Projects
Mc Cracken St, Essendon
A modern two story home required a modern minimalist garden. The clients brief was to create a low maintenance garden with an area for children to play. The front garden sloped across the site and contained a large underground water tank which need to be concealed. It was decided to build individual raised garden beds set at various heights to work with the changes in level. Synthetic turf was installed in the front garden to minimise maintenance and to cover the top of the tank. A custom made stainless steel frame has been installed to frame a large pot as a focal point on arrival. The backyard incorporates a concrete pool/spa with a modwood timber deck. A fully equipped outdoor area for family gatherings features raised planter boxes with the incorporation of a circular built in seat. A custom made swing has been installed with a retractable arm so that space can be made available for ball games. A sandpit built into a corner will become a future garden bed as the children grow.
:Garden Construction by Ken McLachlan Landscapes/The Nature group
:Building Design by Tina Lindner
Lerderderg St, Bacchus Marsh
This lovely new home was built to compliment an older street scape. The clients request was for a garden that gave year round interest through foliage colours & textures rather than flowers. It had to be low maintenance & provide an area for childrens play, relaxation & entertainment for family & friends. We have continued to use a color palette of greys & whites in the hardescaping to work harmoniously with the home. Accent colours are provided from the plants and garden accessories. This garden is only 3 years old at the time of the photos and will continue to fill out and provide a sanctuary for its owners.
:Garden Construction by Ken Mc Lachlan Landscapes/The Nature group
Leafy Retreat, Gisborne
The clients request was for an easy care garden that needed to feel like it fitted into its natural bush setting and adjacent golf course. Natural sandstone paving was chosen as the main hard surface with recycled timbers and volcanic rocks forming the built structures.The garden needed to cater for children’s play to evoke their imagination. The garden includes an in-ground trampoline, a natural sand pit which doubles as a bunker for the 3 hole putting green. A timber day bed centrally located by the pool creates a focal point from the rear of the house.This garden has grown and developed into a much needed sanctuary for its owners and all who visit.
Keilor Nth, Country Garden
This large scale garden located in a creek side valley needed to provide year round colour & interest throughout the seasons. Due to it’s size it needed to be fairly self-sufficient by using a selection of hardy native plants mixed with a few exotics. There were lots of interesting old farm relics to be used in the garden as focal points to connect to the surrounding farm. The house was given a makeover with the addition of a curved bamboo deck linking the front and back areas of the house. An area for family gatherings around a circular fire pit has created the perfect spot for get together’s with a children’s play area built nearby for the visiting grandkids. This garden is still a work in progress with plants being added as time goes by, with many being divided from existing plants on site. Stage two will see the addition of a productive garden for fruit trees and vegi’s complete with a chook run.
Native Garden – Horseshoe Bend, Keilor
This existing Keilor home was fully renovated and extended for a busy family who requested a modern native garden. The existing pool was retiled and paved with new bluestone paving. Existing boundary fences were painted in a dark charcoal colour to blur the boundaries, with the rear boundary fence replaced to open up the views to the surrounding bushland. Plants were planted in large drifts to add to a more contemporary look. Some of the native plants were clipped into balls to add some structure and contrast. This lovely garden have recently been featured in the 2017 November issue of Australian Home Beautiful.
:Landscape construction outsourced & managed by RPGD
:Building Design by Tina Lindner
Forster St, Williamstown
This little courtyard garden in Williamstown was to add some much needed usable space for entertaining and relaxation. The existing deck was too small and falling apart, with valuable space taken up by wide garden beds.Built in timber garden seating was added for lazing around and can double as dining by adding a table. Spotted gum was used for the decking in both the back and front garden to link the spaces. By adding a retractable awning the space now has some much needed protection for year round use. Large sandstone planters were added to break up the timber surfaces and provide added interest. Led lighting has been installed to extend the gardens use throughout the seasons. The garden has now become an inviting space with a lush modern feel.
:Garden Construction by Ken McLachlan Landscapes/The nature group
Brighton
A total garden makeover was requested to compliment this original federation style Brighton house and its new double story extension. The clients request was for a large area of lawn for children to run and play, included was the installation of an in ground trampoline and cute cubby house.
The main planting feature included two established Date Palms which gave the garden instant effect.
At the rear of the property a bluestone paved alfresco area over looks a new synthetic turf tennis court and a new pool. The pool is surrounded by Spotted gum decking and a water feature wall. The bluestone continues around the front of the home with the addition of old red brick banding to compliment the red brick of the original part of the house.
The garden is irrigated using rain water collected from both the house and tennis court and stored in a underground concrete tank installed underneath the tennis court.
Bendigo Country Gardens
A country home in Bendigo request for a spa to be added to an existing pool was a challenge on its own. The views from inside the house were looking directly at the pool equipment and garden shed and levels were uneven everywhere you looked.
The new raised spa was to become the new focal point of the pool area. It was intended to look as if it had always been there and not as an add on. New paving and a Mod Wood timber sun deck were added to give the area a clean modern look and address the uneven levels. A rendered feature wall with various sized mirrors concealed the shed and pool equipment.
The gardens surrounding the house had been badly affected by the long drought and did not suit its native bush setting. Gravel paths made from recycled bricks created a natural backdrop to raised garden beds with acacias, kangaroo paws, leucadendrons, lomandra and flowering gums just to name a few. A rusted metal fire pit was customised for gathering on chilly nights.
Style: Country