Outdoor Design

Welcome to the summer edition of Outdoor Design, a magazine dedicated to celebrating the art of great landscape design — and to showcasing the work of this country’s leading landscape architects, designers and landscapers. The landscape designers you

To be considered a design success, a garden must have a true sense of connection. It must be in harmony with the architecture of the house and its broader surrounds yet still convey something about the unique personality of the residents. Most import

With work already underway on the clients’ new home, Tom Fritsch, director of Vividgreen Landscapes, was called in to design a garden that would complement the scale, architectural style and finish of the contemporary two-storey abode. The owners sou

When did you make your start? After leaving school at 15 I started my training in landscape construction, drawn to the industry by my love of the outdoors. Soon, I developed a keen interest in architecture and the use of space. By 19 I had started my

This property, located in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, offers to-die-for coastal views from the front, which is why the swimming pool and an entertaining area were located there. To take advantage of the cooling shade and provide repsite from the stron

What drew you to landscaping? I grew up surrounded by passionate gardeners and that inspired me to pursue a landscaping career. After school, I had to decide between studying landscape architecture and jumping straight into a practical landscape cons

What drew you to landscape design? My grandfather was a creative inventor and gardener. When I was a child he was forever talking to me and showing me his ideas and designs, and pointing out shapes, details and plants and how these went together in t

There are two keys to creating a successful garden: a clearly defined, well balanced structure and the generous use of a select number of materials, shapes and colours. The proof of this philosophy can be found in the pleasingly proportioned outdoor

With the beach just a stone’s throw away and tranquil views of established gum trees all around, the owners of this Victorian property, previously owned by the singer Xavier Rudd, wanted a new swimming pool and garden to reflect the natural beauty th

A small garden can have just about everything a larger outdoor space can have — you just have to be creative. Having built a new home, the owners wanted to make the most of their rear garden but they didn’t really know what might be possible, so they

Hidden in a small valley in the inner western suburbs of Brisbane is this architectural gem. You wouldn’t know it, but there are neighbours all around, none of whom can see into this secret subtropical retreat. However it wasn’t always like this. The

Having created many Bali-style gardens in the past, multi-award-winning designer Noel Brown of Bioscapes Gold Coast is a recognised doyen in the field, but with the owners of this garden — who also happen to be the owners of leading Balinese importer

What drew you to landscaping? Going back 30 years ago, I worked part-time on Saturdays for an Italian stone mason and loved what he was creating. He had a partner who did all the landscaping once the stone walls were built and I was amazed by the end

Over the years we have built many Japanese-style water features for our clients; some simple basins in small courtyards, others large backyard ponds. With an increase in the number of Australians travelling to Japan, Japanese-style water features hav

There are a great many things to be considered when designing a garden or outdoor entertaining area, but the most critical element is scale. Get it right and the design will be a success. Get it wrong and the garden will look and feel unbalanced, sou

When it comes to designing and building gardens, we really should be more focused on who is leading us along the path. Finding the right people for your project can be the difference between success and failure. It doesn’t matter whether you begin yo

From the stylish Hamptons-inspired cabana to the enticing swimming pool, complete with submerged bench, and the expertly landscaped surrounds, this incredibly inviting outdoor retreat has everything a Queensland family needs to enjoy a relaxed alfres

Swimming pools have changed greatly in the past five years and it’s an evolution that will continue, but there are some significant trends you should be aware of if you want to ensure you maximise your investment in your new pool. One of the most imp

Whether you’re contemplating the creation of a new garden from scratch or planning a makeover, there are many advantages associated with engaging the services of a highly skilled, well-trained landscaper. Here we look at just some of the key benefits

Landscape design is now a key part of the planning, design and approval process for building or renovation projects. A well-designed landscape, whether it’s for a small courtyard or large acreage, can significantly enhance your lifestyle and enjoymen

To build a garden that will endure hot summers with minimal maintenance, there is much to consider but at the top of the list is the right plant selection. If you really require low maintenance and want a garden that needs as little watering as possi

This exceptional garden, created for a home that sits on a corner block near Heathcote National Park in Sydney’s south, is a testament to the design and horticultural expertise of Adam McDonald, director of Impressions Landscape — Design. Of the gard

With the renovation of their North Bondi apartment building completed, the owners of this bijou garden decided the time was right to similarly transform their personal outdoor areas. They wanted the design to extend their living space, provide a plac

Other than a request that their potted gardenia and hydrangea be planted in the garden, the owners of this new build in a Sydney beachside suburb presented designers Barbara Landsberg and Ben Miura of Landsberg Garden Design with a completely clean s

Designed for a couple who frequently travel for business, creating low-maintenance gardens that would thrive, not just survive during their absences was imperative. As was designing spaces that could take the punishment meted out by their teenage son

Their new home built, a couple with three young children turned to Catherine Gard of Branch Out Landscape Design to design a series of spaces in which they could relax with friends and family, enjoy a quiet moment of reflection or be active outdoors.

