Pool party A once boring backyard is given a fabulous update
A CREATIVE UPDATE HAS TURNED A BLAND AND BORING BACKYARD INTO A RESORT-LIKE OASIS
SERIAL RENOVATORS Tim and Robyn are blessed with the enviable gift of being able to imagine what could be, and then turn it into reality. Nothing is more exciting for this clever couple than a blank canvas, and that’s exactly what they had when they bought a home on an estate in a Queensland town. The backyard, not much more than a pool and an expanse of tired-looking lawn overlooked by a road and neighbouring properties, was in desperate need of a revamp. “There was no garden, just a row of pencil pines along the back, tiny murrayas down the pool side and a row of agapanthus out the front,” recalls Robyn. Five years later, Tim, a builder and expert handyman, and Robyn, a green thumb with an eye for landscape design, have pulled off an amazing transformation.
triple threat
Tim and Robyn (pictured) bought three Bunnings mirrors for just $40 each, and Tim hung them on the outdoor wall by the poolside table. They create an interesting window effect, reflecting the serene green surrounds.
“We love the creeping fig along the block walls, as it creates a green boundary to the space that’s so calming” ~ Robyn
eye-catcher
Robyn has styled a potting bench found on Gumtree with a collection of pots and objets d’art, but the show stopper is an old iron gate from Eclectic Style in Noosa (left). To create the illusion of space, the couple had the piece transformed into a mirror by G James Glass & Aluminium, with the whole project costing about $580. For a similar finished piece, try Le Forge.
watering hole
An Art Deco-style bar cart (above ) from Harolds Finishing Touches, stocked with summer essentials, is a stylish poolside addition and can easily be brought out when there are guests and wheeled in at night’s end.
gateway
Tim crafted the Hamptons-style white front gate (above) from spotted gum and marine-grade ply, and then painted it in Aqua Satin Enamel in Popcorn from Porter’s Paints, $52.24/ litre. A black latch from Mitre 10 (for similar try the ‘Gothic Ring’ gate latch, $31.95) and an armillary sphere, bought years ago, evoke a classic elegance, while flourishing star jasmine on either side greets guests with its sublime scent.
“We added some levels to maximise the useability of the block and added garden ‘rooms’ to create interest and make it feel larger than it is” ~ Robyn
sitting pretty
In the covered outdoor area, an elegant lounge setting purchased from Jati several years ago provides comfortable and stylish seating (opposite) from which to take in the stunning views. Bricking in existing pillars, and rendering and painting them, adds substance to the zone, while granite paving in Coconut Ice from Slate & Stone creates a cool and neutral finish underfoot.
vantage point
The garden is filled with inviting spots to sit, relax and just enjoy a beautiful summer’s day. By the pool, a handsome French-style mirror from Harolds Finishing Touches (above left) pops on a backdrop of creeping fig over the block wall, painted in Dulux Weathershield Bronze Fig. A pretty setting from The Teak Factory has been allowed to weather, its silver tones blending beautifully with the painted wall and pale new pavers.
rustic charm
Industrial-look doors from Eclectic Style in Noosa, bought on a weekend away, screen the new pool pump room, turning it into a gorgeous garden feature. A grove of silvery olive trees lines the back wall of the pool, providing a shady resting spot for dogs Rosie and Wally.