Landscaping

Whipping up a Greek salad is easy in this home where a central light well acts as a sunken court complete with sculptural olive tree 

For a home in a beautiful setting, excellent indoor/outdoor living is key – this al fresco lounge looks every bit as welcoming as the indoor version a few steps away

Verdant, low-upkeep ferns are all but knocking at the rear door of this new home, extending the residence's nature-focussed agenda

This outdoor setting exhibits a free and easy connection between sofa and pool but a glass balustrade keeps things safe as well 

While it's hard to take your eyes off this sculptural home, it might pay to watch your feet, too – a rustic path makes for an earthy counterpoint

A contemporary mountain home includes this tousled mid level courtyard – providing a complementary relaxed contrast to the strong architecture

This could be a confusing instruction to a child in this home, where a generous light courtyard brings nature into the heart of the interior 

The rear of this house sits into the landscape, with the roof and deck hugging the existing volcanic rock seams to provide a series of differing spaces

This showhome offers the best of everything in terms of materials and products – however, a winning handicap is not supplied as standard

Fair to say the environment provided inspiration for the materiality of this hardwood clad home with timber decking

This property came out tops as our most popular new home story of 2020. Read on to find out more. 

Opening up to its environment with seamless indoor-outdoor connections, this transparent, sustainability-focused family home by Borrmeister Architects achieves privacy where it needs it

With deep, deep foundations, great street presence and a build height respectful of rear neighbours, this home responds to its environment in several ways

Tilt-slab construction and 3m-high floor-to-ceiling glass come together to shape a spectacular home, where the views and interiors jostle for attention

Walls of glass, deep overhangs and prominent parapet bands create a horizontal emphasis in this rural home

An industrial modern home for a family of eight cleverly caters for everyone to be together or in their own individualistic spaces

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best – here, a flowerbed within an expansive landscape is delineated, naturally, by river stones

Various areas were covered in this landscaping project – not least the lush central courtyard which is on show to most areas of the home

Here, orange plants, libertia peregrinans, provide a border between lawn and path – creating a colourful, interesting contrast while softening the strong lines

Building pocket gardens into your architecture is the dream – this private rear patio is a little like a sculptural event in its own right, complete with plantings

The decking, pool and changing space in this landscape project takes the home to the next level – the owners wanted an LA vibe and this design delivered

This house has a Spanish influence which also provided the inspiration for the ornamental fencing and the landscape, the latter anchored by large established trees

This landscaping project draws the home's architecture into the mix – a square planter box on steroids is just one eye-catching example

Tall lancewoods are matched with base green plants – Myosotidium hortensia or The Chatham Island Forget-me-not – in this seaside lawn surround

This project employs colour, texture, natural materials, a plunge pool, barbecue, dining area and more to give the house an established, nestled feel

It's not just plantings that bring landscape harmony – here, off-form concrete elements provide continuity and connection through the garden

Like giant paw pads, these stepping stones contribute to a landscape design that's enjoyed from all areas of the home it surrounds

This project deftly addresses every aspect of a diverse garden, including how the areas impact views from within the home – more than one sense is celebrated

An outdoor space is all about alfresco activity, but what about the weather? Orienting your home to provide shelter is a key mitigating strategy

The front door of this home is subtly highlighted through use of hardwood decking, feature pots and vibrant planting

Increasingly innovation meets sustainability in our outdoor designs – here, Matt Leacy, of Landart, reflects on the way forward

Not all long driveways have to snake up to their home – for this landscape design, the way forward is impressive and direct

This low-upkeep landscaping project reflects on the clean-lined home it extends from, stepping down to accommodate spa and then lawn

Your landscaping doesn't have to be all about extravagant gestures – here, feathered grasses complement weathered wood decking in quiet beauty

This relaxing backyard day bed in timber is assimilated into the rear property fence – part of a renovated and extended family residence

On full display from the home, this garden with grass mounds and pergola inspires intrigue and adventure – lawn bowls might be out though

There's more to landscaping than grass and flowers – here, an appealing statue adds to the craft imbued vibe of the accompanying home

Simple and low maintenance, this garden underpins and celebrates all the sculptures on this property, including the architectural house itself

Here, sliders pull back to put you right among the bamboo leaves – even with the doors closed, the panda's favourite meal item makes for a verdant display

While the cladding on this home catches the eye, the transparent pool balustrading does not – keeping views from the living areas to the pool and garden unobstructed

Part of a Modernist landscaping project, this uncovered deck seems to disappear into the verdant surroundings courtesy of glass balustrading

This Hawke's Bay garden is inspired by the Spanish style 1950s home it accompanies and offers a restful retreat for the busy homeowners