When space is at a premium you need to think creatively as Claudia Crawley of Grindstone Landscapes did when devising the design for this garage rooftop garden. The new multi-level home in McMahons Point, a heavily built-up harbourside suburb on Sydn

The interior of this penthouse in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs had just been renovated and the rooftop terrace needed a revamp to match. The client was a single male who likes to relax, entertain and have fun. With no partner or children to consider, Que

In a style that landscape designer Judy Dolin, founder of South House Gardens, describes as “gentle contemporary”, this rooftop garden is a design triumph. When the clients decided to completely excavate their existing elevated rear garden down to st

With its carefully considered combination of formal planting and hard landscaping, the elegant front garden is the perfect foil to the home’s contemporary, clean-lined facade. The garden, which was constructed by Eloquent Landscapes, working to a des

What is your background? I started off as a landscaper building gardens that were designed by other people, but I was always finding room for improvement — the kind of things that can only come from hands-on, practical field experience. I was spendin

Day or night, the outdoor spaces that envelope this Melbourne home present a picture of elegant simplicity and European élan. This is due to the construction expertise of Darren Willmott, director of DJ Landscapes & Pools, and his eye for design. Whe

When you’re blessed with a stunning water view, you need to do everything you can to enhance it, which was precisely what the owners of this property in Lorne, a seaside town on Louttit Bay in Victoria’s Surf Coast Shire, did. Working to a design by

A compelling blend of European and Australian influences, infused with distinct Mediterranean and Italian flavours, this highly evocative courtyard garden was, quite literally, the star of the 2019 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. Dubbed

As the pace of life increases, so does the desire for a space in which we can relax and enjoy some quality time. Open your doors to a timeless, beautiful outdoor space where your furniture sets the mood, just the way you like it. Cosh Living’s outdoo

The prospect of entertaining or relaxing outdoors has never been so appealing with these stylish, supremely comfortable outdoor sofas, sun lounges, daybeds and more from Contemporary Classics. From beautiful dining settings and comfy lounge suites to

Sometimes garden lighting is a bit of an afterthought. A great deal of care goes into choosing the paving, plants and pots, but how much attention is paid to what should be illuminated and what type of fittings used? Thinking about how you will light

Being outside — it’s a temptation most of us just can’t resist. This is never more so than when we want to share good food and good times with the people we love. Family lunches, dinner parties, movie nights — we now take all of these activities, and

How did you get your start? I began as a horticulturist and segued into designing and creating landscapes. I always thought it was a shame that we lost a great deal of the effect and atmosphere at night by not having suitable light fittings. At the t

If you want to protect your outdoor space from either the sun or the rain — or, indeed, both — you need a tailored solution that suits your specific location and lifestyle needs. The experts from Outrigger Awnings & Sails specialise in the creation o

Done well, outdoor structures are an asset, making the time you spend outside more comfortable and boosting your home’s resale value. “It’s something that people look for in a home and is a worthwhile investment for lifestyle and added property value

With the right treatment, it’s easy to keep even the most porous natural stone and paving, as well as tile and brick, looking great for many years. Treating a porous surface with the right impregnating sealer also makes cleaning easier. Staining is t

The Shaderunner® Retractable Sail System is ideally suited to a wide range of applications around the home, from outdoor entertaining spaces and patios to swimming pools and courtyards. And with an impressive palette of fabrics and colour options ava

The hassles of gardening in dry, lifeless soils can seem endless. It can almost put us off gardening all together. Plants struggle to grow and no matter how much we water and fertilise, the garden doesn’t seem to come good. We regularly add products

Located in Rhodes Park in Sydney’s inner west, 5 Senses Garden is an inspiring community garden and playground. A joint initiative between Inner West Neighbour Aid and City of Canada Bay, the garden was created to be an all-inclusive, environmentally

Planting a garden is part preparation, part creativity. You need to get a handle on the basics — things like choosing the right plant for the right location (for example, you wouldn’t put a shade-loving plant in a full-sun location) — otherwise your

Mawsons owns a variety of quarries from which they source their feature rock, gabion stone and pebbles. This enables the company to produce a wide array of natural products and ensures consistency of supply and quality. The pebbles, which range in si

Remember the many happy hours you spent as a child, bouncing on the backyard trampoline? Why not let your children — not to mention your grandchildren — experience the same unbridled fun. “At MrTrampoline we supply fun, fun, fun — 365 days a year. We

Today we furnish our outdoor entertaining areas with the same care and attention to detail as our interior living spaces, and we expect the same level of quality and comfort. Often, we also want our outdoor furniture to complement our interior decor,