Outdoor Design

We’re now enjoying some cool weather so it’s the perfect time to consider how we can best heat our outdoor living and entertaining spaces. Of course, outdoor heating isn’t just about keeping the family toasty-warm in winter or taking the chill out of

Perfectly positioned to ensure an easy flow from inside to out, the lavish outdoor room offers the family everything they need to entertain — day or night, summer or winter. It forms part of an extensive outdoor entertaining zone encompassing a swimm

Australians have always loved the outdoor lifestyle and the expression of that has become more sophisticated over time. Today, all new homes feature an alfresco entertaining area which will, in all probability, incorporate an outdoor kitchen. Or at t

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

The key to the success of this project in Mosman on Sydney’s Lower North Shore is that the swimming pool and landscape were designed and installed in tandem with the new Hamptons-style home, ensuring total integration. “The landscape and pool finishe

What attracted you to landscape design? I’ve had an interest in gardens since working with my grandad in his market garden. I love the energy of a garden: the way it changes through the seasons and the way it can make you feel. After a first career i

Although a well-designed garden will look as if its creation was virtually effortless, considerable knowledge and expertise is required to create a garden that is practical and aesthetically pleasing. For the best result — a garden that will suit you

When the time comes to build your dream home, or embark on a major home renovation, the process starts with searching for an architect or building designer and, possibly, an interior designer. You’ll also no doubt be thinking about your garden, pool

This modern tropical Balinese-style garden brings a touch of the exotic to the suburban location while uplifting the spirits and soothing the senses. The swimming pool, decking and timber hut were already in place when multi-award-winning landscaper

There are many things you need to consider when designing a garden or outdoor entertaining area, but one of the most critical elements is scale. Get it right and the design will be a success, but if you get it wrong, the garden will look and feel unb

A professionally-drawn landscape plan gives you a defined version of the finished product so you will know exactly how your garden is going to look — what plants will be used and in what location, the positioning of structural and decorative features

Imagine turning your outdoor space into your personal oasis — a place of escape from the hectic pace of daily life. Now imagine if that space could instantly transform from a place of solitude to every entertainer’s dream. A cabana can be the ideal w

Do it once, do it right — it makes sense but do we always put this into practice? With the pressure of increasing interest rates and the escalating cost of materials, you may feel the urge to cut corners when developing your garden. But it’s importan

Recent world events have created a greater awareness of how a well-designed landscape can significantly enhance our lifestyle and enjoyment of the outdoors, and the importance of protecting our green space. As a result, landscape design has become a

Getting up close and personal with nature, growing food for the family and enjoying time outdoors were the goals that inspired the creation of this garden that adjoins a character home in Sydney’s Inner West. Featuring a large lawn for sports (and ca

A versatile swim spa, encircled by plants and cosily nestled into a corner, is the focus of the modern rear-garden retreat in this home in Melbourne’s inner suburbs. It’s somewhere the family can cool down in summer or simply hang out with friends an

From the moment you step through the front gate you are struck by the luxuriant landscaping and the way in which it perfectly frames this period home in Melbourne’s Malvern East. The effect continues as you make your way along the side of the home an

Small and outdated, the time had come for this courtyard to be transformed into a contemporary, low-maintenance outdoor living space befitting its enviable Noosaville location and the relaxed Sunshine Coast lifestyle. Troy Douglas and the team from C

This alpine-inspired home in the Tallebudgera Valley on the Gold Coast sits comfortably in its undulating natural surrounds thanks to a sympathetic landscape design by Michael Creighton and Scott Godfredson of NEST Landscape Design. NEST was engaged

This remarkable property, located in Ascot, one of Brisbane’s most sought-after suburbs, shows how a sympathetically-designed, expertly-built landscape can complement — even elevate — great architecture. “Situated in arguably Brisbane’s most prestigi

This is a unique garden offering something new to engage the eye at every twist and turn. Matt McMahon, owner of McMahon Earth Solutions, designed the one-of-kind garden drawing inspiration from the owners of the acreage property. “They wanted an out

The existing backyard was sloping, overgrown and unusable but the owners saw its potential, envisaging a swimming pool, spaces to relax alfresco and a level area of lawn where the kids could play. A complete backyard renovation was called for and the

Embraced by large, leafy tropical plants, this stunning swimming pool and inviting alfresco area provide the perfect spaces for relaxed entertaining. “The clients wanted a new concrete pool and outdoor entertaining space. In particular, they wanted t

