Table of contents for Issue #55 2021 in Backyard and Outdoor Living

Welcome to the new-look Backyard & Outdoor Living magazine. To celebrate, we have 32 pages of inspirational gardens and outdoor spaces to peruse — perhaps you could take some pointers from them for your next landscaping project? If you’ve already created the outdoor area of your dreams, it’s a good idea to invest some time into looking after it. Our outdoor maintenance feature will set you off on the right foot. The age-old adage “work smarter, not harder” is the theme here, so you can get your space looking spick and span in no time and spend summer relaxing. Do you fancy yourself a bit of an outdoor chef? Well, do we have a story for you! In our cooking feature, read about how the latest barbecues, wood-fired ovens and…

01. GRANDVIEW HOUSE This 1000sqm block is perfectly positioned on the south-western ridge of a hill on the edge of Yaroomba and Coolum Beach in Queensland. The original home, built in 1980, was placed at the front of the block, with the back garden a native wonderland that stretched up the hill behind it. It was the view that first attracted Tom and Louise Roebuck to the property. The verdant green hinterland sweeps out to the west, with the blue of the Pacific a sparkling gem in the distance. This was part of the motivation behind their recent renovation. The couple wanted to enjoy as much of the vista as possible, starting with the kitchen. “The kitchen renovation sees the room open up on two sides onto the wrap-around balcony…

What started as a quick makeover of this Portsea property in Victoria in preparation for Christmas celebrations quickly turned into a much larger project. Even with the time constraints, this newly designed outdoor abode captures the beauty of the Portsea coastline while allowing the user to indulge in its presence. Designed by Jessica Derrick and constructed by Style n’ Simplicity Landscapes, this villa bordering the coastline had all the ingredients for a luxurious outdoor space — it just needed the right recipe. Jessica chose to implement a multi-dimensional design that began within the home and flowed beyond the boundary fence all the way to where the sea changes its colour. “I like things to flow in a harmonious way. When entering a property, I believe the entrance should be grand…

Wood-fired ovens come in a variety of materials and there are different styles and shapes. Most are conical or dome-shaped as this is the most heat-efficient design. With dome-shaped ovens, the heat curls around inside and wood is placed on the side. Ovens that are tunnel-shaped have the fire in the back; it gets very hot at the front of the oven, so they’re not as efficient. When choosing your wood-fired oven, select a design that has the flue in the front phase of the oven. Some designs will direct smoke out of the mouth instead of going up the flue. Be sure to buy an oven with a stainless-steel flue — not a galvanised one as this will rust very quickly. Other buying tips include choosing an oven with…

Keeping kids entertained in the great outdoors is high on the priority list for most parents. With lockdowns and internet-enabled devices keeping youngsters engrossed and indoors, it can be tricky getting them to soak up their daily dose of vitamin D. However, an in-ground trampoline is your sure-fire ticket to outdoor fun every time. Specialising in high-quality, durable, in-ground and above-ground products with extended warranties and the best after-sales service, the team at Oz Trampolines will look after you from stationary beginning to bouncy end. One of Oz Trampolines’ most popular models is a European in-ground trampoline designed for easy installation. Requiring minimal excavation and boasting significantly reduced installation costs, these trampolines are built with 22cm German steel springs that guarantee excellent bounce and maximum safety while remaining whisper-quiet. “Our…

Ever wanted to grow a rose? Do you dream of inhaling the sweet aroma of a rose bush as you arrive home from a long day at work? It’s tempting, but all the “should” and “should-nots” of rose growing tend to put people off. Rest assured, the effort is well worth the results. We can be told our soil isn’t right, pH needs to be exact, your chosen spot receives too much humidity or not enough sun. Others extol the benefits of proper fertilisers and fungal sprays which must be sprayed every fortnight. It’s overwhelming. But does it need to be this complicated and time consuming? The simple answer is no. Roses can be planted in any soil but are happiest with good drainage and nutrient-rich soil. These factors can…

Creating a usable outdoor dining space is high up on the list of improvements for many homeowners, where our love of the outdoors and food can be brought together with friends and family. The owners of this lovely period home in the Adelaide suburb of Walkerville have done just that by constructing a traditional-style timber pergola over a paved terrace. Being separate from the house and at the heart of the garden, the alfresco forms a functional focal point to the well-kept grounds and is the ideal setting for outdoor entertaining. The pergola is complemented by the addition of this stunning and functional Shaderunner® Retractable sail System by Shadeform. The Shaderunner® was manufactured from Outlook Design ‘Zebra’ fabric, which perfectly complements the colourway used for the pergola and house verandah,…

