The young family wanted to transform their steep, sandy garden into a safer and more functional outdoor space.

The northwest-facing front garden offered limited shade, making the space uncomfortably hot, even during winter. Access was also restricted by a steep, uneven and curved driveway.

The existing garden reflected a late-1970s to early-1980s low-maintenance native style, with bush-rock terraces, overgrown planting, buffalo grass, gravel and sand.

Near the house, a small kidney-shaped buffalo lawn sat beside an overgrown garden bed, while the northern section of the property was steep, patchy and uneven.

To improve usability, the front garden was redesigned with a simplified layout and two contemporary terraces constructed from creamy, rough-faced sandstone. The stone was selected to reduce glare from the harsh western sun.

A wide concrete driveway and new stairs were introduced to provide safer and more practical access from the street.

On the upper terrace, the original front window was replaced with French doors opening onto a tiled outdoor area. A new pergola provided shade, while potted deciduous bougainvillea helped screen the space.

Strelitzias were planted along the southern edge to provide privacy. On the lower terrace, frangipanis introduced fragrance and softened the sandstone walls.

Ivy was planted beneath the frangipanis to reduce maintenance and provide a softer surface when balls or other items rolled into the garden.

The back garden originally consisted of a small, uneven paved area leading to ageing copper-log timber stairs, which climbed through densely planted tropical terraces.

The space offered very little practical room for entertaining, relaxation or children’s play.

Only the boundary camellias and palms were retained. The remainder of the yard was cleared and rebuilt as two terraces, continuing the sandstone treatment used in the front garden.

The paved area was widened and replaced with concrete to create an undercover entertaining space, with an adjoining area suitable for ball games.

The first terrace was finished with crushed rock and seating around a fire pit, while the second terrace was grassed to create a dedicated play area.

Thyme and ferns were planted within the sandstone wall to soften its appearance. The garden above the upper terrace was planted with frangipanis, agaves and clivias.