As the weather hints at finally warming up, we’re all dreaming of that first summer afternoon, where you can throw open the doors and entertain friends and family in your backyard. Whether you have an expansive outdoor space or a cosy patio, there are endless possibilities when creating an outdoor oasis.
We’ve collated four of our favourite landscape design and construction projects with stunning al fresco zones to inspire you.
Manly
Our client wanted a beautiful child and pet friendly garden, incorporating a separate al fresco area with cooking facilities so they could entertain, unwind and embrace the outdoors. As a coastal home, our landscape designers incorporated a series of stone walls and used different textures like blue stone steppers and paving, decomposed granite and grass to segment the space and provide shelter to the outdoor dining table from the wind.
During construction of the garden new masonry walls were installed to create a large level lawn and more usable open spaces. An outdoor kitchen was built with sink and BBQ and plenty of bench space for salads and food prep, giving the family the ability to cook outdoors. An inbuilt bench seat was designed for one length of the outdoor dining table to be able to seat a flexible number of guests.
The construction process involved demolition and earthworks, concrete works for paving, building steps and retaining walls, softworks including lawn edging; planting; irrigation; lighting installation; electrical work and turfing.
The finished result is a complete transformation from what was an awkward shaped space that wasn’t used much, to now a completely usable, liveable al fresco area that our clients absolutely love.
Waverton
With a love of sports, this family wanted plenty of space to play outdoors while also ensuring ample room for al fresco dining to maximise the indoor/outdoor flow of the home.
Tying into the traditional style of the home, a wide sandstone terrace was designed to allow the informal living room to spill out into the garden. An expansive automated awning was added to allow for outdoor dining no matter what the weather. Beyond the terrace a large grassed area with fire pit was installed - perfect for a game of soccer! Or a glass of wine by the fire.
The construction process was detailed, and involved excavation, concrete works for footings, slabs and driveway. Sandstone paving to the terrace and granite setts for the drive. Construction of river pebble walling; timber clad raised planters and bench seating, construction of a reflection pond and fire pit, soil works, planting and turfing. As part of this project major changes were also made to the front of the house, including the addition of automatic driveway gates, fencing, storage spaces built into the garage and a turntable in the driveway so cars don’t need to reverse out of the property.
North Sydney
This pocket-sized garden in North Sydney was designed to take advantage of the expansive view of Sydney Harbour, whilst incorporating a new swimming pool, intimate entertaining terrace and lawn.
The outdoor entertainment space captures the beauty of the city and harbour and offers lounge room comfort-level seating to bask in the sun.
This stunning patio and pool were part of a larger landscape design and construction project that we were awarded a GOLD medal from The Landscape Association in the category of Residential Construction in 2019.
Bilgola
This French provincial style of garden in Bilgola, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, blends formal and natural beauty that embraces symmetry and order.
A large paved patio wraps around the expansive crystal-clear pool, while on the other side of the garden a grassy play area is surrounded by planter boxes and garden beds. We cleverly utilised the retaining wall as part of the safety fence surrounding the pool and topped it with glass, to ensure clear sight across the property.
Barbeques in summer are an absolute delight in this space as it features a full outdoor kitchen and large family table, all sheltered by an extendable awning.
While all these backyards are unique and offer a variety of patio’s and entertaining spaces, all are quintessentially Australian, showcasing our love of gardens and indoor/outdoor style of living.
Now is the perfect time to plan your outdoor space. Whether you’re looking to create a child-friendly family oasis or a sophisticated harbourside retreat, we provide clever design services combined with professional construction, with an emphasis on quality. Contact our landscape design and construction team now on 02 9979 5363 or email sales@joannegreen.com.au