How To Maximise Your Space The award-winning makeover of a compact garden

This award-winning design transforms a petite patch into an inviting, tropical-themed outdoor room.

Co-founder, Sticks and Stones Landscape Design

The brief

Renovating their freestanding worker’s cottage in Sydney’s inner west provided the owners with more living space, but it also encroached on their rear garden. They were left with a level but bare 6x5.4m rectangle of lawn, framed by concrete block boundary walls. With two young boys and two dogs, their aim was to create a private outdoor space for the family to enjoy. They wanted a section of lawn for the dogs, space for a barbecue and entertaining, and to be surrounded by evergreen, low-maintenance plants.

The solution

The first step for landscape designer Julia Levitt was to design a deck that sits flush with the internal floorboards: this helps to visually extend the family’s living space. Around the perimeter of the deck she designed raised garden beds filled with tall screening plants to disguise and soften the boundary walls. All vertical surfaces are painted white to allow the greenery to pop. The plants are tropical, the hero being Heliconia ‘Hot Rio Nights’. A 4.5x2m lawn area helps layer and expand the space.

Designer statement

“I love the curves of the retaining walls: they draw you into the garden,” says Julia. “The stark white also enhances the vibrant green of the lush, tropical plant palette.” >

The property is positioned in the middle of a row of cottages, with rear lane access. This view (right) is from the laneway entry. The 4.5x2m strip of lawn is Sir Walter Buffalo, chosen to withstand the garden’s four-legged inhabitants. “We wanted a strong, hard-wearing lawn that would tolerate a lot of traffic,” Julia says. Separating the lawn and the timber deck is a planter box featuring Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ and an imperial bromeliad ( Alcantarea imperialis ‘Rubra’). At the end of the lawn is a built-in timber storage shed, painted to blend with the wall.

BIG IDEAS The garden is on two levels, with steps from the deck to the lower lawn. “This garden is a perfect example of maximising space,” says Julia. “At first glance it appears simple but the layers are revealed as you move through it.” LIFT OFF The raised garden beds were designed to double as seating. They also keep the plants safe from the dogs, says Julia. “Most of the beds are raised, away from the reach of the dogs, and the plants are hardy and dog-proof.” HIGH REACHING Heliconia ‘Hot Rio Nights’ can grow to 4m tall. It’s a clumping (non-invasive) form of heliconia and grows well in narrow beds, so can be an alternative to bamboo in tropical and subtropical climes. It also produces stunning red flowers in summer. TAKE A SEAT The curved, cantilevered bench seat is made from recycled tallowood, the same timber used for the decking. The recycled timber was chosen to help soften the architecture of the home and add character. DEPTH OF FIELD Planted at the base of the heliconias are Philodrendron ‘Congo’ and ‘Xanadu’, and Sansevieria ‘Moonshine’. “The layered planting makes the garden beds appear deeper than they are,” says Julia.