Delineated by deck and framing, this al fresco space creates a relaxed under the skies dining venue without interfering with the lines of the home

If you can't get to Bali, bring Bali back home to you – for this garden, a Balinese water sculpture appeals to more than one of the senses

Plantings bring a sense of nature and softness wherever they go – including mitigating the strong architectural lines on this home

This design utilises outdoor spaces for degrees of separation while formal plantings close to the home give way to more natural forms further away

This serene white cabana continues the home's Grecian bleached white aesthetic – the tricky part was the precarious clifftop location

This grand, contemporary outdoor design brings the scale and sweep to balance the renovated, now barn-like family home on the stately rural property 

Decks come in all shapes, materials and aesthetics – a deck is not an afterthought, it's the cheapest way to add floorspace while facilitating that all-important indoor-outdoor flow

So you want indoor-outdoor flow – well, as with this renovation, echoing the indoor flooring outdoors is a good place to start

No, heart of the home. This landscaped space bites into the floor plan of this family residence and as such brings a verdant vibe indoors

The brief was for a design that accentuated the family’s love of swimming and spending time together in their garden – scale and balance were key

One foot in sunlight, the other in the shade – part of a wider landscaping project, this poolside outdoor dining space is ideally situated

A crisp landscape design and adroit species selection provides colourful contrast and interest while softening the strong lines of the contemporary seaside home

This spiritual garden fits within ancient Indian principles of architecture – traditional statuary standing side-by-side with a contemporary cabana and outdoor kitchen

This outdoor living space with pool is organised in tiers – the varying landscaping layers creating interest and deftly negotiating the terrain

Tired of the blunt aesthetic of guttering? There's another way – this rain chain fulfils the same purpose but in style

This outdoor design covers 2ha and includes everything from a large lawn and pool to gardens, al fresco entertaining and a track for kid racers 

Just in case you are outside in dark of night, this home's deck edge lighting lets you know when you're straying onto the damp lawn

Landscaping is so much more than just ‘doing the garden’ – in your new home, it’s a fundamental aspect of the architecture; here a prominent house designer/builder points the way

For this landscaping project, the rotting timber deck was replaced with Biowood composite decking for its durability, water & termite resistance

This sumptuous garden celebrates the natural world at every turn of its curvaceous flower bed – taking its cue from the saying 'there are no straight lines in nature'

For this outdoor living project, the garden design included planting additional tiers to complement the approach taken with hardscape elements

These trees won't move towards the castle, like in the witches' prophesy for Macbeth, but they will move upwards, providing a verdant screen

Part of a home renovation, planted grasses create a soft divide between deck and pool, while clear fencing behind really keeps things safe

Solar lighting is one good idea of many when it come to walking the green talk with our outdoor spaces – and not at the expense of beauty

Car pooling can save time and money, and so off-set stress – here a tranquil pool parked in an undercroft offers another form of car-related stress reduction

A token garden at the back? Not at all – the landscaping here provides verdant relaxation from various vantages while actively enhancing the home's architecture

This well-known saying is reflected in this organic-look garden design – the soft curves of the garden bed are also soft on the eye

From the local beach sand used in the brickwork mortar, to the alfresco roof in foraged native eucalyptus gimlets, this home has a character all its own 

For this front garden the owners wanted the structure to hark back to a period when the property was first established and when the garden style worked hand in hand with the building

This spiritual garden fits within Vedic principles of architecture that originate in a large body of religious texts from ancient India

Want a visually pleasing, magical pathway through your garden or across your lawn? In this garden, stepping stones have a relaxed, organic appeal

With clear balustrading in the foreground and mature trees providing a natural backdrop, this pool is presented in the best possible light

There's plenty to look at in this pool project including a ball sculpture/diving board, a tinkling waterfall and a rather lazy onlooker clinging to the fence

This clean-lined architectural poolside pergola offers shade and a shower while contrasting and celebrating the natural treed backdrop

From planning to planting, landscaping projects don't have to be as overwhelmingly difficult as they might initially seem. Here we provide some great first steps for first timers

Providing natural light, airflow, and great sense of transparency across the interior, this internal courtyard becomes the heart of the house

This vertical garden, or living wall, helps maximise verdant impact within a restricted outdoor space – as a double bonus the wall is outside the kitchen window splashback

For this outdoor living project, the timber stepped access leads onto the first wood platform of a split-level outdoor living space

Natural features in this backyard garden extend to a cane chair grouping – part of a pallet of low upkeep products & finishes

