A swirl of stainless steel draws the eye up and over a sculpted swathe of lawn, establishing an easy flow and a strong sense of connection between the cosy environs of the outdoor room nestled next to the house and the tennis court that claims pride of place at the rear of the property.

The lustrous sculpture supplied by Sculptura, however, is just one of several visual treats to be savoured in this deceptively simple garden design by Nathan Burkett Landscape Design and Construction.

Says Nathan Burkett, “The owners enjoy entertaining, so we set out to make as much of the garden as practical as possible. We kept the rendered retaining walls to a comfortable sitting height, avoided the use of steps where we could and ensured the level changes were seamless.

“Given the price of real estate these days, efficient and creative use of space throughout a property often translates to dollars when the property is passed on to a new owner. Appropriate use of space should always be a key design principle, but this does not mean that all space should be trafficable or put to some practical use — we need habitat for our own wellbeing. Balance is the key.”

Achieving balance was critical to the success of this design, in more ways than one. The existing site was plagued with awkward level changes. Another challenge was the eastern boundary of the property, which was surrounded by a two-metre-wide concrete footing and afforded virtually no planting depth to screen the boundary fencing.

“My solution was to lift the beds up from ground level and maintain the soft yet structured characteristic of the site with solid curved walls projecting out of the ground and returning back into the ground,” explains Nathan. “The curved walls became a key feature of the garden, drawing one’s eye from the house and alfresco dining area up to the level of the tennis court.”

Similarly, Nathan used the contours of the site to project the pool out of the ground, allowing it to fit seamlessly into the overall design.

From the granite paving to the merbau timber decking supplied by Chippy’s Outdoor, the emphasis was on high-quality materials. Choosing reputable suppliers is essential to a successful outcome, which is why Chippy’s Outdoor, a company that stocks only the best-quality timber decking and screening products, is one of Nathan’s preferred suppliers.

For ambience, there is a well-considered lighting scheme, which includes subtle uplighting of trees. To lend the garden a sense of subtle drama, massed low-level plantings including Arthropodium ‘White Knight’ and Liriope ‘Evergreen Giant’ create a carpeting effect that follows the undulation of the garden beds. Adding interest and pronounced vertical elements, the pleached, white-trunked Ficus hillii and the deciduous ornamental pear Pyrus ‘Capital’ stand like sculptures in the garden.

“My philosophy on design is simple,” says Nathan. “You have to be able to live and breathe in it and it has to be a part of who you are. With this in mind, I approach each project with the primary objective of interpreting the client’s needs and integrating this within the space.”

From the earliest design stages to final construction, Nathan remains in close personal contact with clients and it is this commitment that has helped Nathan Burkett Landscape Design and Construction to forge an enviable reputation for both design and construction. Nathan Burkett Landscape Design and Construction also boasts a close-knit team of hand-picked, highly skilled professionals including qualified architects, carpenters, builders, electricians, plumbers, lighting consultants and pool specialists.