EXTERIOR Facade painted Dulux Colorbond Dover White. Custom cedar battens. Dolphin aluminium angle standing seam profile roof system, ARC Roofing. ENTRY Walls painted Dulux Natural White. Le Forge console, Boyd Blue. On console, pot plant, stylist’s own. ‘Daphne’ tray, Arteriors ‘Tassel’ lamp and ‘Flora’ centerpiece, Palecek ‘Jaden’ urn, all Boyd Blue. Architectural Curves IV, V, VI artwork, Designer Boys. Custom Venetian plaster curved ceiling feature, Architectural Venetian Plaster. Rotaliana ‘Squiggle H4’ pendant light, Mondoluce.
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houses H G FAMILY ROOM Raffles ‘Sirocco’ curtains in Ivory, Barnes Interiors. ‘Dempsey’ modular sofa, Molmic. ‘Orion’ pillar stool and table, GlobeWest. ‘Ivy’ coffee table, Grazia & Co. Acrylic ‘Planetary’ magazine holder, The Feelter. Custom Gold Chinese silk rug, The Rug Establishment. On coffee table Arteriors ‘Quinn’ sculpture and ‘Nelson’ centrepiece, both Boyd Blue.
H G houses 154 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN KITCHEN Island and rangehood in Liquid Metal Technologies Copper in Shiny with a Florentine patina, and kitchen joinery in Processed Forest Products timber veneer in Truffle White, all Bober. Microcement splashback, Architectural Venetian Plaster. Astra Walker ‘Assemble’ mixer, Design Bathware. Zip tap and V-ZUG ovens, both Winning Appliances. NORR11 ‘NY11’ bar stools, Mobel Design. ATTIC LIVING ‘Alfie’ sofa, Molmic. ‘Isla’ and ‘Edie’ side tables, and Palecek ‘Damon’ wall decor and ‘Denzel’ floor lamp, all Boyd Blue. ‘Artie’ console, GlobeWest. Bowl, The Foundry. ‘Barbary’ rug, The Rug Establishment. n order to safeguard their water views, the owners of this house on the South Coast bought two blocks side-by-side — a decision that would also allow them to enjoy both front and rear yards because of the setback of the adjoining dwellings. Located in a new development area and purchased early on, this ensured an added sense of privacy as they wouldn’t be elbow-to-elbow with their neighbours. Now, the only thing between the house and the beach is a small crop of trees, a separation that’s auspicious according to feng shui, an ancient practice based on the arrangement of spaces to achieve harmony. “Considering the principles of feng shui was at the forefront of the design development. We used organic wave forms to enhance the flow of energy and reflect the undulating coastline,” says building designer Jason Harb of JIH Building Design, whose clients regularly travel to Singapore. The interiors echo the facade’s curvature with a series of swoops, spheres, circles and plump corners. Starting from the point of entry, there’s a chubby tube encircling the double-height mezzanine with loop-shaped lights. “Even though it’s a large house and the exterior is dominant, the owners are very modest and they were more concerned about the layout,” says interior designer Sarah Nolen of Birdblack Design. Given that it’s a multigenerational home, spatial flow took priority. The entry marks the centre of the house with a study and lift to the north-west followed by a short hallway leading to a powder room, laundry and mudroom with a separate wash station and custom beds for the owners’ beloved dogs and guinea pigs. On the other side of the foyer is a generous family room that has direct access to an alfresco area. A double-sided fireplace hides structural columns that partition the open-plan dining and kitchen. >
“We used organic wave forms to enhance the flow of energy and reflect the undulating coastline.” JASON HARB, BUILDING DESIGNER
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AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 157 THIS IS THE LIFE “The practicality of the zoning works so well for us. The ‘wet kitchen’ is a pleasure to be in. We spend a lot of time in there cooking up stir-fries and it’s sizeable enough so that all the mess and smells are contained, freeing up the front kitchen. We also love the attic as it’s a true retreat. It’s a very calming space to get ready in the morning, and the views from there are amazing,” says one of the owners. KITCHEN/DINING Fireplace wall in Inax ‘Sekiha SKH1’ tiles, Artedomus. Santa & Cole ‘Tekiò’ horizontal pendant light, Enlightened Living. ‘Luna’ glass pendant lights, Custom Lighting. ‘Maxwell’ dining chair, ‘Alma’ black pedestal vase, and Palecek ‘Antilles’ white vases, all Boyd Blue. ‘Classique’ dining table, GlobeWest. ‘Malmo’ bowl and plates, Papaya. Flooring in French Vanilla marble, Atlas Marble.
