Backyard and Outdoor Living

This one-of-a-kind boutique garden was designed to be a hidden oasis in the midst of the city; a place where you could stop, relax and just breathe. The relaxation zone of the garden centres on the moon gate-style built-in daybed. From the cushioned

WORDS & PHOTOS: DIANE CRAWFORD Meeting enthusiastic gardeners is never less than rewarding, especially when they want to learn and share. I met John Scott a few years ago at a garden show, where he told me all about his productive garden and invited

WORDS & PHOTOS: JANA HOLMER Joe Paola started gardening around the age of three in Conflenti, a small Calabrian town just above the foot of Italy. His inspiration and guiding lights were his parents, Antonio and Giovanna. “We were passionate about ho

Grab your hat and your sunscreen, it’s time to get out into the garden. We’ve got plenty of inspiration this issue, all you need is a clear day and some trusty gardening equipment. There’s nothing more satisfying, healthy and delicious than eating ve

Homeowner and architect Fadi Fadhil is responsible for ushering what was once a very tired four-bedroom semi, located in Chatswood on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, into the 21st century, while simultaneously bringing the outdoors in and vice versa

WORDS: LOUISE SMITHERS PHOTOS: LYNDON STACY A successful entryway sets the tone for the rest of the house and if the front courtyard of this home in the exclusive Melbourne suburb of Toorak is anything to go by, we can only imagine the serenity that

WORDS: CARROL BAKER PHOTOS: DAN HOCKING This home renovation encompassed significant interior and exterior remodelling, with the overall aim being to increase liveability and space. The homeowners wanted a generous living area that stayed within the

WORDS: KARSHA GREEN PHOTOS: NORTH SYDNEY COUNCIL In 2003, Neil and Libby Harrison purchased the ground-floor apartment of a six-unit, two-storey Federation block in the northern Sydney suburb of Cremorne. The block was built in 1910 and originally na

When it comes to garden edging, you need a product that is strong, versatile and weather resistant — and you can’t get anything that fits the bill better than steel. Greenlines Gardenware’s FormBoss range of low-maintenance steel garden edging lets y

WORDS: KARSHA GREEN PHOTOS: CLAIRE TAKACS “The front boasts a deep, red brick facade, a romantic perennial planting palette, a stained-glass arch window and heritage detailing” In this home in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, heritage architecture c

WORDS: KAREN BOOTH If you want to grow veggies and herbs near your outdoor kitchen or barbecue area, a vertical garden can be a good solution. Systems such as the Holman GreenWall planting kit allow you to do this with ease. This is a simple-to-insta

Make the most of every inch of outdoor space that you have with a stylish table and comfy chairs. The goal? To make entertaining a breeze without making guests feel cramped. ‘Tis the season of sunshine after all, and with the warmth comes more opport

WORDS: KAREN BOOTH If you spend any amount of time outdoors, furniture is a must — but you need to think about the practicalities, not just the looks. “Firstly, the function of the space you plan to furnish needs to be considered. Is the area mainly

WORDS: LOUISE SMITHERS PHOTOS: ZHI-REN CHOW Renowned for its rows of restored terrace homes, Paddington in Sydney offers many design treats, including this property that sets the benchmark for modern multi-level outdoor living. Designed by Adam Robin

Now is the time you need to think about how you want your garden to look for the year ahead. Mulching is a really important aspect of gardening as it keeps the roots of your plants cool and helps to retain moisture in the soil. Many plants feed at th

Decks are a beautiful and valuable part of homes today and are considered as much a part of the home as the rooms inside. Whether you’re installing a deck for the first time or are considering a deck repair project, knowing the proper steps for maint

WORDS: LOUISE SMITHERS PHOTOS: HERVÉ HÔTE A gem in the French Riviera’s heavy crown, Cassis is home to one of our favourite gardens in all of Southern France: the Riviera Hideaway. Tucked nonchalantly between Marseilles and Toulon, the coastal town o

WORDS: IAN DARBYSHIRE A thriving, green backyard to call your own has long been a staple of the Australian dream. But how many of us are really in touch with the life beyond our back door? In Australia, we are lucky to have some of the most diverse w

Create an outdoor kitchen with style. When the weather cooperates, there are few meals more pleasant than those you can enjoy in your own backyard. Fresh air and a hot barbecue have a way of conjuring up a holiday mood — even if you are only grilling

WORDS: FABIAN CAPOMOLLA Crop rotation is the system of growing a sequence of different crops in the same soil or position in your veggie patch to help feed the soil and in turn control weeds, pests and diseases. The practice dates back 8000 years to

If a product can withstand the daily wear and tear of a commercial environment such as a school, you know it will stand the test of time in your own backyard. Emmanuel Anglican College (EAC) in Ballina, NSW is a centre of academic excellence that pro

WORDS: JENNIFER STACKHOUSE PHOTOS: BIGSTOCK & 123RF Saffron crocus can only survive through cultivation. It is no longer found in the wild and the flowers are sterile, so it can only be grown by dividing the clumps of corms, which are divided and rep

Today, sustainability is a factor for most gardeners — and rightly so. Put simply, sustainable gardening means designing, constructing and maintaining garden spaces in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future

WORDS: DIANE CRAWFORD PHOTOS: DENSEY CLYNE & DIANE CRAWFORD Attracting wildlife to your garden is wonderful and we all love to see birds flitting through the shrubbery in our backyards as they busily feed or make their homes there. Sometimes, creatin

WORDS & PHOTOS: DIANE CRAWFORD • Water the plants well several hours before repotting and moisten the new potting mix. • Invert the old pot and knock the plant out of the pot, holding the plant carefully. • Tease out a few matted roots if they are re

For instant tropical or resort-style appeal, it’s hard to go past the allure of bamboo screening. Whether you’ve gone for a Balinese-themed backyard or just want to add a touch of the exotic to your garden, bamboo screening is the ideal choice. Bambo

WORDS: MELISSA KING PHOTOS: FLEMING’S NURSERIES & THE DIGGERS CLUB Sweet, juicy and delicious, peaches are nature’s dessert. To me, there are few pleasures greater than sitting under the shade of a tree, juice dripping down your chin as you treat you

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener, or you have a barely green thumb, there are practical tools that will help you step up your game this summer. Enter Holman Industries, a proud Australian, family-owned business that specialises in watering, gardeni

Tombo Design specialises in beautifully designed architectural and decorative metal screens, perfect for creating a sense of privacy and seclusion in your urban environment. Its screens are available in a variety of finishes, from powder-coated to ox