Innholdsfortegnelse for 2017 i Decks, Pergolas & Patios

When your only outdoor space is a small courtyard, there are multiple design challenges to overcome. The main conundrum faced here, however, was how to create an outdoor living area that looked good from every angle. As the area is visible from all parts of the home, the owners wanted the boundary wall to become a feature. Plants, storage, seating for up to eight people and a table also had to be incorporated. Adds Susanna Truccolo of H20 Designs: “The owners wanted water to be incorporated into the table too, but they weren’t sure how to achieve this so they approached us.” Taking all of this onboard, H20 Designs came up with an innovative and contemporary design for the courtyard. “The key design feature is the water table, which has…

While a backyard of hard-packed clay and rubble would be an eyesore for most, for Mark Bell from Bell Landscapes it was a blank canvas full of potential. Taking maximum advantage of the open space allotted for the garden, Mark decided to divide it into multiple destinations. Areas were then designated for entertainment, relaxation and play so there was something for everyone — parents, kids and dogs. Leading out from the back door, a raised barbecue deck was created, the first of many social hubs. The burnt-umber timber used for the entertaining deck was a recurring design feature throughout the garden, fashioned into paths, fences, stairs, retaining walls and benches, visually tying together the various garden spaces. “What started out as a blank canvas finished as a vib rant mult…

This relaxed garden is infused with an earthy Australian country-style flavour and just a sprinkling of Mediterranean seasoning. The clever design includes a pergola-covered outdoor entertaining area, grassy spaces where Salty the dog can frolic, a kitchen garden and a rustic-looking art studio. The eco-friendly rear garden was designed by Marian Long from Marian Long Landscape Architecture, now working at ASPECT Studios. In designing the garden, Marian paid homage to the owners’ commitment to sustainability, their love of entertaining and their artistic flair. “When I first saw it, the garden was a plain, grassy area that sloped down across the property from west to east,” she says. “There was a sunken concrete slab, a garden shed, a couple of struggling trees and little else.” But all that has now changed.…

This transformed rear garden has a contemporary yet earthy feel, a confident fusion of design influences — some sleek and modern, others distinctly Australian with a rustic touch. The brief to designer Josh Hooper of Landscape Techniques was to update the existing swimming pool and create an outdoor entertaining area that could be used year-round. Moreover, the new areas needed to complement the old bluestone manor house and sufficient space had to be provided for the playing of grass sports. “The new entertaining area, which takes the form of a large pool pavilion, boasts a generous outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and oven, a sink and bar fridge, full cabinetry, a television and a dining table large enough to seat 14 people,” says Josh. “The pavilion is designed in an…

Who wants to contend with long waits at airports and even longer plane rides when you can enjoy the full holiday experience in your own backyard? Of course, backyard seems too humble a word to describe this amazing outdoor retreat boasting a spacious covered deck and a stunning swimming pool. The owners wanted a resort-style alfresco entertaining area that would make them feel like they were on holiday every time they used it. Their wish list included a decent-sized pool and spa, a contemporary outdoor room and plenty of surrounding space in which the kids could play. Of course, this wasn’t going to be a straightforward proposition as the building work would have to be carried out on a cliff face with a 6m drop. The pool and outdoor room,…

“Modern greenhouses are not only useful, they can look fabulous in your garden or on your deck” Once considered the trademark of serious gardeners only, the greenhouse is now springing up in backyards, and on decks and patios, all over Australia. And if you’ve never considered one, there are some very good reasons why you should. Modern greenhouses are not only useful, they can look fabulous, too. Greenhouses are designed to provide a controlled horticultural environment where you can adjust the temperature and humidity. The beauty of greenhouses is that whatever you grow is protected from harsh summer sun, drenching rains, cool frosts and high winds, which allows you to grow plants, fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers and herbs with ease. Within the structured environment, seedlings grow faster and you…

The rear garden of this home in the suburbs of Melbourne conceals a delightful secret: a unique alfresco haven that offers everything the family needs to entertain in style — and comfort. There is a swimming pool and elevated spa, an outdoor cooking area, a covered pavilion with seating and an open fireplace, as well as a glass conservatory. With the raised pavilion, which claims pride of place in the garden, the goal of the designer, Don Thompson of Gardenridge, was to create an outdoor room with all the finesse of the best-dressed interior living space. The focal point of the outdoor room is a wood-burning fireplace set within a traditional red brick surround. What isn’t so traditional is the feature walling to either side of the fireplace. This is…

Nestled within the up-and-coming Perth suburb of Piara Waters, this modern new home features a courtyard-style rear garden which has an inner-city vibe, in large part thanks to its contemporary, warehouse-inspired design. From the graffitistyle wall art and industrial-look furniture to the seating area paved in recycled bricks, the garden design has just the right blend of urban charm and eco-friendly chic. Designed and built by Landscapes WA in conjunction with Dale Alcock Homes, the rear garden has been deftly carved into two spaces, each dedicated to entertaining. First, there is a large jarrah deck that is easily accessed from the home via glass sliding doors. This area has a dining setting, a stainless-steel island barbecue, wall-mounted herb planters and ample space in which guests can mingle. In short, it…

Designed to meet the needs of a family of five, this urban backyard not only looks amazing, it is incredibly practical. Every square centimetre of space has been put to good use, making it possible for the family to have a swimming pool and plenty of room to relax or entertain. As a pool was a must-have, landscape designer Steve Taylor of COS Design, came up with a way to include it in the design without having it dominate the backyard. The fullytiled pool, which extends along one side of the garden and part way down the side of the house, is 9m long and incorporates both a 1.8m lap lane and a 2m² spa. “The brief was for a warm, funky, inner-city cafe-style garden with a sharp edge” “We…

