Low hedging separates two pools by Natural Habitats

Help

Natural Habitats pool landscape

Here is a home designed by Belinda George backyard, estate, leisure, outdoor furniture, outdoor structure, patio, property, real estate, sunlounger, swimming pool, table, gray — Here is a home designed by Belinda George Architects, with the landscape being done by Natural Habitats. Here is a pool, an umbrella, six chairs, an outdoor table and a wooden deck.

Here is a home designed by Belinda George backyard, estate, home, house, interior design, outdoor structure, patio, property, real estate, roof, gray

Here is a home designed by Belinda George backyard, estate, home, house, luxury vehicle, outdoor structure, patio, plant, property, real estate, roof, table, gray

Here is a home designed by Belinda George outdoor structure, patio, real estate, roof, table, gray

Here is a home designed by Belinda George architecture, daytime, estate, garden, grass, home, house, landscape, lawn, plant, real estate, reflecting pool, reflection, residential area, roof, sky, tree, walkway, water, blue

Here is a home designed by Belinda George architecture, condominium, corporate headquarters, estate, grass, home, house, property, real estate, reflecting pool, reflection, residential area, sky, swimming pool, villa, water

Here is a home designed by Belinda George architecture, backyard, estate, garden, grass, home, house, landscape, landscaping, lawn, luxury vehicle, plant, property, real estate, reflecting pool, residential area, swimming pool, villa, water, white

Small sites don't have to be compromised when it comes to landscaping. This project shows it is possible to have it all an attractive outdoor living area, family swimming pool, tranquil water feature and an expanse of green lawn.

Natural Habitats landscape designer Mark Read says the renovated house provided the design cues.

"With its spacious living area, high ceilings and large windows, the house has an airy, coastal look. I decided to follow this through in the landscaping, creating an understated backdrop with an emphasis on simplicity. It's a little bit of a play between a formal and a coastal garden."

Working within an existing framework, Read remodelled the original swimming pool and added a long reflection pool that is on the same visual axis as the entry to the house.

"This pool has a dark tiled interior to better show reflections," the designer says. "The main pool has a similar tone, but is lighter, with a grey, Hydrazzo plastered interior."

A low, clipped corokia hedge separates the two pools.

"Providing this separation ensures the two pools don't fight each other visually," says Read. "It also avoids a single, wide expanse of water."

In keeping with the coastal look, Read added a line of miniature pohutukawa trees to the rear boundary. These are underplanted with grasses, including silver tussock (Poa cita) and Carex albula. The trees will be kept trimmed to retain their existing shape.

"The unattractive wood fences were stained in a dark charcoal-black colour and disguised by a variety of plants, including white-flowering camellias near the house, and jasmine creepers beside the pool," says Read. "The creepers will be trimmed regularly to maintain a striped effect against the fence."

A retaining wall below the creepers was covered by a low plastered concrete wall.

"The concrete wall was extended right across the back boundary to add a horizontal element," says the designer. "It helps to visually widen the property, making the whole area seem larger."

The walls are painted in a neutral beige-grey shade that complements the house and the dark andesite paving tiles around the pool.

"We deliberately kept the palette neutral, and ensured the overall design was very simple," says Read. "It was important not to diminish the visual impact of the reflection pool by having too much going on. Similarly, the pool fencing is minimal the unframed glass sits directly on the decking, which helps to keep the view unobstructed."