Garden makeover
A bare concrete base becomes an inviting outdoor entertaining area
Carol’s plan for an outdoor living space takes a bare concrete base from slab to fab
01
OVERHEADS
Build a pergola over the west and south sides of the concrete terrace to provide shelter for both areas and cover for the double doors off the living room. This will effectively create a much larger indoor-outdoor living area. Use a white or cream polycarbonate for the roof to keep things light.
04
FIRE UP
To prolong use of the outdoor living spaces beyond the warmer months, build an outdoor fireplace along the western side of the terrace. This will also help to protect the area from the wind.
02
TRAIN TRACK
Train a flowering climber (eg roses, Japanese wisteria, star jasmine) up the pergola support posts and along the beams to soften the built forms and connect them to the rest of the garden.
05
PLANT IT
Build a raised planter box and stain it to match other garden structures. Plant with herbs, vegetables or flowering shrubs. Shrubs can also be planted along the base of the house to soften its hard edges. Build a seat in the centre of the planter box or add wide capping along its inside edge to sit on.
03
WIND BREAK
Along the windy western side grow a medium-height hedge to create a sense of enclosure – a scented hedge would be a nice touch. Keep this trimmed on all sides and on top to allow plenty of light into the area and avoid foliage intruding into the space. Plant groundcover/edging plants at the base for colour and interest.
06
TREE LINE
Plant some attractive trees along the western and southern boundaries to add further wind protection, provide shady areas to sit, and add interest to the view.