Table of contents for Issue #61 2022 in Backyard and Outdoor Living

Ahhh, summer in Australia … if you're ever going to make use of your outdoor space, now is the time. From refreshing dips in the pool and entertaining with friends to alfresco dining or simply reading a book on the deck, it's all good. As we approach the silly season, it's time to put on your party hats. Our outdoor entertaining feature this issue will show you how you can create a memorable gathering in your outdoor space. Perhaps this is the year that you will host Christmas lunch? Speaking of entertaining, in Snapshot we give you a rundown on the latest and greatest outdoor cooking appliances so you can cook up a storm for your friends and family. The holiday season means many of us will be on vacation…

STYLE AND SIZZLE Gozney Roccbox is the world's first portable restaurant-grade pizza oven that reaches 500°C and lets you cook a Neapolitan pizza in just 60 seconds. Cook restaurant-quality pizza at home with Roccbox, designed for ease of use and unrivalled performance. With its retractable legs, detachable burner and built-in thermometer, you can take Roccbox anywhere. The whole family can also enjoy bakery-quality bread or fire up their favourite meats and vegetables within the comfort of their backyard. The innovative technology recreates a traditional yellow rolling flame, allowing you to experience wood-fired flavours regardless of the fuel used. au.gozney.com CROWD PLEASER The 2nd Generation Furnace™ is the ultimate three-burner gas barbecue that unifies style and function. From steaks and roasts to delicate scallops, this barbecue has the durability and versatility…

If you have kids, the challenge is twofold. First, how do you create a garden that will engage them, drawing them outside to play and learn about nature? Second, how to design a backyard that also suits the adults and can adapt as the children grow and their interests and needs change? “I think it's important to remember that Children don't have to have a big area to play, just as adults don't need a big area to enjoy the outdoors. They also don't just need one open grass area to kick a ball around. Playing with balls outside is fun, but it is not the only thing to do outside,” says Glenice Buck, landscape designer, horticulturist and founder of Glenice Buck Qesigns. “Children can have just as much fun…

A small garden can have just about everything a larger outdoor space can have — you just have to be creative. Having built a new home in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, the owners wanted to make the most of their modestlysized rear garden but they didn't really know what might be possible, so they turned to Matthew Sears, founder of Rich Earth. “They had the desire for a garden that would be low maintenance, beautiful and function as a seamless extension of their home. It needed to be a practical entertaining space for family and friends and be able to cope with the owners' large dogs,” says Matthew. Matthew's innovative design, which he describes as “relaxed, unfussy and contemporary”, cleverly addresses every element of the brief. To maximise the space and…

FEATURE Whether you're spending time with family and friends or kicking up your heels and hosting a party, with contemporary outdoor spaces bursting with colour, cosy furniture and beautiful decor, you're definitely onto a winner. TICKING ALL THE BOXES If you are hosting a gathering, there are some fundamentals you'll need to address. Ensuring there is ample seating for guests is one. Comfortable seating is a must and if you have the room, design a conversation corner with sofas and side tables to create a more intimate setting. It will also double as a space for you to unwind and put your feet up when the party is over. Bench seating allows you to fit more people on seats if you are short on space, while bar stools create a…

THIS WEEKEND A family backyard should offer something for everyone — from play areas to zones for relaxing and entertaining, plus space for a veggie or herb garden as well as the family pet. It should offer the promise of solitude and relaxation, with your garden acting as a buffer between you and the stressors of day-to-day life. For many Australian families, the addition of a trampoline can be a blessing, providing hours of fun and entertainment for the kids and even the adults, keeping the whole family fit and active. On the negative side, even good-quality safety nets can rip due to pesky birds or cat claws, making the trampoline unsafe. Removal and replacement of the net can be expensive as well as time consuming, something every trampoline owner…