WET KITCHEN Astra Walker mixer, Design Bathware. WOLF cooktop, Winning Appliances. ‘Arbar’ handle, Spark & Burnish. Napkin, Cultiver. Casamood tiles, Di Lorenzo Tiles. On shelves from top ‘Cloud’ bowl, Marmoset Found. Vase, Few and Far. ‘Milo’ bowl, and Arteriors sculptures, both Boyd Blue. Salad bowl, Papaya. HALLWAY/LIVING Opposite, top left Vases, Papaya. Arteriors ‘Hugo’ bowl, ‘Hasta’ vase, ‘Nesbit’ sculptures, and ‘Pueblo’ vase, all Boyd Blue. STUDY Opposite, top right Joinery in Processed Forest Products timber veneer in Truffle White, and Liquid Metal Technologies Copper in Shiny finish with a Florentine patina, Bober. Raffles ‘Atrium’ linen curtains in Oatmeal, Barnes Interiors. Arteriors pendant light, tray (on desk) and sculptures and decor (on shelves), and Palecek side chair, all Boyd Blue. ATTIC LIVING Opposite, bottom right ‘Alfie’ sofa, Molmic. Side table and wall decor, all Boyd Blue. Rug, The Rug Establishment. Console, GlobeWest. Bowl, The Foundry. Floor lamp, Boyd Blue. DINING Opposite, top left Dining table, GlobeWest. Bowl, Papaya. Palecek vases, Boyd Blue. Pendant lights, Custom Lighting.
AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 159 houses H G
160 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN H G houses “It’s a big open space but we didn’t want anything too monolithic,” explains Sarah. “We took inspiration from the hull of a boat and created a three-dimensional curved design that appears to be floating, adding a touch of lightness to this part of the home.” A wet kitchen tucked behind is well equipped with pantry storage and additional freezers. “The majority of their time is spent here so we made it both functional and beautiful,” says Sarah. The first floor, reserved for parents and guests, has four bedrooms, with access to a terrace. Unlike the rest of the home’s muted palette, each bedroom is adorned with unique wallpaper featuring different watercolour lilies. To overcome the developer’s two-storey height restriction, Jason cleverly created the home’s skislope-style silhouette, burrowing the attic level under the roof line and joining it to the balcony to create fluidity and heighten the dynamic curves. “It was imperative that the design was personalised to the cultural preferences and lifestyle of the occupants. The arrangement of the rooms needed to factor in the design principles of feng shui and all the exposed corners needed to be curved. This inspired the organic and sculptural form of the facade,” says Jason. The top floor is dedicated to the primary suite with a powder room and living area fitted out with a TV, musical instruments and a craft table. The the owner can now have her own space separate to the ensuite and bedroom, which is accessible through a walk-in robe. Sarah integrated the wardrobe into curved, non-structural columns — a design feature that complements the profile of the ceiling. The walls, finished in a custom microcement, have been embedded with gold and silver flakes. When it came to the finishes, the owners didn’t want anything overly stately so the palette is comprised of just three materials. “We used French Vanilla marble flooring, timber veneer for all the cabinetry and added a bit of wow with the copper liquid metal, which we used on the kitchen island and dressing table. The effect is one of connection and refinement,” says Sarah. > Birdblack Design: birdblackdesign.com.au. JIH Building Design: jihbuildingdesign.com. Aspire Constructions: aspireconstructions.com.au.
