The design was based around a pool that needed to be “as big as possible” whilst leaving enough space around it to accomodate the other elements necessary to create a comprehensive outdoor space – including a BBQ, seating nooks and garden beds.

With the kids in mind, we designed the pool to include some different levels and playful elements. A concrete wall behind the pool serves both as a plinth to sit or stand on, and features a water spout to add the visual and sound effect of running water. In the pool, the charcoal tiles create a ‘diesel’ water colour, which makes the water more reflective by day, and gives it a serene quality.

There is an elevated paved area with cantilevered bench seating adjacent to the pool, which offers scope to serve as a cosy fire pit area in the future. The paving seamlessly integrates a brick banding feature, testament to a high standard of construction. On the ground level, there is a BBQ and more seating – conveniently adjacent to the indoor kitchen and lounge. The BBQ bench is made from concrete, which is used throughout the landscape. Consistency and repetition of elements in both the material and plant palettes provides a cohesive aesthetic overall. All of the outdoor seating has been complimented and softened by custom-made cushions.

Curved garden beds are another design feature, which give an organic shape and save on space. The plant palette includes a pretty mix of Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’, Westringia fruticosa spheres and Myoporum parvifolium. Bamboo has been planted around the pool which will provide an increasingly lush border as it grows.

We’re pleased that the clients are happy with the result! Their new backyard offers the kids a fun space to play in and an indoor/outdoor lifestyle that the whole family can now enjoy.

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Wonga Park is located an hour outside of Melbourne, where residents enjoy the luxury of space: enough space to fit in all the features that make for great outdoor living. This backyard is the full entertainer’s-delight package, complete with a pool, spa, daybed, BBQ, fire pit and breakfast bar – all surrounded by lush new planting complimented by the backdrop of a well established garden. There’s also another fire pit and BBQ connected with the alfresco dining area.

Arriving at this property is a treat from the get-go. “We wanted to create a grand entry,” said Dave “to do the house and garden justice.” The black wrought iron gates themselves are impressive, bordered by beautifully crafted stone walls that took more than two months to build. Beyond the gates, the driveway is bordered by Italian Cypress trees (Cupressus sempervirens) underplanted with a Juniper grounder and a lawn sprinkled with Hornbeams (Carpinus sp.). The driveway loops around a classic-style garden situated in front of the house, featuring a fountain set amidst an ornate plant palette including Ficus pumila, red Geraniums, ‘Iceberg’ roses, Buxus sempervirens hedging and Pyrus calleryana ‘Capital’ trees.

In the backyeard, the style is modern-classic. The pool and spa feature Italian-made Bizazza tiles for a high-class finish. The circular spa overflows into the pool creating a seamless transition. The pool is surrounded by Sawn Basalt inlaid with Castlemaine stone, hand cut & laid in a ‘random’ arrangement to give it a rustic edge. Beyond the paving, artificial lawn was chosen as a ‘winter-proof’ option to withstand frost – the Yarra Valley is known for its cold nights & frosty mornings! But outdoor entertaining is not confined to summer. The fire pit and heated alfresco area provide warmth and comfort in the cooler months. The pool and entertaining areas really shine in the evenings, with a lighting scheme that creates a beautiful ambience. The result is an entertainer for all seasons!

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David and his team were excited to work with Shelley to create a Palm Springs inspired landscape for her and her family including husband Christian and two daughters. The design scope included rejuvenating an existing pool and integrating a newly-built bungalow into the new grounds including generous lawn space, garden beds, an alfresco entertaining area and an outdoor shower.

The pool renovation was an essential part of the overall design and was designed to exude a luxe resort vibe. The old pool tiles were replaced with white tiles, giving the water a cool and fresh light blue appearance. The pool was further enhanced with a stone water feature and a cantilevered polished concrete day bed at one end, softened by custom outdoor cushions and sheltered within a timber clad pergola. The level change stepping up to the pool area presented an opportunity for another design feature around the pool. “By cantilevering the polished concrete pool surround, we created a space to plant underneath which integrates the transition between the concrete and lawn areas nicely.” says David. And instead of just having a step up to the pool gate, David suggested a cantilevered platform, paved with random stone. “It makes a feature of the level change and the stone provides an attractive contrast in between the lawn and polished concrete.” The cantilevered detail is reflected on the other side of the lawn in the porch wrapping around the bungalow, and also in the daybed cantilevering over the shallow end of the pool, pulling the various spaces together with a visual consistency.