THIS WEEKEND 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…

COMPOSTING MADE EASY Subpod is a modular in-ground vermiculture composting system designed to make composting a breeze for almost anyone, anywhere. Subpod converts household organic waste into a powerhouse of nutrient-rich soil while doubling as a handsome and hardy garden bench. Subpod creates a safe environment for compost worms and aerobic (odourless) microbes to convert organic household waste into vermicompost. The worms move through the perforations in the underground part, aerating and carrying those nutrients into the surrounding soil, creating an optimally fertile environment for plants to thrive. subpod.com.au PODS TO PONDER Vegepod was born out of inventor Matt Harris's failure to be able to grow vegetables successfully due to pests, watering and maintenance. To solve these pain points, Matt created the Vegepod. This multi-award winning product is the only…

01. A TOUCH OF CLASS Porcelain is a type of ceramic material that has a uniquely rich texture. Porcelain is made using high-density, fine clay that is fired for longer periods at higher temperatures than other ceramics. The result is highly durable, making it a popular choice for outdoor paving. The Atlas Raw White 20mm porcelain slabs are ideal for all outdoor flooring, from terraces and pool sides to walkways and patios. These pavers are extremely hard-wearing and frost-resistant, with their original colour remaining consistent over time. Porcelain pavers are also a great choice for sustainable architecture and building due to their energy efficiency and use of recycled materials. volare.com.au 02. MADE OF STONE Travertine has been a go-to luxury architectural stone since ancient Rome and was favoured by 20th-century modernists. Now…

LANDSCAPE OF THE YEAR AWARDS Relaxing by the pool, a refreshing drink in your hand and good friends by your side — this is what summer is all about. When Troy Stolzenhein of Prestige Landscape & Construction was approached by the homeowners, they had a lacklustre, underused rear garden, a dated pool and nowhere to entertain. Today, they have an inviting outdoor retreat with a tropical flourish. “They wanted the pool and surrounding areas to have a ‘modern paradise’ feel and an effortless flow. There was to be an undercover outdoor dining area that ebbed from the house to the pool and an outdoor play area. The spaces — and plants — had to be low maintenance,” explains Troy. “A priority was the 25-year-plus concrete pool that needed more than…

THIS WEEKEND Set in the picturesque Adelaide Hills, Summertown is famed for its vineyards, apple and cherry orchards, and market gardens growing wonderful produce such as strawberries and rhubarb. With a population of less than 1000 residents, it is the quintessential country township nestled in a rolling landscape of fields. Originally conceived as a retreat from the hot temperatures in Adelaide (hence its name), Summertown retains this feature with a variety of bed & breakfast-style accommodation throughout the area. For people who own property there, this lovely setting provides the perfect backdrop for weekends away from the city or a permanent country dwelling. And for the owners of “Summertown Residence”, their lovely home offers unspoilt views across the stunning landscape, with an elevated outdoor deck providing a fabulous entertaining space.…

THIS WEEKEND With an exceptionally wet summer — particularly along Australia's east coast that saw devastating floods and severe waterlogging — and a rather cold winter, our gardens are in need of some tender loving care. While some plants have enjoyed these conditions and are now growing exponentially for many, they will need some additional support to bloom this Spring. According to Brisbane gardening expert Kate Wall, some plants have literally drowned. “Plant roots need air to breathe, but the excessive rain has caused waterlogging with devastating impacts on our gardens. Waterlogging occurs when all of the air spaces in the soil are filled with water, with prolonged waterlogging causing root damage. Plants will drop leaves or wilt when they have root damage and can no longer take up water…

EXPERT ADVICE There's no doubt that in many parts of Australia, it's been a bit of a tumultuous year weather-wise. When managing your garden through unpredictable weather, there are some staples that you won't want to skip. As we gear up for the holiday season, here's how to best keep your grass green and flowers blooming even when you're on vacation or spending a lot of time out and about. POTTED GARDENS Protect your pot plants while you are away this summer. A small amount of Richgro Water Storage Crystals applied to each pot will help keep your plants watered and fed for up to three weeks so you can enjoy your well-deserved break. Mulch the top of the pots. If you notice that soils are very dry and the…

