Enchanted garden A bewitching formal garden

WITH PASSION AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL, A COUPLE TRANSFORMED AN UNKEMPT PADDOCK INTO A BEWITCHING FORMAL GARDEN

Hard as it is to imagine, this eminently enchanting garden was derelict horse paddocks only a few years ago. Located in Brisbane’s Bayside region, it hadn’t been touched in a decade when Adam and Kristn, parents of three and owners of bespoke garden design and landscaping business Dorset Bottega, moved there in 2017. “Everything was overgrown with bracken, the old dam was full of mud, cane toads and mozzies, and there was an old bus dumped on the land,” recalls Adam, whose vision was to create a series of distinct zones within the 1.3 hectare garden. The couple’s starting point included an American-style barn for guests, Dorset Bottega’s studio set in an Italianesque parterre, a poolside conservatory, a picturesque potting shed and a formal front garden. “The front garden was the most important aspect for me, as it’s directly connected to the house,” says Kristn. “I especially wanted a beautiful centrepiece as it would be in our direct sight line when the front door was open.” Sums up Adam: “I’ve always been enthralled by traditional European gardens, so that’s been a big inspiration.”

FORMAL BEAUTY

Although the front garden is less than five years old, it looks wonderfully established. To achieve this, the area was raised, the old soil replaced with a high-quality organic mix and overgrown figs trimmed to allow in the light. “Your garden will only ever be as good as your soil, drainage and the sun it receives,” says Adam. The stunning ornate bench seats (above), sourced from at Nudgee Road Antiques, once graced a city botanic garden. “I restored the seats and painted them black,” he explains.

CLASSIC CONSERVATORY

“I’ve always loved European conservatories, and this is our Australian version of one,” says Adam of the space opposite. “To help keep it cool rather than warm, it has fewer windows and the doors are kept open.” It “provides a really lovely connection between the inside and out,” adds Kirstn. Like its interior, the floor in front of the conservatory is paved in recycled brick, and potted lilly pillies guard the doorways.

STUNNING SYMMETRY

“STICK TO FOUR OR FIVE OF YOUR FAVOURITE PLANT VARIETIES AND PLANT EN MASSE. IT’LL MAKE MORE IMPACT AND YOUR GARDEN WON’T END UP LOOKING LIKE A PATCHWORK QUILT,” ADVISES ADAM. IN THE PARTERRE OUTSIDE THE CONSERVATORY (BELOW) HE PLANTED DWARF LILLY PILLIES, PINK PANTHER FOXGLOVES AND ORNAMENTAL KALE. >

POOL PERFECTION

With pencil pines reaching for the sky in the background, and potted bougainvillea injecting a burst of magenta to the serene scheme, the pool area channels the relaxed sophistication of the grounds of a French country summerhouse. “The lilly pilly hedge hides the pool fence and creates a beautiful green enclosure, which feels part of the garden, not fenced off from it,” says Adam. The pool by Barrier Reef Pools, featuring ‘Sandwave Granite’ tiles from The Pool Tile Company, is a recent addition that’s now the firm family favourite for the couple’s children, Mia, 22, Ava, 14 and William, 12.

“THE POOL IS THE CHILDREN’S FAVOURITE PART OF THE GARDEN, OF COURSE!”

~ KRISTN, HOMEOWNER

“IF A VARIETY GROWS WELL IN YOUR GARDEN, STICK WITH IT AND USE REPEATEDLY”

~ ADAM, HOMEOWNER

Potted lilly pillies shaped into cone topiaries flank the front door of Adam and Kristn’s family home in Brisbane; the formality of the front garden sets the tone for the refined spaces beyond. A garden obelisk adorned with bougainvillea (below left) is a striking feature, but the centrepiece here is a vintage-inspired streetlight (opposite) that was sourced online (for similar, try Temple & Webster). >

Murraya is used to define the garden beds against the front walls of the home; foxgloves provide pops of springtime colour.

The conservatory is built for the Brisbane climate. “The recycled brick floor stays cool all year due to moisture seeping up from the ground,” says Adam.