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
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