An integrated outdoor sanctuary designed for modern family living
A compact suburban site on Sydney’s coast has been reimagined as a calm, highly functional outdoor retreat, guided by a clear vision: a fully integrated environment that supports family life, entertaining and everyday enjoyment. Entrusted with this brief, A Total Concept set about crafting a space where pool, garden and outdoor living work in quiet
harmony with the home.
The resulting design is understated and assured. Rather than relying on bold gestures, the landscape draws its strength from proportion, materiality and flow. Each zone has been carefully resolved so the garden feels inherent to the architecture — cohesive, considered and effortlessly connected.
Privacy was a primary concern. With little existing outlook beyond a single Western Australian gum, the design introduces a continuous perimeter hedge that encloses the site in greenery. This living boundary transforms the backyard into a secluded courtyard, offering a lush, calming aspect from inside the home while softening the surrounding built form.
Designed with social connection in mind, the pool incorporates generous entry steps and an integrated underwater bench. Heated spa jets are discreetly concealed, allowing the pool to double as a place for relaxation and conversation while remaining practical for family use.
Adjacent to the home, a roofed outdoor room extends the living areas outward. Timber decking aligns seamlessly with the interior flooring, blurring the line between inside and out. Radiant heaters, ceiling fans and subtle downlighting ensure comfort across seasons, while layered garden and pool lighting — complemented by an integrated sound system — enhances ambience after dark.
Sheltered from prevailing winds and blessed with excellent sun exposure, the garden thrives year-round. A restrained yet textural planting palette of bamboo, gardenia, murraya, frangipanni, croton and kangaroo paw introduces movement and softness, bringing seasonal variation without overwhelming the architecture.
Through careful restraint, thoughtful contrasts and meticulous detailing, A Total Concept has delivered a sophisticated yet eminently liveable outdoor space — one that enriches daily family life, supports entertaining, and adds lasting value to the home.
Company Profile
Award-winning A Total Concept creates beautiful, enduring spaces through the seamless integration of architecture, landscape and lifestyle. With more than 30 years of experience, the multidisciplinary practice brings together building and interior designers, landscape architects and horticulturists to deliver cohesive, highly functional environments.
Specialising in pools, gardens, cabanas, outdoor rooms and home alterations, A Total Concept manages every stage of a project — from initial consultation and approvals through to construction and completion. By bridging the gap between indoors and out, the team consistently delivers refined spaces that enhance daily living and add long-term value.
For clients seeking a considered, end-to-end design solution, A Total Concept offers a truly integrated approach, servicing projects Australia-wide.
At a Glance
Designed by: A Total Concept
Paving: Limestone
Planting palette: Bamboo, gardenia, murraya, frangipanni, croton, kangaroo paw
For more information
A Total Concept Designers and Landscape Architects
P: 02 9957 5122
E: design@atotalconcept.com.au
W: www.atotalconcept.com.au