A holiday haven that ticks all the boxes
Sometimes the best designs are those that enhance the simple joys in life. For the owners of this striking new holiday home at McCrae, the brief to Whyte Gardens was clear: create a pool-focussed outdoor space that captured the light, leisure and relaxation of seaside living, with all the hallmarks of Hamptons elegance.
The house itself, a bright and breezy Latitude 37 Homes design, would serve as the family’s summer retreat. Whyte Gardens’ role was to shape the surrounding garden and pool area into a sanctuary where weekends and holidays could be spent soaking up the sun, cooling off in the water, and entertaining with ease.
A Hamptons-inspired pool garden
Given the coastal setting and the clients’ eye for timeless style, the design vision was to seamlessly integrate a pool and spa into a compact block, while keeping the outdoor space open, low-maintenance and inviting. The centrepiece is a beautifully tiled concrete pool by Feature Pools, complete with an integrated round spa that doubles as a stylish focal point.
Paving in Diamond Grey Granite Flamed from Marble & Ceramic Co adds a refined texture, its cool-grey tones perfectly complementing the Hamptons palette. A simple pergola extends the sightlines and frames the poolscape, while stone selected for the front fence and verandah pillars echoes the material used in the lounge-room fireplace, creating a consistent design language from indoors to out.
Smart, simple and stylish
For a home that serves as a part-time escape, practicality was just as important as aesthetics. Whyte Gardens introduced smart, low-maintenance solutions such as artificial turf and a remotely controlled irrigation system, ensuring the garden always looks immaculate without demanding constant attention. A discreet storage shed houses jet skis and summer gear, keeping the pool surrounds uncluttered.
A retreat for all seasons
Though the newly planted vines and trees are still establishing, they promise to transform the space into a leafy, private haven over time. As the greenery fills in, shade and seclusion will further enhance the retreat-like quality of the backyard. For now, the clean lines, thoughtful planting and carefully chosen materials ensure the pool and garden already feel like a natural extension of the home.
For the clients, the result is everything they hoped for: a poolside sanctuary that invites family fun, relaxation and escape, whether for a quick weekend getaway or a long summer stay.
At a glance
Project designer: Whyte Gardens
Pool builder: Feature Pools
Pool: Tiled concrete pool with integrated round spa
Paving: Diamond Grey Granite Flamed, Marble & Ceramic Co
Company profile
Whyte Gardens has more than 35 years of experience and over 550 completed projects, offering a seamless design-to-construction service. Their team of landscape architects and in-house builders collaborate with trusted specialists to create stylish, functional gardens tailored to each client.
Pools are a key feature of their work, with designs that integrate seamlessly into the landscape. Whether framing a tiled concrete pool with spa or coordinating with pool contractors, Whyte Gardens ensures each pool becomes an elegant centrepiece of the outdoor living space.
For more information
Whyte Gardens
P: 03 9017 4344
