be inspired

With its stylish finish and grand features, this exceptional outdoor area perfectly encapsulates what can be achieved when the best of local businesses come together.

By Sue Turpie - Photography by Leon Schoots

A vast block of land and a world of possibilities lay in front of one Bendigo family when they set out on a journey to create their dream property, complete with captivating outdoor space. For Todd and Kate Newman, it was an exciting opportunity to establish a private oasis their family could enjoy for years to come. And so, they chose to work with Simon Rosa Landscaping and Evolution Pools Bendigo to realise their dream.

“We really relied on the expertise of Simon Rosa and Evolution Pools and their guidance to help us make decisions around the spaces,” Kate says. The L-shaped design of the home perfectly envelopes the stunning pool and outdoor entertainment space, next to which is the extensive lawn and surrounding garden beds and trees. While the design team had to accommodate the block size of approximately 4000 square metres and design of the home, there were other needs to consider.

“Our main concern was the lack of time Todd and I have outside of a busy business, four kids and our community commitments,” Kate says. “The garden had to be low maintenance, but still look amazing, and the pool had to be easy to manage as well. Todd and I aren’t green thumbs so we needed plants that would survive our lack of gardening knowledge and an easy watering system so everything could survive even when we are not home.”

Simon Rosa explains the large area was appealing as it offered room to create larger-than-average elements that would complement the building.

The pool and garden sit in perfect harmony next to the modern building, allowing the clean lines and quality finish to shine. While the details are aesthetically pleasing to adults, the children’s needs were taken care of with large play areas such as the basketball court and open yard.

“The pool area can be seen from all aspects of the house, which makes it an appealing feature, so a lot of thought went into that,” he says. “The complete landscaping is low maintenance, including the front yard, and then the rear yard is an overwhelming kid-friendly area for a large family that they can enjoy for a long time.”

Evolution Pools Bendigo co-director Kurt Ross understood the need to incorporate a pool that would fit the overall look and needs of the property.

“The house, on nearly all aspects, faces out to the pool, so it was a fairly big piece of the puzzle,” Kurt explains.

The Torino pool measures 11 metres long and 4.5 metres wide and is the largest fibreglass pool available in their range. Its installation meant Evolution Pools were involved early in the build, as the plumbing had to run underneath the house, while construction of the pool started once the house was at lock-up stage.

“In some circumstances such as new home builds, you want that collaborative approach,” Kurt says. “It’s good to have a conversation about the pool when the house is being constructed so things such as putting equipment in a functional location can be accounted for.” The pool boasts a mechanical heat pump that keeps the water at a constant temperature from October through to April, and is fully automated, controlled via a smartphone. It also features a Badu jet system for stationary swimming.

After enjoying their outdoor area for more than 12 months, the family can sit back and reflect on the process and design.

“We have so many favourite features,” says Kate. “The pool is stunning at night when it’s all lit up with whatever colour takes your fancy. The garden either side of our sunken lounge gives you a feeling of sitting within a garden and the lighting at night adds another element to the feel of the home.

“The basketball court allows the kids to stay active, the fire pit is for a cold winter’s night, while the garden spaces all tell a different story, and the grassed area is for footy during the winter and cricket during the summer. The outside spaces have exceeded our expectations. It suits the way we live perfectly.

“Simon Rosa’s crew and the Evolution Pools team were exceptional tradespeople, communicators and businesses to work with. We are so grateful to have worked with them throughout the build so we could enjoy our spaces on completion of the home.”