The clients, who looked to Tim Davies Landscaping (TDL) to design and build their dream landscape, wanted mature garden spaces — something that would create an instant impact and soften the clean-lined, minimalist architecture of the house and the large outdoor areas surrounding it.

Sourcing mature trees and various plants was critical to give the gardens an established feel, right from the outset. This process relied on clear and constant communication with the clients to ensure the right plants were used in the right spaces. Given the property’s proximity to the coast, it wasn’t just looks that mattered. It was equally important that the plants were well suited to the sometimes punishing conditions.

The advanced planting palette incorporates mature olive trees, which tie the property’s front elevation and side passageway to its coastal setting; established star jasmine creepers alongside the swimming pool in the rear garden; and the spectacular mature poinciana tree in the home’s central courtyard. Along with the planting, ornamentation was used to tie in with the materials specified by the architect and provide points of interest in front, side and rear gardens. Custom graphite granite bowls and planters were designed by TDL and installed throughout the landscape. These complement the beautiful Bateig Azul Spanish sandstone paving that was selected by the architect and installed by TDL.

The lighting spheres, along with the water feature in the central courtyard, all of which were designed and installed by TDL, add to the ambience, as does the sculpture by Western Australian artist Tim Macfarlane Reid, which sits in a raised planter overlooking the pool in the rear garden.

The project, which took two years from design to completion, is a resounding success. By sourcing mature tree and plant specimens and combining them with custom ornamentation and timeless materials, TDL has created spaces that are unique for a residential job of its size.

For more information

Tim Daves Landscaping

Written by Karen Booth

Originally in Outdoor Rooms Issue 36

The post On the coast: A perfect landscape in a sought-after coastal location appeared first on Completehome.

Owner-builder Daniel Scaffetta, from Viva Developments, and his wife Daniella wanted to downsize their home. They contacted qualified horticulturists Mondo Landscapes to provide them with a detailed planting plan for their new residence in a riverside suburb of Perth. As discussions progressed and the company’s rapport with the couple grew, Perth-based Mondo Landscapes had a greater involvement in the external design process, with the company reviewing the exterior product selection, garden beds, front entry wall and entrance steppers.

“Daniel’s vision and passion were amazing,” says Debbie Taylor, co-founder of Mondo Landscapes. “Visually he wanted a very modern and unique home. However, of equal importance was the fact that it needed to be functional for entertaining and a young family, allowing a seamless flow from inside to out.”

This is evident from the home’s modern elevation through to its architectural design by Daniel Lomma Design. The exterior front entry pond, with its glass front, continues through into the foyer and under the staircase. As the house appears to have floating elements through its modern elevation, Mondo Landscapes introduced floating steppers/landings for pedestrian access. These, along with the planters, are stone-clad, which helps to reinforce the architectural elements of the house.

Seating was incorporated into the front garden to create another usable area, enabling people to spill out from the games room. Bambusa multiplex ‘Gold Stripe’ offers privacy screening for this room and a soft green foil to the hardscape.

Large glass sliding doors lead the home’s living areas to the alfresco, where the hero of the rear garden is the raised pool with infinity edge. This eliminates the required pool fencing, creating an uninterrupted outlook from the alfresco. Product selection here was paramount and this was done with great care by Mondo Landscapes, who worked with the mirror infinity tiles that were selected by the interior designer. A raised deck platform was added, extending the area within the pool zone. Trex Spiced Rum artificial timber was used as a low-maintenance, easy-care decking solution for this space.

Much detail was incorporated into the kitchen/alfresco areas, which open into one amazing living space. “The garden sections were small, but they were of equal importance and much-needed to add the finishing touch to this amazing space,” says Beverley Harrison, co-founder of Mondo Landscapes. “Privacy and easy care were the catchcries for the rear garden. Green cooling plants became a beautiful foil to the architectural/hardscape elements, a visually appealing backdrop enjoyed from both inside and out.”

Lots of fun was had throughout the design process, with high energy and dialogue a part of every meeting. “Throughout the installation, Daniel would call or pop into the office, prompted by Daniella saying, ‘Ask the girls if an idea needs to be explored or an opinion sought,’” laughs Beverley.

Mondo Landscapes assisted not only with the planting plan, but with the selections of finishes and the development of certain aspects, adding clarity to Daniel’s vision for the amazing final product.

For more information

Mondo Landscapes

Written by Danielle Townsend

Originally in Outdoor Rooms Issue 35

The post Visual Appeal: unique external design appeared first on Completehome.

The featured pool/spa combo is a beautiful design that seamlessly blends with the owner’s house. At 18m long, the pool caters to both the owner’s exercise and relaxation needs while remaining a stunning aesthetic and functional addition to the residence. The adjacent spa occupies its own distinct space from the pool and is surrounded by frameless glass fencing, through which there is a crystal-clear view from the house, the entertaining area and the outdoor kitchen.

