EVERGREEN

Emily Hastie, Landscape Architect, Kamo Marsh Landscape Architects kamomarsh.co.nz

Creative outlook

The design of our outdoor spaces can say a lot about who we are, much like our homes, clothes, and even our chosen pets. If you keep your eyes open on a jaunt around your neighbourhood, you’ll notice a range of gardens styles; from the immaculate formality of buxus hedges and standard roses to fruitful and overflowing organic vegetable beds, or the low-maintenance luxury of sleek decking and concrete – and maybe a pool.

Observing the mixed bag of styles on apartment building balconies also tells us that even the tiniest space can be injected with creativity to reflect personal style. We are all drawn to outward expressions of what makes us happy, and your outdoor spaces are a wonderful place to unleash your creative side.

You can avoid uniformity by steering clear of too many ‘off the shelf’ items. Try commissioning design professionals to make custom items to create a point of difference, then work with craftsmen to bring it to life. Or you may want to employ your inner artist for a look that’s genuinely unique to you. These could include sculpture, water features, paving, furniture or lighting.

If you have an element from your past that you particularly love, like a piece of art or a significant tree, think about how you can work with the space around it to emphasise and highlight the feature. Up-lighting or even delicate fairy lights will add drama and ambience to the outlook when you’re enjoying those lazy summer evenings outdoors.

You can also express your creative side through the use of colour. Choose a palette you love and use the theme to select plants, furniture, and pots, or paint walls in complementary tones. Planting a mix of annuals and perennials allows you to continually evolve and change the garden over time – all in harmony with the seasons. Right now, we are all enjoying the exuberant spring blooms that lie in wait during winter to surprise us when the weather warms up.

Wherever your ideas take you, start the planning process by considering your own lifestyle and what you’d like to have. If you’re feeling overwhelmed about where to start, focus on the entry to your home as it’s the area that everyone sees and it can say a great deal about you. You could also concentrate on the area you spend the most time or an outlook from the house, choose one beautiful artwork, tree or colour combination and let that be your inspiration; let those creative juices flow.