01. VAUCLUSE OUTDOOR DESIGN This is a stunning example of good design and craftsmanship to create memorable outdoor spaces. The glass window into the pool amplifies the colours created by the emerald tiles in the entertaining area. The fully custom outdoor kitchen is complete with a wood-fired pizza oven, and a polished concrete bench top with waterfall edges blends in with the surrounding material palette. The copper lights and surrounding terracotta pots imbue the space with a Mediterranean ambience. The light hardscape palette, the grouping of weathered terracotta pots and the ornamental plantings also evoke a very Mediterranean feel. A large mirrored door was placed at the entry to the underside of the pool area, which houses the pool equipment, the door reflecting the surrounding landscape and allowing the entertaining area…

This generous 2000sqm block provides ample space to relax with friends and family, and lowmaintenance plants mean there's even more time for the owners to enjoy the great outdoors in their own backyard. The circa-1980s home was carefully renovated, with the fi nal result a beautiful contemporary home with clean lines, and a seamless transition to the striking outdoor spaces that offer so much to enjoy. The award-winning team from Simon McCurdy Landscapes has designed and built outdoor spaces and landscaping that the owners will relish for many years to come. Director Simon McCurdy says the design brief involved cleaning up and rejuvenating the existing property, creating an outdoor entertaining space and simplifying garden maintenance. “The overall design is a relaxed, coastal style featuring earthy tones suited to a coastal…

LANDSCAPE OF THE YEAR AWARDS Evoking a modern Hamptons beach house vibe, this charming waterside garden in Soldiers Point, a coastal suburb in the Hunter region of NSW, was conceived by awardwinning landscape designer Gerrad Everson of Octopus Garden Design. “The homeowners wanted a beautiful, private garden filled with flowers — one that would change with the seasons,” says Gerrad. “They favoured modern, clean hardscaping lines to match the home designed by Chris Clout Architects and it was important the garden be constructed with high-quality materials to ensure longevity given the punishing coastal location. “The two-storey home is surrounded by public reserve lawn so no additional lawns were needed. This allowed for more planting and three usable alfresco spaces. The front courtyard is a tranquil, private space for coffee and…

Full of textural contrasts, this informal front garden draws the eye and turns what seems an impossibly steep slope into a design masterpiece. “The goal was to create a garden that managed the steep slope. Nothing too formal; the owners wanted it to be a bit organic,” explains garden designer Karen Staunton-Ross of Outside Living. While the fi nished garden looks natural, this was quite a tricky project. “When we started, there was lawn growing on vertical faces and no opportunity for any gardens,” says Karen. “This was an all-or-nothing project so we had to remove the lawn, introduce some walls and create places for plants. “We avoided using straight lines in favour of creating interesting shapes and connections, and we used materials that were of interest in their own…

THIS WEEKEND Australians love nothing better than a refreshing dip in their backyard pool. To keep it as fabulous and inviting as the day it was installed, a renovation can really boost its appeal. According to Beaumont Tiles design specialist Christie Wood, the biggest challenge most face when considering a pool renovation is working out where to start, given the plethora of styles to choose from in designing the ideal outdoor retreat. “It can be confusing, but a golden rule, when it comes to a pool is getting the right combination of large-format and mosaics to really level up your upcoming renovation,” she says. “To help you strike this balance, you can use tools such as Beaumont's “What's My Style?” to identify which look best suits your personality, likes and…

Wood is something we all love, but the upkeep is significant. Although it looks beautiful in outdoor structures like fences and decks, creating a true connection with nature, it also requires a lot of work with sanding, staining or painting. Without regular maintenance, wood can look unkempt and unattractive. Finding a balance between looks and maintenance, DECO Australia has the perfect solution with DecoBatten® — the lightweight, durable, aluminium batten system with a textured woodgrain finish. The aluminium battens replicate the form, feel and appearance of luxurious timber with the Super Durable™ DecoWood® powder coating, which is 50 per cent more durable than standard powder coating and any other woodgrain finish on aluminium in the Australian market. A solid, dimensionally stable batten product, DecoBatten® one-piece battens are lightweight and can…