This tropical-inspired modern garden flawlessly fuses tropical style with modern influences
Relaxing by the pool, a refreshing drink in your hand and good friends by your side — this is what summer is all about. When Troy Stolzenhein of Prestige Landscape & Construction was approached by the homeowners, they had a lacklustre, under-used rear garden, a dated pool and nowhere to entertain. Today, they have an inviting tropical-inspired modern garden – the perfect outdoor retreat.
“They wanted the pool and surrounding areas to have a ‘modern paradise’ feel and an effortless flow. There was to be an undercover outdoor dining area that ebbed from the house to the pool and an outdoor play area. The spaces — and plants — had to be low maintenance,” explains Troy.
“A priority was the 25–year-plus concrete pool that needed more than a bit of love. This was completely gutted from bottom to top so we could give it a fresh, modern look and a new lease of life.”
The pool interior was given a beautiful, bright blue interior finish by Pebble Masters with Prestige taking care of all the external finishes. Slip- and stain-resistant Nuage designer porcelain pavers in the colour Cream from Europe Imports were used for the pool surrounds and were complemented with a matching drop-edge tile.
A deck constructed of timber-look composite boards was installed at one end of the heated pool and the area is surrounded by a VogueWall, a modular walling system designed to replicate the look of a rendered masonry wall with piers.
“The interior colour of the pool really pops against the colour of the tiles and walling,” says Troy. “The walling, which serves to define the pool area and provide complete privacy from the neighbours, was a low maintenance choice, as was the composite decking. The walling is also the perfect backdrop for the raised planter.”
For the poolside planter, Troy suggested a pared-back palette of hardy plants that create a modern tropical feel. For the lower-storey planting there is strappy-leafed Dianella caerulea ‘Breeze’, for a flourish of colour, Cordyline Banksii ‘Electric Pink’, and for a taste of the tropics, Strelitzia (best known as bird of paradise). “The planter breaks up the expanse of the modular walls and adds to the ‘paradise feel’,” says Troy.
“For the perimeter planting around the lawn area adjacent to the pool, to create a smart, somewhat formal look with splashes of vibrant colour we planted Gardenia ‘True Love’, Magnolia ‘Teddy Bear’ and the vibrant Alternanthera ‘Brazilian Red Hots’.
“So the garden can be used and enjoyed at night,” adds Troy, ”there is strategic lighting placed throughout the backyard along the VogueWall, and within the garden there are spot lights on the trees.”
This can all be enjoyed from the comfort of the main entertaining area at the rear of the house which was paved in the same porcelain pavers that embrace the pool. The result? A little piece of paradise – a tropical-inspired modern garden made for the whole family.
For more information
Prestige Landscape & Construction
This project is an entrant in the Outdoor Design 2022 NSW Landscaper of the Year Awards, celebrating residential design innovation and construction excellence. All entrants were featured in Outdoor Design Issue 42, with winners to be announced in Outdoor Design Issue 43.
