Mona Vale
Situated in the idyllic suburb of Mona Vale, New South Wales, renowned for its quiet beaches and golf course, this sea-facing property required a new courtyard garden that would do justice to its surroundings. The partially enclosed space was ideal for an outdoor garden area where the owners could entertain guests under the stars, but required thoughtful design from the team to make the most of the available space.
The brief called for a minimalist layout with materials that would reflect the home’s coastal location, and the result is a hardy but attractive mix of Australian hardwoods, smooth granite, and lots of warm, earth tones. In addition to the seating area, a generous patch of lawn was created, bordered by colourful blooms, a Zen-like arrangement of stone features, and a custom 12-volt lighting scheme to impart an atmospheric glow in the evenings.
Beyond the task of designing a garden to admire, other challenges can be invisible to the naked eye. The area’s sandy soil and high concentration of sea salt in the wind made it difficult for the owners’ earlier attempts at creating a garden to succeed. In cases like this, all aspects of design and horticultural expertise must come together before even an intimate courtyard garden can reach its potential. After some experimentation, the winning combination was found to be Treasure Flowers (Gazania hybrid), Mat Rushes (Lomandra ‘tanika’), Pohutukawa (Metrosideros tomentosa), Grass Trees (Xanthorrhoea spp.), and the Purple-Leafed Sticky Hop Bush (Dodonaea viscose ‘purpurea’).
Location
Mona Vale, NSW
Services used
Design, Construction
Completion of installation
2006
Testimonial
“We are thrilled with our new courtyard. All requirements were captured in a very creative way and the quality of workmanship was superb.”
Galleries
Every garden has a story to tell.
Here are a few of our favourites, with words and pictures to help you see them the way we do:
as individuals.