Ilkley News

Outdoor Living Garden Collective: Where Luxury Garden Design Meets Imagination

11 Jun 2026

In the thriving Leeds Road area of Ilkley, the Outdoor Living Garden Collective showroom, is a destination for anyone seeking luxury garden inspiration, design and build, alongside furnishing, styling and maintenance.

At the helm is John Tallis, a young entrepreneur whose passion for gardening began with his grandfather and later developed through his degree in Landscape Art at Leeds Beckett.

“We realised there was a real gap in luxury outdoor design,” John explains. “People had incredible ideas, but execution often fell short. Premium materials were scattered across countless suppliers. We wanted to bring it all together in one seamless process.”

John set up Outdoor Living Gardens in 2022 in the Halifax area and over the years it has grown into a team of seven, with John leading design and build.

“I understand both design and build, so I only create something I know can be realised,” he says. “Every project starts with a no-obligation conversation. We want to uncover possibilities clients may never have imagined.”

After initially renting office space at the Broughton Estate, John has now found the perfect location for the first showroom under the Outdoor Living Garden Collective brand in Ilkley, which opened on 25 July 2025. The space is welcoming, dog-friendly and perfectly suited to showcase the company’s work. Homeowners can explore products, services and design ideas and chat directly with the team about potential projects.

“We believe gardens should be an extension of your home, a space you can enjoy all year round,” John says. “With the opening of the showroom, it brings that vision to life and gives prospective clients a place to come and be inspired.”

The process at Outdoor Living Garden Collective begins with discovery and vision, a deep consultation to understand lifestyle, aesthetic preferences and spatial challenges. Concept development follows, balancing imagination with the practical realities of each site. Design refinement involves detailed plans, 3D visualisations and careful material specification. Finally, the complete documentation ensures every element can be built exactly as intended.

John and his team also specialise in garden rooms and bespoke sheds, often integrating these structures into their designs. Their approach blends heritage with innovation, sourcing the finest materials and collaborating with specialist partners to create stunning results. “The most important thing is making sure the right people are doing the right job,” John says.

John’s reputation in the industry is outstanding. Recognised in Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation as part of the Class of 2020, he has contributed to award-winning show gardens at the Malvern Spring Festival, the BBC Gardeners World Live at the NEC and the Chelsea Flower Show. His unique strength is his ability to design and build or collaborate with other designers to bring complex visions to life.

John is also a board member of the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA), a nationwide organisation that supports and promotes young professionals across the horticultural industry. His involvement reflects a commitment not only to delivering exceptional gardens but also to helping shape the future of the profession by encouraging the next generation of talent.

Sara Leaning, the business manager, has been with John since their days at a landscape company in Harrogate. Together they coordinate and manage every project to ensure vision and quality are never compromised.

As seen on BBC Gardeners’ World and featured in leading RHS design publications, the Outdoor Living Garden Collective is redefining outdoor luxury. For clients in north and west Yorkshire, it offers a combination of imaginative design, impeccable execution and the reassurance that every detail has been considered.