she’s picked the right country for this garden. It is a lovely space and clearly very high budget, but it feels a bit OTT for the UK and leans more towards a holiday resort in LA than an English garden. 

The bi-fold doors in particular verge on tacky, and with a £7million home and that level of spend, you would expect something far more luxurious to properly set the scene.

VERDICT: Over the top

Nigella Lawson

Jordana: This feels magical rather than try-hard. The fairy lights are layered and softly woven through the space, giving it a romantic, intimate feel instead of tipping into novelty.

It looks like a garden designed for evening use, not just photographed, and that’s what makes it feel so charming and timeless.

The fairy lights are cute, but overall, the garden does feel a bit chaotic. We have seen that her kitchen can lean towards organised chaos, and that same energy seems to spill out into the garden.

Nigella can absolutely afford a beautifully designed outdoor space and a regular gardener, so unless this slightly overgrown look is very intentional, it does leave you wondering whether it has just been left to do its own thing.

VERDICT: Chaotic

Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan

Jordana: The lawn is gorgeous and absolutely faultless. It’s pristine, manicured and picture-perfect.

But what on earth is going on with the bi-fold doors? They feel like an afterthought, as if someone forgot to design that part of the house and just decided to throw something in. They completely don’t work with the rest of the property and end up cheapening an otherwise beautiful look. With a house like this, you’d assume a designer was involved, and even if not, a quick glance would tell you that these simply do not fit.

It looks really lovely, and the view is gorgeous. The pool and sunbeds feel calm, considered, and beautifully laid out, and there’s nothing to fault visually. That said, in the UK climate, it does feel more aspirational than practical, and you do wonder how often it gets used rather than simply admired.

I do like Mark Wright’s outdoor dining sets, and everything blends nicely. The only issue is that the legs on the furniture feel a little too spindly for a space of this scale.

With such a large garden, it could easily handle something chunkier and more substantial. As it is, the pieces come across slightly flimsy rather than grounding the space.

VERDICT: Manicured  

Lorraine Kelly

Jordana: This is totally fine. It’s a nice enough colour, and it does exactly what it needs to do. 

It doesn’t feel particularly luxurious or pretty, and it is a bit bulky, but it’s practical, comfortable, and clearly designed for relaxed, sociable dining rather than making a design statement.

Using a rug as a cushion on decking always feels a bit confusing. It’s trying to add softness and texture, but outdoors, it just looks impractical and slightly forced rather than relaxed or considered.

Verdict: Practical

Lisa Snowdon

Jordana: The garden looks pretty, full of greenery and colour, and it has a relaxed, natural feel. The only issue is that the planting does feel like it has started to take over the lawn and could do with being cut back a little.

She may be going for a rustic look, but the outdoor table and chairs feel very tired and dated… they could do with an upgrade rather than looking like they are on their last legs.

Verdict: Dated

Peter Andre

Jordana: I’m going to have to call it. It’s grey on grey, and it just looks like the colour has been pumped in everywhere without much thought.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with B&Q, but for someone like Peter Andre, I would have expected something more stylish and considered.

The furniture feels safe and predictable, a bit bulky and dated, and it looks like the tables, chairs and hot tub have simply been plonked in rather than properly designed into the space.

Verdict: Thoughtless 

Geri Halliwell

Jordana: This feels very calm and considered. The clipped planting and stone backdrop give it a classic English garden feel that is understated rather than showy.

It’s elegant, relaxed and timeless, and the whole space feels designed to be enjoyed quietly rather than to impress.

The climbing frame does look a bit tired and on the small side. Given the size of the garden, you would expect something far more impressive or adventurous, rather than something that feels slightly undersized for the space. It works, but it definitely feels like a missed opportunity to do something really amazing.

This is pure English country garden charm. The flowers she is growing are absolutely gorgeous and feel very authentic rather than styled for show.

It’s really refreshing to see someone embracing something so outdoorsy and real, especially when so much of life is spent glued to phones and social media. Her garden looks calm, beautiful, and genuinely relaxing, and honestly, I’d happily take a weekend invitation. Geri, call me.

Verdict: Charming 

Alison Hammond

Jordana: The garden has loads of space and potential, but the fencing feels very dated. 

With so many finishes available now, the colour and style look straight out of 1988, and you do find yourself wondering if it has somehow made a comeback. 

With a garden this size, it could have been something really special, but instead, the view is dominated by fencing and brick rather than anything calm or considered.

Verdict: Dated

Kelly Brook

Jordana: One part of the garden looks and feels like a secret garden, and it’s absolutely gorgeous and magical. It’s the sort of place where you just want to sit on a summer’s day and read a book.

The other side of the garden, with the wildflowers, does look more like an overgrown field, which will appeal to some, but it’s very much a contrast to the more romantic, tucked away areas.

While the door to the kitchen is gorgeous and magical, it looks like it’s been there since the beginning of time – and like it’s on the verge of falling apart.

I do wonder how a tall person gets in without bending in half, and there’s a very real risk of bumping your head straight into a load of roses on the way through. Beautiful, yes, but someone needs to cut those thorns before it turns into an obstacle course.

Verdict: Magical

David Beckham

Jordana: It looks pristine. The layout is fantastic, and everything feels well thought through, right down to the practical details.

It’s also really refreshing to see someone growing their own produce. In a time when people are increasingly questioning what’s in supermarket food, this feels wholesome, thoughtful and genuinely important as well as beautiful.

Verdict: Pristine 

Ben Shephard

Jordana: This feels very wholesome and unfussy. The lawn is neat and well-kept, but it’s more practical than polished, with the focus clearly on usability rather than design.

It’s pleasant and lived-in, but not particularly styled, which suits the relaxed, family-garden feel.

Verdict: Wholesome