FINAL GARDENS COMPACT DESIGNS THAT INVITE AND DELIGHT

13 PROJECTS SHOWING THE POTENTIAL OF SMALL-SCALE SPACES PRODUCED BY Elizabeth Wilson

This weatherboard cottage looks pretty as a picture, thanks to the richly textured and layered garden by Cos Design. Framed by a Japanese maple and tall spikes of purple salvia (Salvia divinorum), it’s a luscious mix of deep-green and silver-grey foliage with

Photograph by Martina Gemmola. splashes of floral colour. Turn the page for more… MUCH TRANQUILLITY INMY GARDEN,’ SAYS OWNER JAN. ECLECTIC, WITHA JOYOUS H 128

| THE PLANTPALETTE IS G TEXTURES. ‘IFINDSO AUSTRALIAN HOUSE&

MIX OFSHAPESAND G arden Special GARDEN edged with neatperimeterplantings asymmetrical design:amanicured lawn cottage garden, Steve optedforan Rather thanatraditionalsymmetrical yetwhich hedescribesasclassic modern. design cuesfrom theinteriorsofJan’s home, and waskeen toincorporatepopsofcolour. garden tobeamixoforganicandformal, Stylistically, she wantedthe10mx5.5 garden,”seasonal entry shesays. abeautiful,inviting, the picture.“Iwasafter to installafront garden tocomplete decade later, shewasfinallyinaposition modelling itonatraditionalcottage. A home forherselfandheryoung son, Jan Mawson builtalovely weatherboard TEN YEARS AGO, a “free-form zone”a “free-form ontheother. The sits ononesideofthegarden pathand Steve Taylor ofCosDesigntookhis Melbournehomeowner TEXTURED ANDTERRIFIC

1 the blue-flowering Agapanthus‘Tinkerbell’. burgundy foliage oftheAjugareptans and the comes through inthepurplesalvias, provides seasonal change whilecolour serpens). AJapanesemaple(Acerpalmatum) and ‘Tanika’) andbluechalksticks(Senecio Lomandraof salvia, species(‘Seascape’ are contrastedwithloosesprinklings (Westringia), Englishbox andTeucrium clipped spheres ofcoastalrosemary to alayerlamb’s ofsilver-hued ear. Crisply front fence,formingalovely colourcontrast linesthe trees (Laurusnobilis‘BabyBay’) of shapesandtextures. bay Arow ofdwarf withajoyous paletteiseclectic, plant mix cosdesign.com.au floral highlights,”says Steve. silver-greys withwhite,blueandpurple “We focusedonshadesofgreen and A row ofgardenias fringes theverandah.

Photography by Martina Gemmola (Cos Design) & Ben Scott. balance,” saysdesignerSteve green elementsform aframe stretching into the grass and Choice’, thefrontfence with bluestone verandah fringed + other. Theopenlawnsitsin ‘Florida’. green-on- “These cobbles are laid inajagged front oftheverandah while for thegarden,” saysSteve. They’re alsotheperfectThey’re foil + for lotsofsilver-grey tones. with provide atextured outlook a bedroom window onthe verandah ononesideand blurring thelinesbetween interspersed withstripsof + Taylor. Theasymmetrical with design echoesthehome’s formation, their ‘fingers’ dwarf mondograss. The ‘Baby Bay’ trees andthe ‘Baby Bay’ the free-form plantings

hard surfaces. andsoft porphyry cobblestones porphyry Thesidefences are lined “This garden isallabout “This

facade, whichhasa The pathismadefrom On balance On balance Laurus nobilis‘Miles for thebedroom. Gardenia augusta

a mid-storey ofwoodland-styleplanting provide thecanopylayer over thedeck,and Deciduous magnolias(Magnolia‘Elizabeth’) through inthewintermonths,” Ben. says provide summershadewhileallowing light we introduced somedeciduoustrees to the centre line.“As thespacefacesnorth a herringbonepatternmirrored down in thedirectionofperimetertoform arrangedfour segments,withplanks from merbau,thedeckisdesignedin a 3.9 cocooned byplants. meditate andrelax, contemplative spacewhere they couldread, sidegardenx 5mnorth-facing intoacalm, Ben Scottwithabrieftoturntheir10m They approached designer landscape keen tocreate alittlehaven forthemselves. the owners ofthisMelbourne propertywere WITH THREETEENAGERS Ben cameupwithanovel concept: m-diameter circulardeck.Made inthehousehold, NOVEL APPROACH