After a morning surf or at the end of a working day, coming home is always a joyful experience for Jon and Eliza, owners of this coastal property in Sunshine Beach. The simple act of passing beneath the outstretched arms of two magnificent pandanus t

If you live on the Sunshine Coast you want to make the most of the enviable weather and all the simple outdoor pleasures living in such a sought-after location brings. For most people, that means a swimming pool, somewhere shady to relax and alfresco

The leafy outdoor spaces that wrap around this Queenslander home in the Brisbane suburb of Hendra provide the family with multiple ways to make the most of the subtropical climate. They can enjoy a game of boules, take a dip in the swimming pool, fir

This cool-climate garden wasn’t always the inviting oasis it is today. When the owners moved in it was overgrown and neglected. “What they wanted was an eye-catching landscape with grand street appeal,” says Shannon Decker, managing director of Now &

The luxuriant gardens to the side and rear of this Adelaide home aren’t just a source of joy for the owners. They provide the littlest member of the family — Max the Frug (a French Bulldog-Pug mix) — with places to explore and shady spots to snooze i

The fringes of the landscaped spaces that embrace this Mid-Century-inspired home in the Blue Mountains, a favoured treechange destination for Sydneysiders, seamlessly merge with the surrounding bushland, ensuring a strong sense of place. Carved into

Afront garden has many roles to play. It settles your home into its surroundings and contributes to the overall streetscape. It reveals something about you to passers-by and, if well-designed and thoughtfully planted, it makes visitors feel welcome.

Good design is only part of the success equation. Once the plants are installed and the turf laid, the garden must be nurtured if it is to thrive. This property in the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell, expertly maintained by Cameron Hainsworth and the

One of Melbourne’s finest period homes, Invergowrie, a stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture, was built in 1851 and sits within an established parkland-style, meticulously-maintained garden. The residence, which claims one of the highest po

Port Londsale on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula is a place of immense natural beauty, which is why it is such a drawcard for those seeking a relaxed by-the-beach lifestyle. Boasting beautifully landscaped spaces, The Point is a residential community

Winner: Robyn Barlow Design Project: Fitzroy Bridge House, Vic Winner: BWLA Project: Cliff House, Vic Winner: RPS Project: TreeHouse, Qld Winner: Sophie Zaccone Landscape Architect Project: Night Sky Garden, NSW Winner: Sod Design Project: North Male

Heating your outdoor space isn’t just about keeping the family toasty warm in winter or taking the chill out of the air on a crisp autumn evening. With our decks, pergolas and alfresco entertaining spaces now being designed as outdoor rooms, aestheti

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

For those in search of a distinctive collection of decorative laser-cut screens, fire pits, sculptures and more, Urban Design Systems (UDS) is the leader in the field. These creative concepts are suited to exterior and interior use and UDS is happy t

Set in the lovely coastal suburb of Aldinga Beach, about 40km south of Adelaide, this stunning home is the epitome of relaxed yet contemporary design. With a focus on sustainability, the home features a structural timber frame and employs natural mat

Have you ever considered just how much you could enhance the beauty of your garden with the addition of lighting? Lighting specialist Pekka Uusi-Hakimo, founder of Nitetime Designs, believes that your house and garden should be admired both day and n

Some form of outdoor heating is now de rigueur but what you choose and where you place it depends on how you plan to use your garden and outdoor entertaining areas. If you want to spark lively conversation, a fire pit encircled by stools might be ide

Stoked Stainless offers a high-quality range of elegant and durable made-to-order cedar tub, spa pool and plunge spa pool products designed to turn any outdoor space or garden into a place of retreat — somewhere you can relax no matter what the time

Futurewood supplies a premium-quality range of environmentally friendly, timber-alternative building and outdoor products that includes timber-look composite screening, cladding and decking. As well as supplying its standard range of low-maintenance

The challenges presented by gardening in dry, lifeless soils can seem endless — and incredibly frustrating. 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 see

Abeautiful garden is top of most people’s wish list — a place to entertain and relax with friends and family; a retreat the kids can enjoy while spending time in nature; an asset that will increase the resale value of the home (for the more hard-head

Swimming pool, spa, or water feature … tiling adds the finishing flourish, creating a look that is elegant and timeless. To achieve a flawless result, you need quality tiles and an expert tiler using premium adhesives, grouts and waterproofing membra

Vincent Sheppard outdoor furniture adds character and comfort to any alfresco area — take the stunning Mona dining chair, with its soft curved back and sleek teak frame, as an example. The bold lines draw attention to the beautiful back and armrest,