WALK-IN ROBE Dresser and vanity in Liquid Metal Technologies Copper in Shiny with a Florentine patina, Bober. Basin, Roger Seller. Gessi mixer, Design Bathware. Nest Studio handles, Spark & Burnish. Bar stool, DesignByThem. Arteriors ‘Torres’ box, Boyd Blue. Custom mirror, Marlix. MAIN BEDROOM Wall in Sandberg ‘Pine’ wallpaper, Wallpaper Trader. ‘Amanti’ bedhead, Heatherly Design. ‘Sienna’ wall light, Custom Lighting. Bedside table, GlobeWest. Pokhara custom rug, Tappeti. Flooring in European engineered oak in Sandwashed, Woodcut. ATTIC LIVING Opposite, top left Ferm Living side table, Mobel Design. Raffles ‘Atrium’ curtains in Oatmeal, Barnes Interiors. Palecek chair, Boyd Blue. ENSUITE Opposite, top right Wall and floor in Blue Roma quartzite. Abey Gessi ‘Goccia’ tapware, Design Bathware. “We took inspiration from the hull of a boat and created a three-dimensional curved design that appears to be floating.” SARAH NOLEN, INTERIOR DESIGNER
Dulux Colorbond Dover White (facade) Dulux Natural White (walls) French Vanilla marble (kitchen/dining flooring) THE PALETTE MAIN BEDROOM Wall in Sandberg ‘Pine’ wallpaper, Wallpaper Trader. Raffles ‘Atrium’ curtains, Barnes Interiors. ‘Chloe’ bedside table, GlobeWest. ‘Amanti’ bedhead, Heatherly Design. ‘Sienna’ wall light, Custom Lighting. Pokhara custom rug, Tappeti.
AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 163 HOUSES H G 1 ‘Overlamp’ pendant lamp, $7376/large, Living Edge. 2 ‘Trilogy’ pendant in Brass Fizi, POA, Articolo Studios. 3 Kaboodle benchtop in American Oak, $660, Bunnings. 4 Kaboodle ‘Jardin’ handle in Brushed Gold, $40, Bunnings. 5 Armadillo ‘Malawi’ rug in Blush, $2610, Norsu Interiors. 6 ‘Symphony’ sideboard by Emmanuel Gallina, POA, Poliform. 7 Contour Texture 1 artwork by Middle of Nowhere, $499 (framed), Freedom. 8 ‘Hadley’ modular sofa in Crescent Natural, $8095, Coco Republic. 9 ‘Classique’ round dining table in Natural Ash, $2760, GlobeWest. 10 Palecek ‘Jaden’ urn in White, $1625, Boyd Blue. 11 ‘Eden’ square kitchen mixer in Brushed Copper, $305, ABI Interiors. # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 10 THE SOURCE Functional and beautiful furniture and wares that will add lightness and a subtle golden glow to your home. Produced by Andrea Healy.
164 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN H G HOUSES LIVING Rammed earth wall, Whelan Project Builders. S Joinery in wire-brushed American white oak veneer painted Dulux Dieskau, Crafted Kitchens & Cabinets. Shelves in Navurban ‘Balmoral’ veneer, New Age Veneers. Wall light, Volker Haug. ‘Stuv 16’ fireplace, Oblica, on Tundra Grey limestone surround, Gladstones Granite & Marble. Ligne Roset ‘Togo’ chair, Arch Melbourne. Side tables, GlobeWest. Sofa and coffee tables, Trit House. Artwork, Warranbrooke. All other items, stylist’s own. HALLWAY Steel doors, LCF Welding. Joinery in Navurban ‘Balmoral’ veneer, New Age Veneers. French oak floorboards in Cloud, Storey Floors.
Serene SCENE A tactile material selection and connection to nature at this beachside home were high priorities for the owners. STORY Judy Pascoe | STYLING Heartly | PHOTOGRAPHY Dylan James
166 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN KITCHEN Joinery in wire-brushed American white oak veneer painted Dulux Dieskau, Crafted Kitchens & Cabinets. Ceiling in French oak, Storey Floors. Benchtop and splashbacks in Tundra Grey limestone, Gladstones Granite & Marble. Inax ‘Yohen’ border tile, Artedomus. Brass rangehood with Patina Bronze finish, Ox Finishes. Phoenix ‘Vivid Slimline’ mixer tap, Reece. Est Core ‘Dusk Down Up’ wall light, and Wever & Ducré ‘Ray’ ceiling lights (over island), both Est Lighting. Stools, GlobeWest. French oak floorboards in Cloud, Storey Floors. DINING Table and chairs, GlobeWest. Twentytwentyone ‘Hotaru Marker’ pendant light, Space. LIVING Sofa, Trit House. Side table, GlobeWest.
AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 167 HOUSES H G he colourful bathing boxes that line a section of the beachfront on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula are just one of the area’s distinctive features. With the bushland adjoining the coast and the village well appointed with restaurants and shops, residents are assured of a great lifestyle. The owners of this new build located close to the beach were certainly attracted to the area as well as to the 1000sqm block of land where they could create a substantial family home and pool. “We loved the proximity to the beach, the short walk to the cafes and shops, and the flat, northfacing block was great.” With plans for the site prepared by DJE Building Design, the owners approached Mikayla Rose, director and principal designer of Heartly studio, to oversee the design and mastermind the interiors. The owners expressed a wish for both calmness and sophistication, but with two young children the home needed to be robust. “They wanted to create an earthy beachside atmosphere and were keen to use materials, such as charred timber and rammed earth, to create a sense of connection to nature and the coastal context,” says Mikayla. Designed around a central courtyard and pool, the single-level home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two powder rooms, a kitchen and openplan living, and a rumpus room and study. Rooms are generous, corridors are wide and ceilings are high, generating a feeling of spaciousness and serenity. Clerestory windows offer restful sky views as well as admitting an abundance of natural light. With its hardy material palette of charred timber, rammed earth and natural stone, the house exudes a solid and grounded character. “These materials were selected early on to establish a sense of warmth and calm,” says Mikayla. >
168 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN LIVING/DINING Sofa, Trit House. Side table, GlobeWest. Cushions, stylist’s own. Twentytwentyone ‘Hotaru Marker’ pendant light, Space. Dining table and chairs, GlobeWest. Standing mirror, Wall to Wall Prints. KITCHEN Ceiling in French oak, Storey Floors. Joinery in wire-brushed American white oak veneer painted Dulux Dieskau, Crafted Kitchens & Cabinets. Benchtop and splashbacks in Tundra Grey limestone, Gladstones Granite & Marble. Inax ‘Yohen’ border tile in YB1, Artedomus. Brass rangehood with Patina Bronze finish, Ox Finishes. Phoenix ‘Vivid Slimline’ gooseneck mixer, Reece. Est Core ‘Dusk Down Up’ wall light, and Wever & Ducré ‘Ray’ ceiling mounted lights (over island), both Est Lighting. Stools, GlobeWest. Tall jug (top shelf) Freedom. Bowl (middle shelf) Robert Gordon. All other items, stylist’s own. French oak floorboards in Cloud, Storey Floors.
Paint colours are reproduced as accurately as printing processes allow. THE PALETTE Dulux Flooded Gum (main bedroom) Dulux Dieskau (kitchen and living joinery) Dulux Natural White Half (interior walls) HOUSES H G
MAIN BEDROOM Wall in Easycraft Australia ‘EasyGroove’ painted Dulux Flooded Gum. Bed and bedside table, GlobeWest. ‘Calo’ pendant light in Matte White, Klaylife. Feltex ‘Salisbury’ wool carpet in Stone Lintel, Godfrey Hirst. ENSUITE Terrazzo floor tiles, Tiento. Fiandre ‘Nuances’ porcelain wall tiles in Light Grey, Artedomus. Vanity in Navurban ‘Balmoral’ veneer from New Age Veneers, Crafted Kitchens & Cabinets. Benchtop in Tundra Grey limestone, Gladstones Granite & Marble. Kaskade ‘Aveo’ bath, and Phoenix ‘Vivid Slimline’ bath mixer, both Reece. BATHROOM Opposite Fiandre ‘Nuances’ floor and wall tiles in Light Grey, Artedomus. Colori Full Body feature tile in Giada, Tiento. Vanity in Navurban ‘Balmoral’ veneer from New Age Veneers, Crafted Kitchens & Cabinets. Benchtop in Kirec reconstituted stone, Stone Ambassador. Kaskade ‘Aveo’ bath and basins, and Phoenix ‘Vivid Slimline’ tapware in Gunmetal, all Reece. WALK-IN ROBE Joinery in Navurban ‘Balmoral’ from New Age Veneers, Crafted Kitchens & Cabinetry. THIS IS THE LIFE With the home located just a short walk from the beach, which happens to be the owners’ favourite beach in the area, and nestled in a ‘wonderful community’, they count themselves as extremely lucky. When not at the beach, they relax by the pool or entertain in the covered outdoor living area equipped with kitchen facilities and surrounded by native landscaped gardens.
AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 171 HOUSES H G Onto this base the designer layered interesting finishes such as artisanal Japanese mosaic tiles and aged brass accents. Wishing to avoid the use of white joinery in the kitchen, Mikayla selected soft grey for the cabinetry with a narrow rail trim and fluted finish on the island bench. With a timber ceiling and floor, an aged bronze rangehood, stone benchtops and glossy tiles, there is plenty of texture. The bathrooms also draw on a nature-inspired palette with matt-green tiles in the family bathroom and a soft beige gloss tile in the main ensuite. The main bedroom is a true retreat, separated from the rest of the house, facing the central courtyard and enjoying beautiful northern light. The outlook is completely private, with the view filtered through softly flowing linen curtains to the garden, designed by Studio Blac, around an existing olive tree and taking in the rammed earth fireplace in the courtyard. The furniture was curated by Arch Melbourne and the tones, textures and organic shapes perfectly echo the natural palette of the fittings and finishes. In the living area a curvaceous cream sofa from Trit House and a Ligne Roset ‘Togo’ chair offer the ultimate in relaxation. One of the owners’ favourite aspects of the home is the pool, which is located at the front of the property. “Walking past the glistening pool every time we come home is wonderful. It’s not hiding out the back but is a real feature,” they say. “The house has a relaxed and calming feel, and really offers the best of both worlds, being a coastal beach house with a contemporary, sophisticated ambience. We are so fortunate to call such a wonderful and embracing house our home.” > Heartly: heartly.com.au. DJE Building Design: dje-design.com.au. Whelan Project Builders: whelanprojectbuilders.com.au. Studio Blac: studioblac.com. Arch Melbourne: arch.melbourne.
H G HOUSES “The materials were selected to establish warmth and calm.” MIKAYLA ROSE, DESIGNER
AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 173 POOL AREA Landscaping by Studio Blac. Copper shower and brass taps, Outdoor Showers by Adstyle. Outdoor setting, Arch Melbourne. Towel and cushion, stylist’s own.
MUDROOM Wall in Easycraft Australia ‘EasyGroove’ 150 wall panelling, painted Dulux Natural White Half. Custom joinery finished in Laminex laminate in Green Slate Natural. Shelves finished in Navurban ‘Balmoral’ veneer, New Age Veneers. THE LAYOUT Ensuite Ensuite Bath Powder Study Study nook Entry Garage Pool Kitchen Dining Workshop Laundry Robe Pantry Bed Bed Bed Living Living Bed Mud
AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 175 HOUSES H G THE SOURCE Cocooning shapes and pared-back forms create an atmosphere that invites connection and conversation. 1 Produced by Andrea Healy. 1 Twentytwentyone ‘Hotaru Marker’ pendant light, $800, Space. 2 ‘Arden’ sofa in Yarra Vanilla, $1770, Trit House. 3 ‘Agra’ rug in Moonstone (300x240cm), $4900, Armadillo. 4 Eadie Lifestyle ‘Gambit’ cushion in White/Nutmeg (60x40cm), $109.95, Norsu Interiors. 5 Seville ‘Podium’ side table in Olive, $645, GlobeWest. 6 ‘Atelier’ salad bowl in Malachite, $450, Dinosaur Designs. 7 Ligne Roset ‘Togo’ fireside chair in Alcantara Curry, $5650, Domo. 8 Laboratorio Olfattivo ‘Zen-Zero’ liquid soap, $45, Libertine Parfumerie. 9 ‘Lowa’ medium square storage basket in Biscuit, $249, Country Road. 10 Cassina ‘Cab’ chair by Mario Bellini, from $3183, Mobilia. # 3 4 10 9 8 7 6 5 2
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AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 177 Photograph by Will Salter. Calligraphy by Lesley Workman. Beside the swimming pool, Parthenocissus sikkimensis spills over a retaining wall in Dulux Namadji, while a Gymea lily (Doryanthes excelsa) is flanked by smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria), coppiced. LU S H A N D V I B R A N T I N S P I R AT I O N F O R T H R I V I N G G R E E N S PA C E S
H G GARDENS A Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis), in harmony with the Spanish Mission-style home, towers over the back patio in ‘Dover’ antiqued limestone pavers, Eco Outdoor, with ‘Tio’ easy chairs and table, In Good Company. Other trees include a Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki ‘Fuyu’) and a Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum), underplanted with Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans), foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii’), pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira ‘Miss Muffet’) and prostrate rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). H G