The water feature allows for the spa water to cascade into the pool, providing a lovely attraction for the children, and the opposite side of the pool is built with a seating area for those who wish to dip their feet in the water. Equipped with energy-efficient pumps, the pool also prides itself on minimising its carbon footprint and reducing the running costs of electricity, while the Dolphin robotic cleaning system ensures the pool needs next to no maintenance. The glass mosaic tiles in the pool’s interior also inspire a vivid contrast with the wood composite decking, marrying the pool to the home.

The Quality Dolphin Pools team was started by John Conley and works closely with clients to both understand and realise their needs, however diverse. Through 3D drawings, the team plan their designs and watch the work come to life. Quality Dolphin Pools works on approximately 120 pools a year in the metropolitan Perth area and is a proud member of SPASA, HIA and MBA. Among its many awards are the Pool of the Year award, Lap Pools award, Pool and Spa Combos award and the Traditional Pools award.

Project details:

Heating systems: Solar heating Heliocol
Cleaning systems: Dolphin Robotic
Filtration: Austral 800 with glass with Viron P600 pump
Coping: Travertine
Tiles: Glass mosaics
Pavers: Travertine
Lighting: WN950 LED Multi Spa Electrics
Decking: Wood composite
Fence: Brick and rendered and painted

Designed by Quality Dolphin Pools

dolphinswimmingpools.com

Originally from Poolside magazine Volume 43

The post Undeniable beauty: Modern design for a modern home appeared first on Completehome.

Although nestled within the up-and-coming Perth suburb of Piara Waters, this modern new home features a courtyard-style rear garden which has an inner-city vibe thanks to its contemporary, warehouse-inspired design. From the graffiti-style wall art and industrial-look furniture to the seating area paved in recycled bricks, the design has just the right mix of urban charm and eco-friendly chic.

Designed and built by Landscapes WA, in conjunction with Dale Alcock Homes, the rear garden has been deftly carved into two spaces, each dedicated to entertaining. First, there is a large jarrah deck that is easily accessed from the home via glass sliding doors. This area has a dining setting, a stainless-steel island barbecue, wall-mounted herb planters and ample space for guests to mingle. In short, it enables stylish indoor-outdoor entertaining no matter what the weather.

Just two steps down from the deck is a second entertaining area where you will find a steel fire pit with a natural rust finish surrounded by funky stools fashioned out of recycled materials. This area also features recycled brick pavers, reclaimed concrete lawn pavers (used as edging) and old jarrah railway sleepers (used as step treads). Bridging the transition from the deck to lower conversation area is a recycled steel planter with an appealing rust-effect patina.

“Using recycled materials always poses a challenge because of the physical condition of the materials,” says Ryan Pontifex of Landscapes WA. “Through experienced workmanship and tried-and-proven procedures, we were able to successfully integrate these materials into the garden and deliver top-quality finishes.” Landscapes WA also brought its construction expertise to the garden elements that were built using new materials. “We built rendered, solid-brick walls around the entertaining areas, while the wall along the side of the house was comprised of rendered brick pillars with powder-coated infill panels. To complement the walling, we also built texture-coated low retaining walls,” says Ryan.

In the front garden, those walls reference the built structures found in the rear garden and work in harmony with the exposed aggregate driveway. Adding a contemporary touch, a custom-designed stainless-steel letterbox face plate was attached to the front retaining wall.

“In both front and rear gardens, the plants used were mature evergreen types we knew would thrive in the Western Australian climate without much maintenance,” says Ryan. “From flaxes and groundcovers to low-maintenance cycads and feature dragon trees, we were able to create a minimalist planting style to match the contemporary landscape design. For maximum water efficiency, we installed a sub-surface drip-line irrigation system with drippers placed every 150mm.”

The decorative touches employed in the rear garden are also worthy of mention. The overall approach is casual and contemporary with an inner-city edge. This can be seen in the slogans painted on the boundary wall, the series of non-aligned, wall-mounted metal planters and the artfully worn-looking industrial-style stools. By paying close attention to every detail, from the plants to the decor, the design team has brought some urban élan to a suburban setting.

Written by Karen Booth

Photography by Ron Tan

 Originally from Backyard & Garden Design Ideas magazine, Volume 12 Issue 2

The post Contemporary warehouse inspired design appeared first on Completehome.

Working hand-in-hand with the owners, Denise Staffa of Outside In has designed a series of outdoor spaces which have a beachy, contemporary resort-style ambience that perfectly complements Perth’s sunny climate and the family’s love of being outdoors. “Achieving a good flow from inside to out was an absolute must, especially around the swimming pool and entertaining area due to the limited space,” says Denise.

“The selection of materials and colours played an important role in this. For example, the owners were so enamoured of the travertine I suggested we use for the rear garden, they decided to take it right through to the inside of the home, making indoor and outside spaces seem as one.”

The continuity of materials and colours complements the relaxed, easy-flowing design while the use of pale hues makes the outdoor spaces seem more open. In the outdoor dining pavilion, the colour of the walls and outdoor kitchen cabinets matches the colour used for the inside of the home. This means that when the bifold doors on both living areas are pulled back, the transition is seamless.

