This once unusable Sydney garden has been transformed into a modern and practical family-oriented outdoor area.
Having endured an overgrown and unused rear garden for far too long, the owners of this Sydney property decided it was time to create an outdoor living space the whole family could use. The new space needed to accommodate teenagers lounging around the swimming pool, as well as provide quiet spaces where the parents could relax. Landscape designer Julian Bombardiere from Good Manors Pools + Gardens came up with the idea to renovate the pool to the current shape and create a more accessible, family-oriented outdoor area.
“The old pool, which was approximately nine metres long and had swimouts at each end and a separate spa to one side, dominated the area and made access to the raised lawn space difficult. To achieve a better flow, the access steps to the raised lawn level needed to be directly connected to the main entertaining area of the garden. This was achieved by filling in the existing spa and shortening one end of the pool,” explains Julian.
Travertine tiles were used for the paving around the pool and for the outdoor entertaining area, the pale colour of the stone off-setting the bold blue of the ceramic tiles used to revitalise the pool interior. And to ensure the pool is easy to maintain, Good Manors installed a MagnaPool filtration system.
“The outdoor lounge and movable ottomans, constructed from plantation-grown spotted gum hardwood, are the key to creating a space that can be used for poolside lounging or outdoor dining and entertaining. Then there is the curved daybed at the top of the garden, which catches the late-afternoon sun and is the perfect spot to have a nap or read a book,” says Julian.
To provide lush green backdrops and screening, Julian chose Elaeocarpus eumundi, Waterhousia floribunda, Syzygium ‘Cascade’ and Elaeagnus macropyhlla. For layering and texture he used Philodendron ‘Xanadu’, Ctenanthe setosa, Elettaria cardamomum and Alpinia zerumbet in the shaded areas, and Hymenocallis caribaea, Alternanthera dentate, Beschorneria yuccoides and Senecio serpens in the sunny spots.
For added interest, there’s a blade sandstone ballast wall, which was hand-shaped on site, and a laser-cut steel screen, which turns a plain house wall at the entrance to the garden into a focal point.
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Photography by Brigid Arnott