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benscott.com.au grow onalightpergola-typestructure.” overhang thespace,oraclimberthatwill greenery,” “Add hesays. canopytrees that enticing aspossiblebycreatingof curtains for success?“Make thespacefeelas they’re lushandgreen,” Ben.Histips says “Outdoor spacesare more inviting when adds soothingsoundsinthespace. feature madefrom concretesteel andblack native violet(Violahederacaea). Awater 650mm bluestonepavers interspersedwith steppingstones:650mmx deck heplaced and Hydrangea quercifolia. Around the megalophyllum, HelleborusArthropodium perennials, includingEupatorium citrus andamixofshrubsevergreen espalieredAlong withtheseBenplanted spaces) andahedge ofAcmena‘Sublime’. forconfined and narrow uprighttree perfect includes Gingko biloba‘Fastigiata’ (aneat

> Garden Special H G 3 INNER-CITY GREEN

AS YOUNG INNER-CITY parents, the owners selected to suit the north-facing location, of this Sydney home were keen to transform which is exposed to full sun in summer their open-air courtyard into a nature-filled and semi shade in winter. living zone. They knew the 8m x 5m space “Each of the plants was chosen for its – sitting between the house and garage, a softness, movement and wild, natural 4 few steps from the open-plan kitchen/living beauty,” says Richard. At one end of the Side order area – had the potential to play a central planter is a coastal banksia (Banksia Having side access to role in the life of their household. integrifolia) underplanted with foxtail your home is a wonderful Their brief to designer Richard Unsworth fern (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Meyersii’), thing. Not only does it of Garden Life was to create an combined with strappy plants such as provide a second, usually walking iris (Neomarica caerulea) and ground-level entry point entertaining space that would give them to the property, it adds to a “sense of nature in the city” while lush dwarf cardamom (Alpinia nutans). the street appeal of your providing a safe play area for their young Artificial turf was the natural choice here, home. So it makes sense daughter. The centrepiece of Richard’s says Richard. “It requires minimal care and to turn it into a pretty, 5 design is a 4m all-in-one day bed and is hands and knees.” The wall is painted rather than a purely pragmatic, space. Mid-century planter, custom- made from aluminium and Porter’s Paints River Stone and covered in Garden designer Fiona marvel clad in pine. The plant palette is a mix of Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata). Ericsson of Sticks & natives and exotics, all hardy and lush and gardenlife.com.au Stones Landscape Design After an award-winning was asked to revamp this renovation by Coy Yiontis, side garden (right) as this mid-century Melbourne ‘BE BOLD WITH THE SIZES OF THE ELEMENTS IN THE SPACE: DON’T part of a new design in home (above) needed THINK SMALL JUST BECAUSE YOUR SPACE IS.’ Richard Unsworth Sydney’s north. The brief? a garden upgrade, too. “Low maintenance, Carolyn and Joby Blackman relaxed planting while from Vivid Design have maintaining a clear reinvigorated pockets of the pathway.” In response, garden around the home, she has created a gentle, including this 7m x 2.8m strip meandering path with along the fence near the entry. informal garden beds Working with two existing of attractive, easy-care trees, a Cercis canadensis plantings. The path is ‘Forest Pansy’ and a cabbage mapped out using prefab tree (Cordyline australis), concrete steppers, each Carolyn created a jewel-like 400mm in diameter, parcel of hardy, textural which lead through a lush, plants suited to the shady soft carpet of kidney weed location. “The aim was to (Dichondra repens). diffuse the views to the street, Flanking the path are not block them,” says long-leafed Echium Carolyn. “A heavy hedge candicans, silver-leafed would have dwarfed Helichrysum petiolare and the space, so we kept it rosemary. Boston ivy ethereal and made the (Parthenocissus architecture the hero.” tricuspidata) creates a Planted around the living wall of green and bluestone steppers is a colours to red in autumn. mix of Chinese star jasmine, “In small spaces, the Nandina ‘Gulf Stream’, Liriope design rule is less is more,” ‘Elmarco’ and Arthropodium says Fiona. “You don’t ‘Te Puna’ (New Zealand want to make a small renga Lily). Caroline says the space feel cluttered. Limit crazy-paving driveway was the materials, colours and shaped into curves to “draw plant textures to avoid it the eye into the garden”. > looking overly busy.” vividdesign.com.au

sticksandstonesld.com.au Plitt (Vivid). Life), Brigid Arnott (Sticks & Stones) Tatjana (Garden by Nicholas Watt Photography

AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 131 Garden Special H G 7 CITY ESCAPE