And then there’s the plants… you can’t channel Palm Springs without a Palm tree and some luscious foliage! That being said, Byron Bay is in sub-tropical Australia not arid Arizona, so the plant palette had to be refined to suits its geographic location. Shelley was fortunate to already have an establish Palm tree which maintained pride of place in the lawn area, and a Pandanus tree that fitted the aesthetic perfectly.  The Franklin Design team then created a palette to complement the existing trees, including a stunning Frangipani planted in a green mound of Zoysia grass. All trees were given up-lighting as well. “The outdoor lighting creates a beautiful ambience at dusk and at night” says David. “We took care to position the garden lighting to highlight the landscape features including the trees, the pool and water feature, and the shadow lines under the cantilevered platforms.”

The landscape entails many other less conspicuous but nonetheless charming details, including a locally made copper outdoor shower, custom outdoor cushions and handmade pots containing a mix of succulents and lush plants. 

A window box adjoining the family’s indoor lounge area provides a lovely interface with the outdoor pool area, and is an inviting nook to retreat to. “This is an example of a distinct but integrated zone, which makes the space so dynamic but still cohesive.” says David.

Shelley and her family are delighted with their stylish new outdoor space, which caters to their enviable lifestyle in the warm northern-NSW climate. In summarising the design intention, David says “We wanted to give them space to relax, plenty of room for the kids – and their dog – to play, and of course scope to do what they do best… host people!” It’s safe to say the landscape successfully reflects its celebrity owner’s personality: stylish, sunny and timeless in appeal!

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The design scope included a renovation of the existing pool, an outdoor entertaining area incorporating an in-built BBQ, bar and outdoor fireplace, and an expanse of lawn area for the kids to enjoy. The main feature of the backyard is undoubtedly the 8.25m-long pool, with its polished concrete daybed cantilevered over one end of the pool, and with a shallow beach and steps down into the water. The old pool tiles were replaced with white tiles, giving the water a cool and fresh light blue appearance.  Three grooved water features cascade into the pool and are located opposite the main living of the house – the house and dining room – allowing the relaxing sound and visual appeal of cascading water to be enjoyed indoors and out.

The clients are happy they now have a dynamic outdoor space that they can entertain in, with room for the kids to play – and a pool worthy of the magazines it has been showcased in.

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The swimming pool features an infinity edge, so the water appears to seamlessly flow into the garden below. Natural stone cladding was used on the spillover wall, its warm tones and rough texture contrasted by the crisp whiteness and smooth surface of the polished concrete steps that lead from the deck and past the pool to the lawn.

Lighting was another important design element and included pool lighting and uplighting of the infinity edge, plus a selection of garden and hedge lighting… And fairy lights in the silver birches add a charming ambience after the sun sets!

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Dave had completed a project for the family in the past, so they were keen to get him on board again; they knew that having a corner site with an off-centred court entry needed some clever design solutions! The owners wanted to maximise the space by creating several distinct zones, and the result is a dynamic landscape incorporating an alfresco entertaining area, a sunken sitting area, a lawn area with an inground trampoline and a large L-shaped pool which wraps around the corner, turning a site constraint into a design feature. Cantilevered concrete steps are also cleverly used to delineated design zones, and also complement the height and stacked form seen in the structure of the modern double-story house.

The client also wanted an entry with wow-factor – so the Franklin team delivered, with a big pond leading to the front door, bridged by a concrete platform reached by ascending cantilevered concrete steps and softened by a lush surrounding of tropical plants. The space is accented at night with up-lighting, creating an impressive front entry.

An overall sense of balance was achieved throughout the landscape, with a consistency in the material and plant palettes integrating the front and back spaces. The unique corner site presented a challenge for our design team – but it came up trumps with a design that fulfilled the owner’s hopes to create their “own little oasis”.

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