Taking shelter

To be effective, an outdoor area needs to be large enough for its purpose, convenient, and comfortable to use.

The home featured here had a poky little deck, and the rest of the garden sloped away. However, the overall area was large and had good potential.

"We wanted indoor/outdoor flow and a space with privacy for use year round. It had to have a warm, welcoming ambience and a design that blended with the architecture of the house," the owner says.

To achieve this, landscape designer Sam Lockie cut and filled the sloping garden to create a single, level area that could be accessed through French doors off the living room. Part of the new space was paved, and a pergola with adjustable louvres was added. An outdoor fireplace improves the ambience and means the area can be used all year. To create a sense of intimacy for the dining area, the paving is framed by a narrow band of pebbles. Kwila decking surrounds the paving and extends the space.

To complement the style of the home and provide privacy, boundary and retaining walls are plastered. Tropical planting and a water feature add life to the hard landscaping.

Story by: Mary Webb