HAVING MOVED FROM a rural property to a lilly pilly (Syzygium australe ‘Resilience’), the city to be closer to family, the owners of perfect for a quick-growing privacy screen. this inner-Sydney property were keen to Standing sentinel in the space is a maximise their connection to the outdoors. Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Senkaki’), They asked the landscapers at Growing chosen for its seasonal change, delicate Rooms to design a range of plant-filled foliage and red bark. At the base of the tree spaces indoors and out, including this are mass-planted Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ 3.7m x 6.9m front garden (below). and Pelargonium sp. They’re growing in a “The aim was to create spaces where they planter made from galvanised steel, painted can pause for reflection and escape the with Porter’s Paints Instant Rust. chaos of the city,” says Growing Rooms’ The boundary wall features dry stone director Oliver Sizeland. “Each of the cladding from Eco Outdoor, a lovely garden spaces is linked by the materials backdrop for the bed of broadleaf lady palm palette of natural stone and recycled (Rhapis excelsa) and walking iris (Neomarica hardwood, used repeatedly throughout.” gracilis), their strappy dark-green leaves All the plantings at the front were chosen popping against the stone. Groundcovers to complement these natural materials and include native violet (Viola hederacea) and Living on the edge suit the location, which is partially shaded mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus), while most of the day. Bold tropical foliage plants a large bromeliad (Alcantarea imperialis) Coastal conditions can > be challenging for gardens. form the backdrop, with a focus on textural pops out of the terracotta pot. Here are Nicola’s tips: contrasts. The plant along the front fence is growingrooms.com.au + In harsh environments it’s important to take cues from what is growing and thriving naturally in the area. But do some research – you don’t 6 want to be selecting a weed. + Get to know your site COASTAL COOL and soil. Coastal does not always mean hot and dry. ‘GARDENS IN SMALL SPACES A GROUND-FLOOR Art Deco apartment with Plantwise, the client wanted lush foliage + Natives that thrive on ARE FUN TO DESIGN. THEY the coast include: its own outdoor space in Sydney’s Bondi is species. Given the north-facing site and – Coastal rosemary CAN BE FUNCTIONAL BUT ALSO hot property indeed. For the new owner of year-round coastal breezes, they also had (Westringia): looks great PURELY VISUAL. THEY’RE this apartment, having sole access to the to be tough. “There’s a mix of subtropical, clipped into mounds; habitat LIVING, BREATHING WORKS front garden was a key attraction, but when succulent and natives in the garden beds, for native fauna. OF ART.’ Nicola Cameron she moved in the 5m x 9m outdoor area was with cacti, grasses and herbs in the pots,” – Pigface (Carpobrotus glaucescens): a tough, bare and clearly visible from the footpath. says Nicola. Key plants include Cordyline vigorous groundcover. Nicola Cameron and Eve Valensise from glauca, Philodendron ‘Xanadu’, tree – Lomandra spp: tough, Pepo Botanic Design were engaged to aeonium (Aeonium arboreum), Dianella beautiful grasses that create a private, inviting and beautiful tasmanica ‘Tas Red’, mother-in-law’s sway in the breeze. – Banksia spp: From space in which to relax, lounge and dine. tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) and groundcovers to shrubs and To achieve privacy, the designers added spineless prickly pear (Opuntia). trees, they all offer different timber panels to the existing fence to screen The client loves to cook, so Nicola shapes and personalities the space. New garden beds were built, planted herbs near the built-in barbecue. plus food for native fauna. – Correa spp: Some love rendered and painted in a range of sunny “We included edible and scented plants to hot, dry locations, others pastel colours to reflect the coastal location add to the experience of being in the garden.” prefer damp shade. All have

BEFORE and Miami-style Art Deco architecture. pepo.com.au & (Pepo) by Natalie Hunfalvay Photography Rooms). (Growing Chris Warnes beautiful flowers.

AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 133 H G Garden Special 8 RAISE THE ROOF

