Photography: Simon Whitbread
Life got in the way. That’s the story behind the 19-year delay with this garden makeover. “We had tossed up the idea of putting in a pool and doing up the garden for years,” says homeowner Margot of the discussions she had with her husband, Ross. “But we moved in, had three kids, two dogs. We got distracted with family and work.” In the meantime, the garden remained untidy and tired.
A magnolia tree took up a lot of space and the hedging around the perimeter felt confining. Even their children, Henry, 22, Matilda, 19, and Jude, 13, plus Labradoodles George and Ringo, didn’t spend much time outside. After almost two decades, Margot and Ross decided it was high time for a change.
Landscape design and construction company Formed Gardens came recommended by friends, so the couple reached out to them and started the process. However, they faced another delay. They lived in a heritage home in Sydney’s Inner West, so once plans were submitted to council, it still took nearly nine months for them to be approved.
Finally, Formed Gardens director Luke Baldwin began building the garden Margot and Ross had dreamt of for so many years.
I love how the garden, although it’s a small space, still feels generous and open.”
Luke Baldwin, Landscape Architect
The brief called for a pool as big as the space would allow, without overwhelming the garden. The magnolia tree was removed to accommodate it, with a crepe myrtle tree planted on the opposite side of the yard. Another must-have was an outdoor kitchen with a built-in barbecue, plus an alfresco dining area on the deck.
“We recycled the timber from the previous deck, sanded back and freshened up,” says Margot. A curved glass fence cuts through the hardwood decking, forming a small but significant detail that visually links the poolside tableau with the alfresco cooking and dining zones. Beyond it, the pool stretches from the deck to the rear wall.
The hardscaping palette exists harmoniously with the garden’s new planting scheme. Green-blue pool tiles nod to the tonal foliage that grows against the opposite wall, while sweet-scented Armand clematis climbs over the fence and softens the perimeter.
The fence, in turn, is finished in the same shade as the home’s exterior trims. There’s an easy flow between all these different zones, and the garden’s enjoyment is enhanced by the low-maintenance nature of the plantings.
Foundation stone
The garden, while modern, had to complement the Victorian architecture of the heritage home. “We tried to work with the natural colonial materials,” explains Luke, who bordered the pool with sawn sandstone from Australian Sandstone Merchants. Existing sandstone became stepping stones at the rear of the yard. “It pays homage to that period and character,” adds Luke.
In the end, the project progressed smoothly and was completed within a short six months, and the family couldn’t be happier. “We sit outside every night and have dinner, which we didn’t do before,” shares Margot. “We use the pool all year round, adults and kids, because it’s heated.”
It truly is the dream garden they had all longed for, which now fills their daily lives with joy. It just took 20 years to get there.
Landscape design & construction: Formed Gardens, formedgardens.com.au.
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