Millboard Smoked Oak boards, from Forte Refined Timber, provide the natural deck underpinning this outdoor living and dining backyard retreat

Material connection plays its part in this outdoor al fresco dining space with the timber decking echoed in the make-up of the table itself

For this contemporary urban oasis contrasting its Victorian heritage home, a starburst sculptural adds sparkle to the beautiful outdoor setting

This landscape design optimises the home's indoor-outdoor flow and includes an outdoor fireplace and teppanyaki along with a modern garden

New lawn, ornamental features, planters, decorative edging and strategic lighting turn a small angular rear yard into a functional designer area

Making for pleasing architectural companions, this kitchen pavilion's cedar deck reaches out to the meditation pavilion further down the garden

Simple, low upkeep and in compliance – a complete transformation makes the most of outdoor living at the front and rear of this home

A new landscape design makes use of the rear garden’s northerly aspect and allows for functional and comfortable outdoor spaces that seamlessly extend from the existing roomy interior

The timber deck on this home connects tonally with the indoor use of reclaimed red brick and the natural backyard lawn and garden

Part of a grand landscaping rethink, this front door approach is lined with plantings – the succulents are in pots to ensure survival in harsh conditions

The two complementary finishes for this outdoor living area reflect the separate uses of the split-levels – the timber deck for lounging and the lower, concrete level for alfresco dining

Immersive – part of a lush outdoor project, this glasshouse was incorporated to provide an area to entertain as well as grow warm climate plants

A family friendly oasis with infinity pool was the goal, but how to reconcile the desire for a modern pool house when the home was built in the 1880s?

This renovation creates a clear divide between old and new – a central diving garden, yet to mature, will provide a private al fresco social spot

Shade, privacy, seamless indoor-outdoor flow and colour – all with low upkeep in mind – this outdoor living project offers more than one kind of cool

These lawn set pavers lead to the most magical semi-circular, harbour-front seating arrangement – it may not be all about the journey, but it helps

This elegant garden features curvaceous borders, bluestone pavers, seating by a Victorian fountain, showcased mature trees and visual connection to an adjacent park

This award-winning home has not one but two outdoor entertaining spaces. The lower alfresco dining area is underlit to dramatic effect.

Two backyards are co-joined to create a multi-use outdoor escape complete with tennis court, pool, al fresco dining, children's area and garden

We're not sure a garden seat and garden outlook could get any better – stepping stones lead to the tucked away semi-circular seating trained on the scenery

This minimalist design in a vineyard setting maximises the outdoor living spaces, with mass plantings and repetition two key factors 

A potted shrub brings a verdant touch to this pool-side cabana, part of a lush inner city oasis with infinity pool and intimate harbour views

Whether you have a sprawling space or just a cosy corner, these 12 landscaped gardens are packed with ideas for your own outdoor transformation

This garden acts as a visual extension of the home's rear-facing rooms – sense of place and a Japanese aesthetic are also part of the plot

Are your backyard ideas red hot or are they sometimes met with a cool reception? This article shares some landscaping tips to warm up your thinking

This comprehensive hard and soft landscaping project nestles the renovated home into its setting, creates engaging play spaces and merges the wider garden into its wooded backdrop

This home's generous timber steps offer great flow but play down their presence on the landscape by blending with the slatwork behind

Metal grids imbedded in the upper sun deck of this concrete-built lakeside home allow natural light to penetrate through to the lower level

A nature-themed, low upkeep landscaping design brings this internal courtyard to life – adroit lighting shifts the tone as dusk descends

Immersive – hard to believe this lush environment is a few minutes' drive from Auckland's Queen Street. The glasshouse provides an area to entertain as well as to grow tropical plants. 

Here are the five most common lawn problems you can face and and how to remedy them before they get out of hand

This interior courtyard – complete with reflection pond – offers shade as well as reverie. Breezes flow over the water, further cooling the home

Why create seperate hard landscaping when your house can come to the party? Here a blade wall connects architecture and courtyard

A beautiful home with beautiful, verdant out looks – how to seamlessly connect the two? This adroit landscaping project achieves just that

The inspiration for this design was an inner city oasis. The owner wanted to enjoy the large grounds and be able to escape everyday life

What clutter? A newly introduced white-painted timber screen shed in the backyard of this terrace home keeps equipment hidden from sight

There can be few more calming sounds than that of moving water. Here are some guidelines to creating your own backyard water feature

One way to maximise your interior spaces is to make your landscaping part of your living spaces – indoors drift to outdoors in this airy home

The house is built, the hard landscaping nailed down. Now it’s time to pimp your patio/backyard/al fresco setting in an affordable yet eye-catching style