Before it was refurbished, this back garden was heavily paved, which made it feel hard, hot and uninviting. The brief to garden designer Matt Leacy of Landart Landscapes was to turn the 18m x 7.8m space into a softer, greener, more liveable space where young children could play. Matt’s redesign involved removing paving, introducing lawn and boundary plantings, building built-in seating, creating an entertaining space, gutting and refurbishing the plunge pool and – the masterstroke – adding a 7.8m x 3.5m green roof on top of the garden studio. “The green roof softens the backyard and brings in more greenery, making it feel a bit wilder and more relaxing as a space,” says Matt. “It also has the effect of extending the space beyond its border, making the backyard seem bigger than it actually is.” The roof is mass planted with a mix of Miscanthus and Casuarina glauca, both plants with soft, graceful forms that grow to about 1.5m. They’re planted in a lightweight growing medium specially mixed by Matt and his team. “The plants have a soft, free-flowing appearance, evoking a meadow – the opposite to structural plantings, which are used to define a border. These plants help create a sense of depth.” Planted along one side of the garden is a row of slender weavers bamboo (Bambusa textilis ‘Gracilis’), a perfect choice for boundary screening, set behind a cantilevered timber bench. The lawn is Sapphire soft-leaf buffalo. landart.com.au Green-roof goals + Always check the structural strength of the supporting structure. In this case Matt engaged a structural engineer to inspect the studio roof and calculate the weight it could hold. + Ensure your plans are compliant with regulations. “In most areas, a green roof will require the lodgement of a development application with the local council,” says Matt. + The roof needs to be waterproof, installed with proper drainage. + To minimise maintenance, install a self-watering irrigation system. + Consider your access to the rooftop garden. This will affect the level of garden maintenance you can perform. + If you can’t commit to loads of maintenance, choose easy-care plants. > Photograph by Jason Busch.

134 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN H G Garden Special 10 SPECIAL PARCEL

THE INNER-SYDNEY SUBURB of Paddington which gives the illusion of more space.” The is famous for its heritage terraces with seating is L-shaped to accommodate an narrow gardens. Wanting to make the most outdoor dining table in the corner if desired. of their 8.5m x 4.5m exterior space, the The retaining wall also creates a giant owners of this terrace approached planter for a row of slender weavers landscape architect Sophie Greive from bamboo (Bambusa textilis ‘Gracilis’), a great Think Outside Gardens to create a screening plant for a narrow site. Lining the clean-lined entertaining area that would opposite wall are three silver birch (Betula match their modern interiors. pendula) underplanted with New Zealand In her design, Sophie has placed seating renga lily (Arthropodium cirratum). Along and planting at the perimeters of the site, to the rear wall are three dwarf Bull Bay 9 gain maximum clear space for entertaining. magnolia (Magnolia ‘Little Gem’) and an Balcony scene To compensate for a change in level, she antique scalloped-marble bowl from India. Clever border planting has designed a retaining wall along the higher For easy maintenance, the floor is laid transformed this balcony in side of the site: this doubles as a long with vitrified (ceramic) 600mm x 600mm inner-suburban Sydney into built-in bench and backrest. “The bench tiles. And for shade, Sophie installed a fixed- a private haven screened by seat is a semi-floating style,” says Sophie. post folding arm umbrella from Tropicover. > green. Looking out through “This creates a shadowline underneath, thinkoutsidegardens.com.au the french doors, the streetscape is obscured by a row of maki yew pine A CAREFUL SELECTION OF PLANTS PROVIDES INTERESTING (Podocarpus macrophyllus FOLIAGE TEXTURES AND SHAPES IN A SYMPHONY OF GREENS. ‘Maki’) growing inside the property border. “It’s a terrific hedge in a shadier spot, it will take full sun and is great for Little rules narrow, tight spots,” says Sophie installed a cluster of garden designer Richard pots at the back door (left) Unsworth from Garden Life. planted with (from left) The large evergreen shrub elephant’s ear (Alocasia), grows in a column-like form dwarf jade (Crassula ovata up to about 3m, perfect for compacta) and cloud- screening. On the balcony pruned juniper (Juniperus). Richard has installed large “Different-sized pots with terracotta pots featuring contrasting plants helps to spineless prickly pear cacti finish off a space,” she says. (Opuntia ficus-indica ‘Burbank Here are her other tips for Spineless’) with mistletoe small spaces: cactus (Rhipsalis) spilling over the sides. Other pots + Define your priorities are filled with foxtail Do you want outdoor dining ferns (Asparagus at a table or casual seating? densiflorus ‘Meyersii’). Storage or a kids’ play area? “We’ve used sculptural + Know your boundaries yet soft plants, to stand Walls and fences have more out in front of the podocarpus importance in small spaces. hedge and street tree They can be painted or clad behind,” says Richard. in various materials to “Remember, when using two provide a backdrop and can species in a pot it’s important help to create the illusion for them to have the same of more space. water requirements.” + Explore shade options gardenlife.com.au Consider an umbrella or retractable awning. Photography by Nicholas Watt (Garden Life) & Jeremy Greive (Think Outside). Greive Life) & Jeremy (Garden by Nicholas Watt Photography

AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 137 FINAL

Garden Special H G 12 POSITIVE OUTLOOK Scott’s tips for small spaces + Create the green layers Small spaces can possess enormous the deck. “These narrow, columnar species first. Colour comes later character. Take, for example, this project by are an excellent way to bring trees and via more foliage or flowering perennials. Melbourne landscape designer Lisa Ellis. screening into a narrow space,” says Lisa. + Don’t overwork the plant Faced with the challenge of a sloping site, To create a sweet seating nook, she chose palette. Keep it simple as Lisa created a series of stepped platforms a Fermob ‘Louisiane’ bench in bright green, you can add more later. descending from the rear of the home to the which pops against the fence, painted + Know your limitations back fence. The result is a multilayered mix Dulux Night Sky. Climbing over the fence when it comes to 11 gardening. Select plants of decking and planting extending over the is the self-adhering evergreen Ficus pumila to suit your skill level. Soft touch 10m x 15m site, including ample spaces for – “a great plant for creating a backdrop of The owners of this early- entertaining, seating and children’s play. green when space is tight.” Planters at both Mass meetings 1900s weatherboard cottage The design also incorporates plantlife in ends of the seat are filled with ground- Love the look of this type of in Melbourne wanted a mass planting? Try the same many and delightful ways, including a row creeping ivy (Hedera) and native morning simple, neat garden to > with the following species: complement their heritage of ornamental pear trees that pop up flag lily (Orthrosanthus multiflorus). + Arthropodium cirratum home. As non-gardeners, through 300mm x 300mm cutouts in lisaellisgardens.com.au ‘Matapouri Bay’ (New they were keen to ensure it Zealand renga lily). was low-maintenance, too. + Asparagus densiflorus In response, Scott Leung ‘Myersii’ (non-invasive from Eckersley Garden asparagus fern). Architecture has created a + Liriope gigantea soft, textural, contemporary (giant lily turf). design front and back, using a minimal plant palette. The 12m x 5m north-facing front garden, which experiences full sun with dappled shade, is dominated by a single species of native grass (Lomandra confertifolia ‘SIMPLICITY IN THE GARDEN DOESN’T TAKE ANYTHING ‘Little Pal’), mass-planted in thigh-high swathes fringing AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. IF ANYTHING, IT ENHANCES IT. the recycled-brick paths. “The UNDERSTATED GARDEN DESIGN IS THE KEY.’ Scott Leung lomandra’s an evergreen; it copes in tough conditions and requires little work,” says Scott. Three crepe myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia spp) form a pretty canopy layer. There are also sprinklings of Philippine lily (Lilium philippinense), Ajuga reptans ‘Jungle Beauty’, orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata) and sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica) while Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) forms a pretty covering on the verandah posts. It’s a welcoming, low-maintenance landscape to match the renovation by Zen Architects. e-ga.com.au Photography by Derek Swalwell (Eckersley) and Patrick Redmond (Lisa Ellis). and Patrick (Eckersley) Swalwell by Derek Photography

AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 139 ‘ THE TEXTUREDNATIVES HELPTO THEARCHITECTURE SOFTEN award-winning warehouse conversion of theworld. Notonlyistheirhome–an haveapartment every reason tofeelontop 140 H soften theboldconcrete walls,while soften of thearchitecture,” Tom. says “They but alsoworks well withthemateriality natives notonlysuitsthetoughconditions, paletteofhighlytextured choice. “The and harshwinds,sonatives were anatural Tom.says Thesiteisexposedtofullsun was anatural,organicandwildlandscape,” concept create agarden forlivingin.“The Smith from DangarBarinSmithwasto immersive garden inthesky. unfettered cityviews, italsohasaprivate, by designcompany SJB–blessedwith THE OWNERS OF WHILE CREATING AWILDANDUNTAMED LANDSCAPE.’ The brief to landscape architect Tom architect The brieftolandscape

| G AUSTRALIAN HOUSE&

G arden Special thisSydney penthouse DIAMOND INTHESKY GARDEN

13 its feathery plumesframingtheview.its feathery “It’s The Pennisetum ontheperimeter, isplanted andLomandra‘Nafray’ longifolia ‘Katrinus’. masses ofnative grasses,suchasPennisetum of cabbage trees (Cordyline australis) and (Leptospermum laevigatum).There’s agrove quinquenervia) andcoastalteatree integrifolia), broad-leaf paperbark(Melaleuca uniquely Australian.” helping tocreatethatfeels awildlandscape dangarbarinsmith.com.au types. than otherbuffalo a resilient varietythatrequires lesswater inthebreeze.”forth “And beautiful when itsways backand with afinetexture,” grass hardy a says Tom. Key trees includecoastal banksia(Banksia The lawn is Sapphire soft-leaf buffalo, The lawn buffalo, isSapphire soft-leaf # Tom Smith

Photograph by Prue Ruscoe.