D S AR U W KY 002 O C 10 11 SH BA N aon pg R I U W e how YO & se
MY
BACK YA RD
GREAT IDEA outdoor cushions
Entry point The two bowl pots indicate you’re entering a different zone of the garden.
BACK YA RD
M I C H E LLE
FOSTE R
OUTER SPACES
A massive yard was made more user-friendly when broken up into small pockets of tranquillity.
Why it works Opting for a contemporary feel, garden designer Adam (pictured) chose wooden furniture with cushions in greys and blues, and a large sculptural urn to sit prominently under a pine. The winding path that connects each space is lit by solar lighting for an enchanted feel, which makes visitors feel like they’re being led into another world.
90 | SEPTEMBER 2015 | HOMESPLUS
DESPITE ITS ENVIABLE 1046 sq m size, existing swimming pool and plethora of shady, mature trees, this garden in Pymble, NSW, was woefully underused. The owner, Michelle Foster, wanted to create an inviting expanse where her children and grandchildren could linger and build happy memories. “The garden was huge and I felt like I wasn’t using it to its full advantage,” Michelle says. “I wanted a gorgeous flowing and full garden with seasonal interest and lots of areas for my family to enjoy for all occasions.”
SEPARATE SPACES To bring this vision to life, Michelle commissioned landscape designer Adam Robinson, who decided to separate the property into pockets
of dedicated spaces that were conducive to whiling away time – with a natural flow between them. A key element of the makeover was ensuring the space was suitable for year-round entertaining, in keeping with Michelle’s dream of “summers under the big oak tree and winter evenings around the fire pit”, Adam explains. “The brief was to allow the large family to use the space for long periods of time and not make them feel like they were all bunched in,” he says. “We dissected the one big area into many smaller intimate spaces to create cosiness. Pots and furniture were used to give each area a defined use and dress.” Adam painted the rear walls in Dulux “Domino” (a charcoal) to make them recede and to provide a solid boundary. >
TEXT TRUDIE MCCONNOCHIE PHOTOGRAPHY GEORGIE BECK GARDEN DESIGN ADAMROBINSONDESIGN.COM CONSTRUCTION QUERCUS GARDENS (QUERCUSGARDENS.COM.AU)
GARDEN VISION
MY
Step to it Oversized steppers draw you around the large space.
Relaxation HQ The texture of the cobblestones defines the lounge area.
Keeping it tidy Repetition of pots makes sure this corner isn’t too busy.
Urn for you The water feature urn provides a focal point.
HOMESPLUS | SEPTEMBER 2015 | 91