Travertine makes another appearance as the backdrop for the poolside water wall. This water feature breaks up the broad expanse of the travertine-tile-clad boundary wall and its textured surface is a nice contrast against the smooth finish of the large-format wall tiles. In addition, the water wall has been placed directly opposite the window of the interior kitchen so it can be enjoyed from inside the home.

The stonework also offsets the grey composite decking used for the poolside lounge area. Composite decking was chosen because it doesn’t need re-staining as timber decking does and it doesn’t splinter, rot or warp. For a beachside look, the area is furnished with a white synthetic weave outdoor lounge suite with fresh blue cushions and a matching pair of sunloungers. This area is protected from the sun via a large umbrella. An identical umbrella extends over the pool, ensuring swimmers and dippers can keep their cool during the heat of summer.

In the front garden, split-level design features precision-built retaining walls and steps. On the upper level and adjacent to the interior living room of the home is an undercover outdoor lounge area which was paved in travertine, referencing the flooring used in the rear garden and outdoor pavilion. Honed washed-aggregate paving was used on the lower level of the front garden and around the home’s main entrance.

Honed washed aggregate was also used for edging around the lawn, which is actually artificial turf, chosen for its evergreen look and nil maintenance requirements. Sitting on the lawn to one side of the patio is a two-tier, white bowl-style water feature which adds life to a lost corner of the front garden.

While Denise employed a few simple focal points to create impact in the front garden, the approach to the planting was more liberal. Plants you would expect to find in a tropical resort were chosen to define areas and give the front garden an urban oasis effect. This holiday haven look is enhanced by the use of LED uplighting which transforms the garden at night.

LED lighting was also installed in the rear garden and pool area. This includes strip lighting, which draws focus to the poolside water feature and a floating pool ball which adds a festive touch. These all work in tandem with the pool lighting to entice guests outside after nightfall.

WORDS: Karen Booth PHOTOS: Ron Tan

Originally from Backyard & Garden Design Ideas magazine issue 12.1

The post Taking it outside: Beachside living appeared first on Completehome.

When Kelsie Davies of Tim Davies Landscaping was commissioned to design this stunning outdoor room, the owners sought to create dual entertainment areas — one for family use and the other for adult enjoyment. Another important part of the brief given to Kelsie was for the space to respond to the large scale of the house, with elements to both soften and complement the building.

With the two-storey house being rather generous in its proportions, the landscape needed to reflect the same grand scale to create a unification of the indoor and outdoor spaces. The outdoor living space was therefore designed to be an extension of the internal dining area, a “spill out” space for sophisticated, yet casual at-home entertaining.

The layout of the area was geared towards maximising space and making a bold yet elegant statement, which is best reflected in the custom-built timber screen that artistically shields the space from the neighbours overlooking the property, allowing for an intimate space for entertaining. The choice of timber also provides a nice warmth and contrast to the largely stone material selection in the area, with the curve design creating interest and a point of difference.

“We wanted to create a space that was open but feels partially enclosed with the elements of a timber curved screen and a trellis overhead,” says Kelsie. “The space is also framed either side with large feature pots and Star Jasmine, which will in time grow up to embellish the trellis above and provide dappled shade.”

Kelsie also designed a separate, more casual family outdoor area at the rear that follows the same floor level as the entertaining area but with a lighter tile to differentiate the spaces. Following on from the main living areas, the garden and lawn areas step down in level from the entertaining spaces and have been designed simply with bold elements to the key areas. A timber bench seat creates a destination point in the garden to draw people out into the landscape.

One of the many stand-out features of the design includes the exposed aggregate concrete and large format granite pavers used on the patio that provide an excellent contrast against the soft green hues provided by the gorgeous plantation. The striking, over-sized flanking pots that are situated on both sides of the timber screen that house the star jasmine plantings are also a stunning inclusion of the space. The plantings add some soft scape elements to the concrete and pavers. Plantings of Gleditsia “shademaster”, Lagerstroemia Indica, Dianella and Liriope and Trachelsospermum jasminoides were used to name but a few.

Tim Davies Landscaping also collaborated with Don Russell Homes in regards to the design for the barbecue and bar area. The slimline barbecue hotplate is built into the concrete so all wires and connections are hidden from view to create a seamless appearance. The height of the bar additionally allows people to comfortably stand or sit on stools around it, acting as a gathering point to chat, eat and drink while the food is being prepared and cooked.

Close collaboration between the members of the Tim Davies Landscaping design and construction teams ensured that the outcome of the project was an outstanding outdoor design that more than fulfils the clients’ initial brief.

Landscape design by Tim Davies Landscaping, tdl.com.au 

Looking for a professional to design your outdoor kitchen?

By Kate McKee
From Outdoor Kitchens magazine 1

The post REAL BACKYARD: Concrete and timber outdoor kitchen design appeared first on Completehome.