A tropical garden designed for privacy, parking and relaxed family living
There was a great deal to achieve on a site of just 556 square
metres, including privacy, parking, entertaining and usable lawn
space for the family.
The design also needed to screen the 18-foot-high metal shed on the
neighbouring rear boundary and establish a tropical garden style
that acknowledged the 1960s and 1970s era in which the house was
built.
Access to the backyard was created along the side of the house,
with a new carport installed to provide parking while also
functioning as an entertaining area for larger gatherings.
A fireplace and outdoor bath were positioned beside the carport,
with the bath area also designed to double as a bar.
Lawns were introduced around the carport to soften the surrounding
paving and create generous, comfortable spaces for play.
Beneath the house, adjacent to the lawn, an outdoor kitchen and
dining area was established.
A hit-and-miss brickwork screen provided enclosure along one side,
while hanging pots filled with ferns and large containers planted
with fiddle-leaf figs, ornamental cardamom and
Monstera deliciosa connected the area visually with the
rest of the garden.
To provide privacy, the perimeter of the block was clearly defined
and planted with pandorea, wisteria and climbing frangipani vines.
These were interspersed with ribbon plants, Boston ferns,
maidenhair vine and star jasmine.
Layers of palms and tree ferns were planted in front of the vines,
then underplanted with bird’s nest ferns, hydrangeas, clivias,
Monstera deliciosa and philodendrons.
The front garden was designed around the existing camellia trees.
A private entrance courtyard was created using hit-and-miss
brickwork and filled with pots of tropical plants.
The second front entrance was given a tiled pathway leading
through a picket fence, with lawn on either side and surrounding
hedges creating a more welcoming arrival.
The garden beds around the lawns were planted with frangipanis,
agapanthus, cordylines and gingers.
The existing camellias were carefully pruned and retained to form
the backbone of the new garden.
The result
The completed garden makes full use of the compact site,
providing three-car parking, private outdoor living areas,
family play space and layered tropical planting within a
cohesive and welcoming design.
