Note: This garden was opened in 2018
The client wished to completely renovate the tired, run down and poorly built rear garden and sideway. A request for an informal dining space, fireplace and outdoor lounge area were all high on the list of priorities as well as an improvement to the rear façade of the home.
The rear space was completely transformed into a modern, highly functional outdoor living zone. An undercover alfresco area was created off the boundary and features a built-in fire place, built-in bar-style dining table and bar with a featured recycled timber post to add warmth to the space. “The Australian way of life is now centred around outdoor living, and great alfresco zones allow you to relax and enjoy the outside,” says designer Steve Taylor. “They ‘extend’ the living space.”
Black steel arbour
Connecting to the covered entertaining space is an ingenious design feature – a laser cut black steel arbour that extends across the garden and folds over into a bench seat framed by a tapestry of green. “The idea was that the bench, which has hidden support posts, looks like it is floating on top of the greenery,” says Steve.
The pool was completely gutted and refurbished and features a stylish three-spout contemporary water fountain as a focal point for the internal dining room.
The narrow sideway was completely renovated and features a three panelled light box opposite the formal sitting room and the existing Japanese maples were retained to keep the sense of green. The existing Pittosporum hedge was maintained while new plants were added throughout the remaining spaces.
Indeed, the entire outcome – and the ever-blossoming garden – has surpassed the client’s expectations. “All of my dreams for the backyard have been realised,” she says. “The garden continues to get better and better as time goes on.”