Taking up the middle section of their three-level backyard in the property they share in Tweed Heads, House Rules mother and daughter team Kim and Michelle’s pool area served as an essential relaxation space for the whole family, including Michelle and her sister’s children.
The pool itself was in good condition and its position on the side of a hill allowed them to take in incredible views of the surrounding Tweed Valley. The landscaping had become outdated however, with one side dominated by an enormous retaining wall of giant boulders and the other open to the edge of a dangerously steep drop down to the next level of their backyard.
This presented a huge challenge to makeover but competitive couple Mel and Dave were up to the task with some clever solutions in their design.
Enclose the retaining wall with streamlined timber panelling
The boulder wall was sound, just unsightly and had overgrown with plants (and the odd snake!). Rather than tackle a complete renovation of the structure, a timber feature wall was created to cover it and reflect the new “Balinese” decorating scheme. The rake of the wall sloped back into the hill at the top and Mel and Dave included a recessed area where they positioned an over-sized mandala artwork for added impact.
Pour concrete to surround the pool
Mel and Dave opted to replace the sandy coloured pavers with poured concrete to surround the entire pool area, embedding a stylish row of railway sleepers into the concrete for added detail and texture.
Replace the tradition pool fence with a modern glass panelled fence
The existing pool fence boxed in the whole area away from the boulder wall and was in need of an update. Key to the whole design was for Mel and Dave to replace it with a panelled glass pool fence along the outside boundary, which disappeared from view and opened up the entire pool area.
Create relaxation zones with luxurious seating groups
A pair of oversized woven tub chairs were positioned at the entrance for form a lovely place to chat and observe swimming children in comfort. At the other end of the pool, a more substantial outdoor suite and a pair of colourful loungers created a chill out zone.
Create a welcoming entrance to the zone with potted plants
A dramatic collection of potted plants at the entrance to the pool area brought the whole space to life without compromising space or safety inside the pool fence.
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