Good food, good company and a stunning outdoor kitchen — what more could you want?

As a nation, we love to spend time outdoors enjoying fine food and engaging company — and the discerning owners of this Melbourne property proved no exception. They love to entertain outside and they like to do it in style, so they wanted their backyard transformed into an elegant, multi-functional outdoor living space that would be just as perfect for relaxed entertaining as it would a more formal dinner party.

The owners’ must-have list included a swimming pool, water feature, outdoor theatre and that alfresco living essential: the outdoor kitchen. In short, they wanted the complete outdoor entertaining package.

Of modern classic design, the kitchen is housed within an outdoor room that extends from the back of the house. This fully custom-built kitchen is contemporary, sophisticated and incredibly practical. Included are a built-in barbecue and an additional cooking plate that’s integrated into an island bench positioned beneath a sleek rangehood. There’s also a sink, glass-fronted bar fridge, copious bench and storage space, and a dishwasher.

The stacked-stone walling mirrors are used for a water feature located in another part of the garden while the large-format paving — of flame-finished salt-and-pepper granite — helps to make the outdoor room seem even more spacious. Both the stone walling and paving were supplied by Granite Works and work in complete harmony with the modern stainless-steel kitchen fittings.

From the outdoor kitchen to the rendered retaining walls, Coolabah Landscapes was responsible for all the construction work. It also worked hand-in-hand with the owners to create a classic-style planting plan that would complement the architecture of the residence and reflect the owners’ personal taste.

The plants provide a soothing outlook from the covered outdoor kitchen/dining area and include hedges of Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ and clipped English box, Gardenia augusta ‘Florida’ and standard English box to frame various garden views.

With an eye to water conservation, Coolabah Landscapes installed a rainwater tank that catches the run-off from the roof of the outdoor kitchen, which is then distributed throughout the garden via an irrigation system.

The result is an elegant outdoor room set within beautifully landscaped grounds that provides for the owners’ every entertaining need, whether on sunny summer’s day or a cool spring night when the exterior lighting casts the whole area in a warm, ambient glow.

Coolabah Landscapes
Tel: 1300 LANDSCAPE (1300 526 372)
Fax: (03) 9763 4966
Mobile: 0419 435 449
Email: info@coolabahlandscapes.com.au
Website: www.coolabahlandscapes.com.au

Granite Works
5 Montrose Street
East Hawthorn Vic 3123
Tel: (03) 9813 5999
Mobile: 0419 395 458
Email: info@graniteworks.com.au
Website: www.graniteworks.com.au

Photography by Patrick Redmond