A Total Concept

Vaucluse AW

A Total Concept

We developed this project in Vaucluse to create numerous outdoor spaces linked together with a similar use of material and colour but to provide an individual feel for each space.

The main entrance to this stately residence was an insipid cracked sloping concrete pathway providing us the opportunity to develop a beautiful level entry courtyard incorporating formal gardens, stepping stones and a koi pond to better reflect the quality of the home.

The entry courtyard has been paved in a traditional manner using brick and blond Sydney sandstone surrounds, the surrounding walls are rendered and painted to match the Residence and the plants include a screen border of Magnolia ’Little Gem’ (White magnolia), Gardenia florida (florists gardenia), Gardenia radicans (groundcover gardenia), Gardenia ‘Professor Pucci’ (large gardenia), Liriope variegata (variegated liriope), Ophiopogan japonicum ‘miniata’ (miniature mondo grass), Agapanthus orientalis ‘blue’ (Blue Nile Lily), Convolvulus mauritanicus (Blue morning glory), Dichorisandra thyrsiflora (Blue flowering ginger) - all blue and white flowering plants to create a calming and peaceful themed colour courtyard!

The second outdoor space within the property that we developed is a peaceful and understated circular lawn that overlooks the swimming pool area. A central wrought iron table and four matching seats provides the focus of the area whilst the lawn is defined by a surrounding brick edge and border of evergreen Philodendron ‘Xanadu” (Miniature Philodendron).

The third outdoor space is a large timber deck utilised for entertaining purposes and is located between the swimming pool and stunning moss and lichen encrusted weathered rock outcrops incorporating a cave and gardens. 

The timber deck and pool are linked from the residence by large sandstone steps that provide informal seating. The timber deck in turn is linked to a lower lush lawn area with open style timber stairs. The Australian hardwood timber deck uses large section timbers to create a feeling of substance and is elevated slightly from the surrounding gardens to provide a sense of floating.

The central entertaining table and chairs are set within a profusion of tropical plants creating a very secluded space. Endemic Cyathea australis (treeferns), provide shade to a brushstroke mix of shade loving understory plants with vibrant colours such as Asplenium bulbiferum (Hen and Chicken Fern), Impatiens balsmina ‘rouge’ (red impatiens), Philidendron composum (green philodendron), Cordyline rubra (red cordyline) and Viola hederacea (native violets).
To ensure the plants’ viability throughout the property, we incorporated composting, heavy mulching and a water-wise fully automatic irrigation system linked to large water storage tank beneath the timber deck. 

The pool has been designed incorporate quality Italian mosaic tile interior finish that causes the water to shimmer and sparkle, a black basalt wet edge, a river pebbled balance tank and a long seating bench with heated spa jets and blowers for relaxing and entertaining purposes.

The apparent flowing simplicity of design through the outdoor rooms of this project and discrete use of the best quality materials visually unifies and adds immeasurable value to the property, to create A TOTAL CONCEPT.