CREATIVE OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS | VIC
The owners wanted to transform their small 5 x 7.5 metre rear courtyard into a chic
and sophisticated area for relaxing and entertaining, so they employed Steve Taylor
and his team at Creative Outdoor Solutions to deliver this millimeter perfect result
with extensive detail in every aspect.
Simple but rich in colour and texture, the space’s perfect proportions aid in the
creation of an outdoor room that is visually much bigger than it physically is. It is
hard to pinpoint a superior single element, though the water feature is one to grab
attention with its flame finished granite water wall spilling into a lower pond. The
water wall acts both as a feature and a screening device for the rear gate.
All furniture was custom made including the openable lid of the built-in bench,
the built-in BBQ and cupboards. Bluestone features predominately underfoot,
contrasted with the white walls, planter boxes and the small section of raised
timber decking.
Bamboo Bambuseae and Bird of Paradise Strelitzia reginae screen the neighbours,
create an architectural look and bring a lush natural element to the courtyard.
Strategic lighting placement gives the courtyard a special character and ensures its
easy usage at any time of day.
A secondary element to this design was an internal courtyard furnished similarly to
that at the rear but on a smaller scale. This produces a real continuity of design.
Photography: Tim Turner
METAMORPHOSIS
The unused rear courtyard and bathroom light well of a newly renovated
inner city terrace home was in desperate need of remodeling.
Contact
Steve Taylor
CREATIVE OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS
392 Burke Rd,
Camberwell VIC 3124
Telephone : (03) 9889 3329
www.creativeoutdoorsolutions.com.au
195
CREATIVE OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS | VIC
A contemporary sanctuary designed for weekend relaxation and entertaining, this
entry courtyard is striking in its simplicity. Informed by contemporary Asian and
modern minimalist influences, the courtyard is “a visually stunning, well balanced,
simple yet sophisticated entry space with the added benefit of functionality as it can
be used for early evening welcoming cocktails or quiet moments of contemplation,”
says designer Steve Taylor.
“The key to the success of the space is its simplicity, balance of scale and contrasting
yet complimentary palette of tones and textures.”
The hero of the space is a centrally located split-level water feature. Cooling the
landscape and creating the kind of atmosphere only water in motion can, the
The Details
feature comprises three up-lit bubbling jets that send water spilling over a granite
wall into the pond below.
Plants:
Across the pond stretches a stepping stone path and a large ‘floating’ timber
Black Bamboo Phyllostachys nigra
boardwalk lined by red LED lights that mirror the vivid red trunk of the feature
Evergreen Giant Liiope muscari
Ground Cover Hardenia gardenia radicans
Kaffir Lily Clivia miniata
Bird of Paradise Strelitzia reginae
Japanese Maple. Stark white retaining walls frame the remaining plants, providing
a great canvas for the richly toned foliage.
Photography: Tim Turner
Japanese Maple Acer palmatum
MAKING AN ENTRANCE
This designer landscape by Creative Outdoor Solutions
sets a stylish tone for the modern home it precedes.
Paving:
Contact
Rectangular feature charcoal Nero Notte, flame
Steve Taylor
finished granite and cobblestone/pebble ground
CREATIVE OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS
cover from Granite Works.
392 Burke Rd,
Camberwell VIC 3124
Decking:
Telephone : (03) 9889 3329
Merbau timber
www.creativeoutdoorsolutions.com.au
197
CREATIVE OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS | VIC
DISCERNING TASTE
The brief for this cutting-edge landscape design called for a minimalistic and
modern central courtyard garden, one that would contain little but speak volumes.
239
The result that unfolded captures the brief perfectly, being sleek and contemporary
in its line and palette, with elements that foster the feeling of space and blur the
distinction between inside and out. The large family pool with spa, and open
alfresco dining and lounge rooms serve not only aesthetic requirements, but
functional ones also.
The Details
The stars of the space are the large pool and feature-black spa, which create a
mirror-like reflection in the water. The Canary Island Date Palm was an existing
Plants:
fixture and had to be retained, so the outdoor room needed a large frame in order
Canary Island Date Palm Phoenix canariensis
to compensate. Planter boxes are minimal and filled only with Bromeliads, in
Bush Lily Clivia miniata
Bromeliad Vriesea ensiformis
maintaining the uniform aesthetic.
Being an internal courtyard, every structure and feature really needed to be
Paving:
balanced, proportional and complimentary to the home’s architecture and internal
Raven granite
décor. The clients are in the design game, so the furnishings and artwork reflect
White granite
their expertise and taste.
White exposed aggregate
A great achievement by Steve Taylor and the design team of Creative Outdoor
Water Feature:
Solutions, this paired back, minimalist design is visually rich and engaging,
Raven granite
providing the perfect living and entertaining space for the owners.
Planter Boxes:
Photography: Tim Turner
White granite
Pool:
Goldfish Pools and Landscapes
Contact
Steve Taylor
CREATIVE OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS
Builder:
392 Burke Rd,
DDB Design and Build
Camberwell VIC 3124
Telephone : (03) 9889 3329
www.creativeoutdoorsolutions.com.au
241
CREATIVE OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS | VIC
A
PLAYGROUND
FOR
BIG
AND
SMALL
Minimum budgetary restraints together with a feature filled brief made this project a
designer’s dream. The owners loved entertaining so required an extensive alfresco area.
271
They also wanted plenty of facilities for their children to play, hence the creation of
this all encompassing, enviable back garden.
Taking up the challenge of ensuring the client’s vision was fulfilled, the landscape
construction was managed by Steve Taylor and built by the expert team at
Exquisite Gardens. The spine of the garden is a large family pool and four-sided
wet edge spa by Aloha Pools. A seamless view of the pool is achieved with
frameless glass fencing.
In and around the pool are two sundecks. The deck opposing the spa boasts
a daybed framed by a stunning Aloe tree, while the other deck features two
sun lounges and three feature bandings of New Zealand Iris Libertia ixioides
‘Goldfinger’. Beaver Stone cladding gives the retaining walls a natural feel, as it also
acts as a planter box bringing the garden right up to the pool.
A large feature wall backing the pool and a curved Merbeau slat partition conceal
further play areas behind that include a basketball court, trampoline and lawn.
Closer to the home, a large alfresco area was created with a custom outdoor kitchen,
bar lounge, fire bowl and wood fire pizza oven.
The plantings are a combination of Australian natives and selected exotics chosen
either for their structural form, colour or contrasting textural elements. Two Aloe
vera trees under planted with Century Plant Agave ocahui and Echeveria form
the centre points of the planting and garden design. Other feature plants include
up-lit sculptural Grass Trees Xanthorrhoea preissii under planted with Candlestick
Succulent Senecio articulatis and Blue Fescue Festuca glauca, Sago Palm Cycas
revoluta, a Dragon Tree Dracaena draco, River Wattle Acacia cognata, Jacaranda
mimosifolia, Magnolia ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia grandiflora, Bird of Paradise Strelitzia
reginae, Prunus and Mondo Grass Ophiopogon japonicus, all complimented by
lush green Kentucky Bluegrass Poa pratensis.
Photography: Tim Turner
Contact
Steve Taylor
CREATIVE OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS
392 Burke Rd,
Camberwell VIC 3124
Telephone : (03) 9889 3329
www.creativeoutdoorsolutions.com.au
273