According to landscape and garden expert Jason Hodges, feeding your garden and lawn with an organic-based all-purpose liquid fertiliser is as important as feeding children healthy food. Plants, lawns and soil benefit from the range of nutrients available, helping them to survive and thrive. Organically-based lawn and garden fertiliser Charlie Carp is an innovation in garden care, as well as playing an integral role in helping to stabilise Australia’s natural ecosystem and sustain a healthy environment. Charlie Carp fertiliser is made in Australia from the invasive and destructive European Carp fish, an introduced species that destroys Australia’s delicate river ecosystems and displaces native fish. European Carp lay more than one million eggs per year — that’s three times that of native fish. They damage rivers by muddying waters and destroying…

RUNNING FOR SHADE With the combination of vertical sliding timber screens and two Shaderunner® retractable sail systems overhead, the entertaining deck of this stunning home is transformed into a usable outdoor space, even on the hottest days. As well as providing thermal comfort to the outdoor spaces, this combined approach protects the windows from the sun when at lower angles, minimising unwanted solar gains and reducing the load on air-conditioning systems. During the cooler months, the timber screens can be opened and the Shaderunners folded back to maximise light and solar gains, reducing the need for mechanical heating. The Shaderunner® retractable sail system is ideally suited for a range of applications around the home, from outdoor entertaining spaces and patios to swimming pools and courtyards. With a wide range of…

some people find mowing the lawn, weeding the garden and pruning the hedges a Zen experience — a chance to un-plug from the grid and get in tune with nature. Others loathe it and put it off until their backyard is about to reach jungle status. There are some outdoor maintenance tasks no-one really looks forward to doing, like cleaning the gutters or oiling the deck, but they need to be done. You can outsource your garden upkeep and outdoor maintenance, but if you don’t have deep pockets, the trick is to work smarter, not harder. And to not procrastinate. The longer you put off something, like cleaning the barbecue, weeding the lawn, trimming the edges or pruning an unruly shrub, the harder and more time-consuming the job becomes. The…

Whether you’re cooking for two, feeding the whole family or hosting a party, the Fire Table offers a 360° social cooking experience that gets everyone involved. With three cooking modes to choose from — an inner stainless-steel ring for consistent medium heat, a removable kebab holder and a cooking grill for the perfect grilled tapas — each person can cook their food just the way they like it. No longer is the designated cook relegated to the corner of the deck — now they can be the life of the party! Inspired by the classic campfire — but without all the smoke. Escea’s team of engineers have applied their skill and innovation to the Fire Table to develop Vortex Firecore technology. This technology accelerates the air intake fuelling the fire,…

Define your garden and create a visually stunning centrepiece with quick and easy-to-install steel edging. Whether it’s large-scale feature terracing or raised planters, steel edging is a simple solution to a variety of outdoor projects. All you need is a weekend and some sunscreen. FormBoss metal garden edging is made locally in Melbourne from high-quality Australian BlueScope steel that is structurally guaranteed for 10 years. One of the company’s steel finishes, and one that is growing in popularity, is Redcor. Boasting a long life expectancy, the subtle colour variations within the steel make each piece unique. Redcor’s protective layer develops over time as it is exposed to the elements, revealing a rich patina bound to constantly delight the viewer. Once exposed it will take 4–16 weeks to achieve maximum rustic…

Futurewood supplies a quality range of environmentally friendly, low-maintenance timber-alternative building products including composite-timber screening, cladding and decking. Now with two distinctly different composite-timber decking ranges to choose from, as well as a new 185mm-wide decking board, Futurewood has a product that’s bound to suit your needs. CleverDeck Original composite-timber decking has been a bestseller as it looks like timber but is more ecologically sustainable and low-maintenance by comparison. Finished with a coarse, non-slip, sanded texture that makes the product look and feel like a timber plank, it’s supplied in long lengths with grooved edges that work seamlessly with Futurewood’s concealed fix-clipping system. The long boards and easy-to-use clips add further value by reducing installation time and saving on labour costs. Made from recycled plastic, rice husks and hardwood sawdust,…

