Outdoor Design No.32

THE TERM “OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING” HAS become part of the vernacular. Today, creating a space for alfresco entertaining is at the top of every homeowner’s wish list when designing a landscape from scratch or planning a garden makeover. What form that space takes, whether a purpose-built, fully quipped poolside pavilion with a custom-built kitchen or a corner of a deck simply furnished with a table, chairs, trolley barbecue and umbrella, is a matter of budget, lifestyle and how much room you have. But whether you’re considering a high-end space with all the bells and whistles or something tasteful but less expensive, there are several essential elements you need to consider. An outdoor entertaining area is meant to be used and enjoyed on a regular basis. As such, it needs to be…

FOR CENTURIES, ROOFTOP GARDENS HAVE graced European landscapes, creating lush leafy vistas, cascading greenscapes and, in more recent times, relaxed outdoor living spaces. Here in Australia, commercial and government properties have been greening their rooftops for decades. Now homeowners and apartment dwellers are embracing this clever concept as it transforms unused and often unsightly areas into attractive outdoor living spaces which, if designed correctly, can have environmental benefits as well as functioning as lifestyle-enhancing spaces. There are inner-city roof gardens filled with fresh produce, lush grassy beachside roofs, leafy park-like communal spaces on apartment roofs and even roofs retrofitted with lounge furniture, outdoor kitchens, spas and whatever else you would expect to find in a modern outdoor entertaining space. Space is no barrier You don’t need a large space to…

IF YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR ROOF TO GOOD USE BUT not as a space for outdoor living, you can create what is called a “green roof”. This means the roof is basically given over to plants, such as grasses and succulents. As garden designer Georgia Harper of Georgia Harper Landscape Design explains: “Green roofs are created using a system of manufactured layers placed over roofs to support growing medium and plant life. This creates a blanket of vegetation that provides a pleasant vista and increases the energy efficiency of your home, helping to cool it in summer and add insulation in winter. More importantly, it plays a number of essential environmental roles — helping to clean the air, manage stormwater, sequester carbon, promote biodiversity preservation and create habitat. Creating…

SUMMER IS HERE SO IT’S TIME TO GET CREATIVE and plan your outdoor entertaining space. With lots of innovative products in outdoor living and new looks in outdoor furniture, soft furnishings, cookers and decor, there’s plenty to choose from when designing a multifunctional outdoor space. Plan for success When designing an outdoor entertaining area, Jeannette Del Zio from JDZ Designs says the essential first step is getting orientated with the space to plan the layout. “Use a checklist and assess things like ventilation, light and access,” she suggests. “Where will the sun be at the hottest part of the day? Will you need to screen some areas for privacy?” Look at what the space means to you or ask yourself, what is its purpose? Do you enjoy lazy outdoor brunches,…

IF YOU LIKE TO SPEND TIME OUTSIDE AND YOU regularly have gatherings with friends and family in your outdoor space, then a bar may be just what you need. It’s the ultimate for entertainers and creates a fabulous focal point for parties, barbecues or just a quiet get-together. Another bonus of an outdoor bar is that it limits traffic in and out of the house. Let’s entertain Affordable ready-made bars are available from hardware warehouses and outdoor furniture suppliers. At the designer end of the spectrum, there are illuminated modular polyethylene bar systems suited to modern landscapes. Budget or luxury, all you need to do is place it where you want it and stock it with your favourite drinks! Alternatively, you can get one custommade or build one yourself. A…

THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW, HELD EACH YEAR in London, is considered the world’s premier garden show, with its keenly contested show garden competition drawing entries from around the globe. To win an award for a show garden is a considerable honour — just ask Charlie Albone of Selling Houses Australia, who this year won a coveted Silver-Gilt medal. For several years now, a different Australian garden designer has made the annual pilgrimage to London to show the world just what we Aussies can do. This year, Charlie Albone, through his design company Inspired Exteriors, took up the gauntlet. His impresssive, award-winning show garden, dubbed The Time In Between, was an homage to the father he lost as a boy. The garden was carved into three sections. The first featured a…