Reason for renovation
When Gary retired in 2013, he and Tish decided to move to a new, modern lock-up-and-go duplex. No renovations were necessary, but their garden lacked character and fell short of the welcoming space they wanted it to be.
“We believe that a garden should be an extension of your living space,” says Tish, who runs her own medical business. “It should be a place to relax and unwind.”
However, in the north-facing back garden there was no shelter from the sun and no braai, while the compact courtyard at the front entrance featured the most awful red brickwork. “This would have been the first impression visitors would get of our home and it was not welcoming at all.”
Gary and Tish love having friends over for al fresco meals, so they tackled their back garden in the same year they moved in and did all the work themselves, except for laying the artificial lawn. “This was a six-month project; we started in the spring of 2013 and it was completed early last summer,” Gary explains.
Practical finishes were important to the couple so they replaced the lawn with artificial lawn and a deck, which they built in September 2014. The front entrance was also treated to a facelift and is now a much more inviting space. “Fixing up our garden was an exciting challenge and we had such fun getting our hands dirty, decorating and bargain-hunting on Gumtree,” says Tish.