An inviting pool forms the centrepiece of this modern outdoor living area

With an inviting swimming pool forming its hub, the modern outdoor entertaining zone that graces this contemporary Sunshine Coast home offers the owners everything they need to enjoy a luxurious alfresco lifestyle, and do so in complete comfort.

At one end of the pool a spacious sun deck beckons. At the other resides a covered entertaining area with an outdoor kitchen and dining space. Of contemporary, clean-lined design, this sheltered space make year-round outdoor living effortless.

The outdoor entertaining area and the concrete pool were built by Outdoor Oasis Landscapes, headed by Director Matt Harding, and are a testament to the use of high-quality materials, precise planning, and construction excellence.

This is a project that overflows with standout elements, the custom concrete outdoor kitchen one of the most arresting. This unique creation features an Artusi four-burner barbecue and matching Artusi glass-front bar fridge, along with a sink.

“Also one of a kind, a custom cantilevered concrete plinth sits atop one corner of the 8m by 3m pool. This plinth acts as a lounging area and a point of interest for children when swimming or diving,” says Matt.

For the pool coping, Matt used Chaya Italian porcelain tile with a mitred drop edge. The same stone-look, large-format tile was used for the pool surrounds. “The colour works well in contrast to the concrete and decking; it’s also hard wearing and offers great slip resistance,” he says.

“We used glass mosaic tiles for the waterline edge and along the main bench, with the rest of the pool interior finished in a custom-colour glass bead that gives the water the precise hue the owners dreamed of having. Heating ensures the pool is ready to use throughout the year while frameless glass fencing encloses the pool area yet ensures unobstructed sightlines from within the house.”

Matt is equally proud of the deck, for which he selected Millboard composite decking. This comes with a 25-year warranty and is virtually maintenance-free. He chose the colour Ashwood, attracted by the warm, earthy tones that match the flooring inside the home.

“For night-time use, there is lighting throughout the landscape with uprights in the decking and LED strip lights under both the pool’s concrete plinth and the barbecue benchtop,” adds Matt.

A pre-existing tropical garden bed provided a leafy backdrop, which Matt supplemented with feature pots planted with eye-catching plants such as Agave geminiflora (twin-flowered agave), Chamaedorea atrovirens (cascade palms), Kalanchoe bracteata (silver spoons), and Senecio (blue chalk sticks).

The owners engaged Outdoor Oasis Landscapes as they needed a team that could complete the entire project without any outsourcing. High-end finishes were non-negotiable and they expected meticulous attention to detail — Matt and his team delivered on all counts.

Contact Details

Landscape & Pool Construction: Outdoor Oasis Landscapes
Mobile 0449 978 625
Instagram @outdoor_oasis.co

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The design needs to complement your home’s facade, have kerbside appeal and fit in with the wider streetscape. Unlike a rear garden, the front yard is very much on show, but it’s not just that you need to consider. A front garden with lush plants, arresting design elements and easy access makes it a welcoming sight after a long day at work.

The owners of this property in Diamond Valley, a rural location on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, engaged Matt Harding and the Outdoor Oasis Landscapes’ team to design and build a front garden that would work with the challenging topography of the site, provide ample space for vehicle access, and exude the relaxed country-coastal vibe they craved.

“The brief from the homeowners was to bring a modern coastal feel to their country haven and make better use of the sloping block with tiered gardens and stonework. For softness, they wanted some curves,” explains Matt. “Incorporating two driveways was also a must. This was to accommodate the family’s multiple vehicles, boats and trailers.”

The five curved retaining walls are standout elements of Matt’s design. “These are a feature that instantly catch the eye as you drive towards the property and they are unlike any other retaining walls around,” he says. “Four of the walls are clad with stone while the main wall in the centre is rendered white. This, however, will eventually become a ‘green wall’ when the creeping fig planted along the base snakes its way up and across the surface.”

For height, there is a 3.5m-tall cabbage tree palm. “This is complemented by an amazing dragon tree that stands front and centre,” says Matt. “On the other side of the garden, a frangipani serves as an additional focal point. Lighting to these garden beds ensures these feature plants can be enjoyed at night. ”A range of different species were used around the base of the palm and frangipani with the aim of introducing a cooling palette of blues and greens. These included hardy plants such as Kalanchoe ‘Silver Spoons’, Carissa ‘Desert Star’, Pittosporum ‘Miss Muffet’ and a few well-placed buxus balls.

“Golden Barrel cactus surround the dragon tree in the front garden bed with more cactus, along with a feature agave, planted in pots next to the curved walkway leading to the patio.”
The patio, the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed morning coffee as the sun rises, was paved in travertine tiles laid in a French pattern to tie in with the tiles and colour scheme used inside the home. Stone laid in crazy-paving style was used for the steppers that lead from the left-hand driveway across the lawn.

In the 2023 Landscape Queensland Construction Excellence Awards, this project was entered into the Residential 2 Category (projects valued between $50,001 and $75,000) and was Highly Commended.

For more information, visit Outdoor Oasis Landscapes

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