The HEATSTRIP® collection of electric radiant heaters is perfect for the outdoors and hard-to-heat indoor spaces. As there is typically constant air movement in an outdoor or open indoor area, many conventional heaters rely on convection heating that works by heating the surrounding air. This can be quite impractical, as the heated air can easily blow away with natural air movement. Radiant-style heaters transfer heat directly to objects through infra-red waves. While convection heaters heat the air between objects, radiant heaters heat the surface of the objects themselves. HEATSTRIP® electric radiant heaters are more effective in an outdoor or uninsulated indoor area because they provide targeted warmth directly to the people and objects in their path. Years of research and development, along with a fruitful partnership with the coating technology…

01.LET NATURE GUIDE YOU The placement of furniture and accessories in this fetching outdoor area, styled by Heather Nette King, provides a blueprint for successful summer decorating. Use natural materials and earthy tones to create a calming, authentic outdoor space. Rather than competing with nature, this approach ensures you will feel at one with your surroundings. Include plenty of woven elements and keep things interesting with an injection of black accents, like the side table and round coffee table seen on this beautiful decked area. earlysettler.com.au 02. IN THE ZONE If you live in a large household or host regular gatherings with family and friends, consider zoning your outdoor area to increase flow and functionality. Satara offers a stellar example with this well-designed outdoor area. The star of the show…

“The plant palette includes an abundance of colour and texture and is the key design feature of this garden”SIMON McCURDY The COVID-19 pandemic made us see our homes in a very different light. Our houses were no longer spaces for gathering and entertainment but places of refuge, safe havens for our families. The backyard has been redefined over the last year and a half and is now arguably the most valuable space in the home. This young Victorian family wanted a backyard they could all enjoy and that also reflected their period-style dwelling and contemporary extension.“The brief for the Malvern House was to create a front garden and adjoining paths for a young family who enjoy spending time outside. It needed to complement not only the facade of the period…

Let’s face it, an Aussie backyard wouldn’t be an Aussie backyard without a barbecue. There was a time when that would have been little more than some stacked bricks and a hotplate. Then the small, portable kettle-style barbecue made its debut, followed by larger trolley-style wheeled barbecues. Soon, barbecues were being designed not just to offer more burners, optional extras and storage — the barbecue evolved to be functional, versatile and good-looking. One of the biggest leaps forward came when technology delivered a new concept in larger barbecues — the sleek, stylish, stainless-steel barbecue with a roasting hood. With the hood and indirect heat, delicate flavours were sealed in and enhanced. Since then, barbecue design has taken off in myriad directions, from massive eight-burner barbecues to slimline options that sit…

Keep costs down while staying cosy with Ambe’s range of outdoor overhead radiant heaters. From subtle radiant heat that encourages long nights of entertaining outdoors, to instant direct heat when and where you need it, Ambe electric overhead heaters are designed to fit the unique needs of any outdoor setting. With smart heat technology, achieving a cosy alfresco space is quick and easy. The Ambe Outdoor range features two types of heaters: Infrared and Ceramic. Whether you’re after the sleek, subtle look of the Ceramic outdoor heater, or the powerful heat and warm glow of the Infrared range, Ambe has you covered with all the comfort you need for long nights of entertaining. Safe, efficient and easy to install, you’ll only wish you’d thought of this sooner. Radiant Ceramic heaters…

Designed for Australian conditions, DecoDeck combines the natural beauty of timber decking with the strength and durability of aluminium. A first in aluminium decking systems, DecoDeck uses innovative photo-imaging technology that replicates the form, feel and appearance of natural timber decking. DecoDeck makes maintenance a breeze. Fifty per cent more durable than standard powder coating, DecoDeck does not contain any harmful VOCs and offers a low-maintenance timber-alternative that never needs painting, oiling or staining. The termite-proof, Australian-made boards resist twisting, warping, rotting and splintering and are available in narrow (94mm width and 25mm height) or wide (134mm width and 25mm height) profiles. Available Australia-wide and boasting a 12-year warranty, DecoDeck can be installed directly onto concrete, pavers or tiles using framing as close as 30mm to the ground. Coated with…

Composting is one of those activities that everyone on the planet can get involved in. However, for the many people who live in smaller premises such as high-rise apartments or townhouses, the practicalities of composting have traditionally made it difficult. The wonderful news for people in this situation is that they can now have an indoor composting system, in this case an indoor worm farm, that is easy to establish and doesn’t create any unpleasant smells when operated correctly. Another brilliant benefit is that it provides beautifully balanced organic fertiliser, which is especially good for potted indoor plants, herbs, ornamental and edible plants. No more money spent on fertiliser. Your kitchen scraps generally contain all the nutrients that plants need in pretty much the perfect proportions since they result from…