Going with the flow

This small garden makes a big impact with a distinctive water feature and layers of foliage that create texture and interest

View of a landscaped garden which features three flora, garden, grass, leaf, plant, tree, green, brown — View of a landscaped garden which features three plastic pod chairs suspended from a trellis, plantings and other landscaping.

View of a landscaped garden which features three herb, leaf, plant, produce, green

View of outdoor dining suite which features a furniture, interior design, table, wall, black

View of a landscaped garden which features three backyard, grass, leaf, plant, water, water feature, black, green

View of a landscaped garden which features three flora, grass, leaf, plant, tree, brown

View of a landscaped garden which features three backyard, courtyard, flora, garden, grass, outdoor structure, plant, real estate, yard

View of the laser-cut metal screen with fluorescent flora, green, leaf, brown

Time spent outside can be the best part of the day. Even with a modest patch of land, opportunities abound to create a place to enjoy outdoor living.

Starting with a small garden, landscape designer Dean Herald of Rolling Stone Landscapes sought to create a modern outdoor living environment with an architectural spin.

"I envisioned a really special outdoor space for cooking, dining and relaxing," Herald says. "The design recognises that being outside is important in our lives."

The garden's centrepiece is a table with a real waterfall end a continuous cascade of water flows between two glass panels onto a small bed of rocks. As diners enjoy their meals at the table, they can watch air bubbles stream by.

"Often water features are removed from the general enjoyment of being in a garden," Herald says. "Combining the dining table, which is an inherent part of outdoor entertainment, with the waterfall provides a more interactive, cohesive and pleasurable experience."

Elements with a sense of lightness and transparency enhance the space. For example, to make the stainless steel table seem as light as possible, Herald developed a design without legs, choosing instead to cantilever it. This is made possible by a steel support structure, which is hidden behind a waist-height wall.

"Although the table looks as if it is floating, it is strong enough for me to stand on the end," Herald says.

Underneath the table are stools made of a stainless steel frame and wrapped in perforated metal, giving a lightweight look. A trio of clear plastic pod chairs are suspended from a trellis above the garden. Like the table, they appear to float.

Herald also focused on creating symmetry in the garden. Every element has a connection to something else. For example, the clear pod chairs refer to the transparency of the table and waterfall, while the green hues of the plants are echoed by a fluorescent green painted wall in the background. Links such as these add depth and interest to the space.

Plants for the project were chosen for colour and texture, to create an illusion of space. To emphasise the contrast between dark and light, Herald specified lush foliage plants in many shades of green, such as bird's nest ferns and bamboo, in preference to flowering plants.

Lighting adds another dimension by illuminating features and creating dark areas in between for added depth.