Carefully considered but far from contrived, this remarkable landscape effortlessly blends with its natural bushland surrounds, giving it a sense of place that few gardens achieve. “This was an exciting project as the owners were adventurous and trusted our ability to provide a beautifully crafted garden,” says Matt Leacy of Landart Landscapes. “The initial consultation was just for planting suggestions but once I explored the acreage site in greater detail, I realised its potential and that a lot more work would need to be done to improve the function as well as the aesthetics.” The swimming pool is the centrepiece of the design. Actually a large dam, it was designed to catch rainwater from this property and the surrounding ones. “Because the pool was so big we designed a cantilevered…

After a dip in the swimming pool and lunch on the patio, trees towering overhead, you would swear you had been relaxing in the south of France. When landscape architect Andrew Lane of CALDESIGN commenced this project, he was impressed with the magnificent and imposing heritage trees on site, and even more impressed with the owners’ desire to protect them. “Apart from protecting what trees they had, which included a canopy of old oaks, the owners were keen to add even more trees and reinforce their privacy,” says Andrew. To fulfil this brief, Andrew specified the use of Syzgium australe ‘Elegance’, Acmena smithii ‘Sublime’, and evergreen ash to create a functional hedge, backed by a new boundary fence built using recycled sandstone ballast. Mid-level planting included small feature trees such…

In suburban gardens across the nation there’s a quiet revolution taking place. Drive around your local neighbourhood or peek over your neighbour’s fence and you might just see something you haven’t noticed before. Bamboo. Not only is bamboo being planted in gardens, it’s also being harvested and transformed into a vast array of products for use outside as well as inside the home. From designer furniture, flooring, decking and screens to light fittings, cushions, towels and serving ware, products made of bamboo are sprouting up all over the place. And for very good reason. RENEWABLE RESOURCE Bamboo is not only stylish and hard-wearing, it’s also a sustainable and versatile resource, according to Helen Snyders of House of Bamboo. “It’s a renewable oxygen-giving resource that grows more rapidly than timber, so…

Less is definitely more when working with a small space, which is why this contemporary, Japanese-influenced garden is such a resounding success. Through the clever use of a limited palette of materials and plants, and withattention to detail evident in the construction, this space is as serene as it is sophisticated. Working to a design by the homeowner, Amanda York, an accomplished interior designer, the CLS (Complete Landscape Solutions) team has created a space that, although small, abounds with eye-catching elements. From the pond and the tiled feature wall to the distinctive “I” beams, this is a garden that engages the senses. For the CLS team, the main challenge was how to construct the various elements of the garden using the minimum amount of space. To achieve this, the backyard’s…

It’s hard to believe this uplifting landscape — a canny blend of modern Australian design and formal European styling — is in the suburbs of Melbourne. Take a leisurely stroll through these beautiful garden spaces and you could almost imagine you were meandering around the grounds of a sun-drenched Mediterranean villa under a cloudless blue sky, colourful citrus plants providing tantalising aromas. In fact, the avenue of potted citrus trees on the lower level of this property was inspired by the villas in Italy’s Lake Como, according to the landscape designer, Chris Weiss of Formation Landscapes. It leads the eye down to a water feature, which, when uplit at night, creates a subtle, elegant ambience. The various outdoor areas are well defined but not enclosed, maintaining the feeling of spaciousness…

From the tiered curved deck that wraps around the fire pit area to the circular swimming pool ensconced by custom metal fencing, this garden is as much a three-dimensional work of art as it is a place to gather with family and friends. The garden was designed by Paal Grant of Paal Grant Designs In Landscaping, who describes it as “a rustic contemporary artwork that is both sculptural and functional”. The clients wanted a decked entertaining space, a fire pit area and a swimming pool. “And they wanted something different from the norm, so they were open to fresh ideas,” adds Paal. “I like to create spaces where people can gather and have meaningful interactions well away from their screens,” Paal continues. “The garden ripples out from the focal points,…

When you’re adding an outdoor room to your house, there is a great deal to consider — and there can be some challenges to overcome. One challenge is taking the existing space and working out the best way to maximise it. In this instance, luckily the backyard was quite large so the owners didn’t have to skimp on the size of the outdoor room or compromise on its layout. Another major consideration, irrespective of space, is how to ensure a seamless connection between new and old, which was something of prime importance here. This means looking at everything from matching rooflines to ensuring the use of complementary materials and colours. If all of these things aren’t carefully considered, you risk building something that looks tacked on as an afterthought rather…

When designing a garden, it is very important to think about where the materials we use for construction and design come from, and how we can minimise our impact on the planet by using recycled, reclaimed or repurposed objects. In doing so, we can be mindful of reducing waste that goes to landfill, and we can be creative with our thinking in how to transform something seemingly unappealing into a beautiful piece of art or a practical object for the garden, while also saving money. There are many eco-friendly products on the market made from recycled and sustainable materials that can be used for paving, decking, retaining walls, paths and mulching. Similarly, we can put myriad found objects to great use in the garden to create a lovely artistic effect…

Natural limestone is a stylish choice for patios and pool surrounds The appeal of stone lies in its strength, natural beauty and versatility. Stone can be used for outdoor paving and interior flooring, for steps and wall cladding, for benches and splashbacks … the options are seemingly endless. For this project, the initial brief from the homeowner to Cinajus was very specific: “I need something I can use inside and outside the home. It must be a natural stone, durable, hardwearing, non-slip as well as salt- and chlorine-safe — and it must be something that won’t look out of place on a large rural property.” This meant the stone had to be refined enough to be used indoors, while tough enough to be used externally around the salt-water swimming pool.…