This deck features a pebbled rooftop area complete with sculpture. The ‘garden’ evokes the natural world without needing watering or weeding

The seasons are changing – but why wait until you’re cold before getting your heating options sorted – your outdoors included? Landscape designer and creative director of Landart Landscapes Matt Leacy shares some tips for a fire pit 

Matt Leacy of Landart Landscapes shares his top landscaping, styling and construction tips for creating the perfect autumn outdoor space

We all want a great looking garden for the family to enjoy over summer – but often pay no attention to the lawn until it's too late. Here are the five most common lawn problems you can face and and how to remedy them before they get out of hand

Who says you need to trek all the way to the local park to spend time or entertain outdoors? Why not achieve the same vibes in your own home? It’s definitely possible, you just need to focus on putting together your own garden of Eden

So, you haven’t been blessed with a large outdoor space. That’s okay! There are plenty of ways around this. Here are some landscaping ideas for small garden spaces

In this major renovation project, a narrow single storey addition sitting at right angles to the existing home, terminates in a large window framing the view of the pool and garden beyond

Amantea Architects modernised a lush and casual urban residential landscape with a Mondrianesque composition of deftly planned spaces

So you live next to the sea, but why not get closer? This renovation facilitates open connections to the water and also celebrates hand made

In today's world, it's important to understand the differences within the landscape industry – and the advantages of using a landscape designer

Trying to sell your home but not having much luck? Your garden can be a huge asset. Here's how to update the landscaping to make your garden more appealing to buyers

Matt Leacy, Creative Director and co-founder of the award winning Landart Landscapes shares his top tips for keeping your garden alive while you’re away on holiday this summer

Don't let lack of room stop you from getting the outdoor area that fits your needs. Here are some ways to make the most of your outdoor space

Are you doing your bit for our beautiful, beleaguered planet? One way to contribute is to take a sustainable approach to your garden design. Here are 7 tips that will keep your garden apace with the environment's needs (and the envy of your neighbours)

This home came out tops as our most popular renovation story of 2020. Step inside to see why. 

Surrounded by green space on a steep plot of land, this contemporary home opens up to the views

This modern desert home hugs nature, and is totally immersed in the surrounding canyon environment

This unique space successfully merges indoor and outdoor areas seamlessly to great effect

A three storey addition and dramatic rear garden architectural spaces all work well together in this far-sighted and sustainable project

The rear of this home has been completely transformed, with a thinking outside the box renovation resulting in a lofty, double-height lounge and kitchen area open to the rear garden. Steel bi-folding glazing blurs the boundary between indoors and out

Building up the land in front of the front deck avoided the need to have balustrades on this new home, thus keeping costs down and leaving views uninterrupted. Check out the home's other savvy architectural moves that optimise connections to the land

Give your garden a refresh and get ready for the warmer months. Landscape expert Matt Leacy shares his new season colour trends for outdoor spaces

This home has not one but two outdoor entertaining spaces, effectively stepping into the greater landscape. The lower alfresco dining area is underlit to dramatic effect. 

Set amongst redwood and oak trees, native landscaping gives this home a soft, contextual exterior ambiance. But it also played an important role in the sustainability of the design. Click to find out how thoughtful landscaping contributed to its eco systems

Three different landscaped zones are cradled in the arms of this uniquely Y-shaped hilltop home – the arrival courtyard, the outdoor living zone including pool, and a rear garden with a wooded outlook

When it comes to pool and garden design there's making a splash and then there's really making a splash. Check this bird's eye view of modern Italian home Casa B's top-level attraction

A simple planting plan and pavers laid on a diagonal line create a strong directional pathway to the entranceway in this distinctive home’s front facade of twisting brick columns

With just a few simple steps, you can transform your garden into a clutter-free zone of peace and tranquillity

Massed groupings of plants in the front yard of this home create a strong layered look that reinforces an illusion of depth

With an underwater ledge for both safety and sitting, an infinity edge, and glass fencing, this pool area is both safe and scenic

Infinity edges add drama and avoid blocking views for this expansive and highly contemporary backyard oasis in step with its adjacent home

Specialist bamboo importer and distributor Plantation Bamboo offers high quality, sustainable bamboo products – including game-changing Bamboo X-treme Decking

Your outdoor living doesn't have to be out the back. This major extension added pool, fire pit, alfresco dining and barbecue spaces to the front of the house.

See how the alteration of this contemporary home in City Beach, Australia, was designed to maintain the charm of its 1960s Commonwealth Games village history

Surrounded by a mix of contemporary and heritage buildings on a tree-lined street, Elwood House certainly stands out