OPEN-AIR DELIGHT

A BASIC BACKYARD HAS BEEN TURNED INTO AN ALFRESCO STUNNER BY THE MAKE IT HAPPEN TEAM. HERE’S HOW

Words HOLLY BYRNE Photography ALEX REINDERS Styling SHARON BEGG

Living in the great outdoors doesn’t get much better than an expansive deck with a stylish alfresco kitchen and dining area. And that’s exactly what the team of experts from our Make It Happen: The House Project series delivered at this house in Melbourne’s suburbs. Landscape designer and landscaper Inge Jabara (@ingejabaralandscapes) brought her vision and focus to the outdoor elements, creating an enviable outdoor entertaining space. “The premise of the backyard is to be an extension of the interior,” says Inge. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a balcony garden or a big backyard, that outdoor space can fit the culture of cooking food and entertaining friends and family outside in summer – that’s the Australian way.” Lending a hand were builder Tim Clark (@timmatau) and interior designer and stylist Jono Fleming (@jono.fleming).

Mimosa ‘Malibu’ 3-seater lounge, $599, I/N 0177353, 1-seater lounges, $299 each, I/N: 0177346, rectangle coffee table, $189, I/N: 0177348 and 45cm timber side tables, $39 each, I/N: 3190284. Umbrella, for similar try Mimosa ‘Koko’ 3m square cantilever umbrella in Charcoal, $469, I/N: 0124000

TIM CLARK Builder

Top Tips For An Outdoor Kitchen

“Firstly, work out everything you would love in your outdoor kitchen. Measure it out in the space to make sure it will all fit and you’re happy with the configuration, before you order and build.”

“If you have a roof, there is a requirement to have open sides in your barbecue area. Check your barbecue’s specifications to make sure you don’t need to add a rangehood.”

“If you are connecting your barbecue to natural gas, make sure you order the natural gas conversion kit.”

The grand plan

“Creating destinations and a sense of curiosity in the garden is such a fun approach,” says Inge Jabara, explaining how she tackled this backyard layout. “I started with the most important part, which is the deck, and worked from there.” Half of the remaining space was dedicated to lawn, but there was still plenty to work with – including space for a paved lounge-style entertaining area. “There’s no harm in having two entertainment zones, because Australians entertain in so many different ways,” Inge says. “This way, the adults can sit up on the deck and the kids can go down to their own space.” For the best access to full morning sun, the vegetable garden was placed in the back left corner, with a kids’ play area to the right.

RIGHT The wall-mounted elements from the original fireplace in the living room. “We salvaged the top of it to create a place to hang gumboots upside down so there’s less chance of creepy crawlies getting into them, and it keeps them off the ground as well,” says Jono Fleming. “Then we hung the beautiful staghorns to create a living gallery wall.” Excess decking material was put to good use as a privacy screen.

Diy Idea

Watch Episode 5 to find out how Inge divided an overgrown cluster of staghorn ferns to create this gorgeous display

Kitchen

Garden

INGE JABARA Landscape designer and landscaper

Top Tips For Smart Vegie Planting

“When planning, make sure your vegetable garden has good mid-morning to afternoon sun.”

“Which vegetables do you eat most often? Work backwards from there, planting what you’ll enjoy – two of these raised beds have predominantly lettuce in them.”

“Then, opt for the quickest production or yield, because some plants take 26 weeks to yield. Look for the six- to 11-week mark, so you get consistent turnover.”

“I always grow cherry tomatoes because they reach harvest quicker than other varieties of tomato. The worms and birds don’t get to them before you!”

Inge began planning the backyard transformation by mapping out the different zones. Once the entertaining area was complete, she had the back corner in mind for produce planted in Birdies modular raised garden beds. “We have six beds in raised planters –they come in different sizes and heights,” she says. And no space goes to waste. “At the end of each box is a herb or spinach,” Inge explains. Everything in the garden has an eight- to 11-week yield, so not long to wait until harvest time. A big cherry tree reaches over from next door, and just over the back fence is an established orange tree. “I like to create borrowed landscape, where you bring the neighbours’ trees into your own garden design so it looks like yours keeps going,” she says.

One corner of the formerly featureless backyard is now a productive paradise, complete with chook house and a variety of herbs and vegies planted in six raised garden beds

Birdies Garden Products

‘9 in 1’ 740mm modular raised garden beds, $246.17 each, I/N: 3321557. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered

Now see how the fence and gate were constructed: bunnings.com.au/ fence-a-vegie-patch

• Timbers vary by state and territory; contact your local store for further information.