A tennis court at the rear of this towering 1930s home makes way for endless lush, sweeping spaces the whole family can enjoy. STORY Chris Pearson | PHOTOGRAPHY Will Salter Game, set match & AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 179
hy have an idle tennis court when instead you can score a lush, free-form garden with deep, layered beds as inviting as this? That was the willing sacrifice the green-fingered owner of this home in Melbourne’s south-east made and he has never looked back. Its designer, Myles Broad of Eckersley Garden Architecture, for whom this was the third project with the owner, welcomed the call in 2018. “There are so many under-used tennis courts in this part of the city,” he says. “It was great to be able to do something with this one.” The garden had been remodelled about 10 years before, but, with buxus hedges at the front, and tennis court and pool hogging the back, it was too structured and needed to let its hair down for a family with four children. “We knew we would use the garden everyday but the court once a month, so it made sense to remove it,” says the owner. To its credit, the garden was also private, enclosed in ficus hedging at the front and Portuguese laurel hedging to the side – a ready backdrop. But the biggest challenge was the sloping site (reflected in the house being two storeys at the front and three at the back), with a yawning disconnect between the rear patio and the garden two metres below. “It felt dislocated from the house,” says Myles. “Because the owner is a passionate gardener, he asked us to create a botanical garden in the middle of the city, with plants, rather than hardscaping, the focus.” “We wanted the garden to feel encompassing, with the home nestled in nature, a private space that drew you outside,” says the owner. As well as an intimate connection between house and garden, also topping his wish list was “to acknowledge the historical period of the house within the landscape”. Myles retained the lap pool and broad pavers leading to the front door and, plant-wise, mature specimens such as two Canary palms at the rear, the ficus and laurel hedging, star jasmine around the tennis court, gardenias beside the pool and a pin oak at the front. To address the tricky gradient, he turned the backyard into two vast grassed terraces, one a metre above the other. Immediately above the upper terrace sits the patio, smaller than the “oversized” original, in tough-as limestone-lookalike paving, reprised on the side terrace under a pergola, where he replaced a slatted-metal roof with wires trailed with Virginia creeper. “It’s so much more soulful,” he says. Meanwhile, Myles removed a water feature overlooking the pool to make the vista below more accessible. But, most significantly, he swapped the tennis court’s neat linearity for sweeping curved lawns, flamboyantly referencing the 1930s Spanish Mission house with its columns and arches. Below the fine fescue sits a 100,000-litre rainwater tank. An “eclectic, largely textural” plant palette ranges from bangalow palms and Japanese maples to perennials and shrubs, such as sedums, bush anemones, euphorbias and cherry pies in masses, and layered in beds up to five metres deep. Adding to the lushness is the borrowed landscape of eucalypts and lilly pillies in neighbouring properties. Meanwhile, most of the front garden, including lawn-flanking granite steppers, remained, albeit with enlarged garden beds in simpatico with the rear. “We loosened it up with dense underplanting, such as hydrangeas and star jasmine for ground cover and lemon myrtle, so it’s all green and white,” says Myles. But the rear remains the real revelation. “Instead of an unused tennis court, my client ends up with a beautiful garden, more intimate as you go down, with lovely little pockets with different moods,” says Myles. “There are lots of spaces to disappear,” adds the owner. “I love to have an afternoon siesta underneath the magnolia at the bottom of the lawn because it’s so peaceful.” For the lucky owner, it seems the inspired results are game, set and match. # Eckersley Garden Architecture: e-ga.com.au. TOP Ficus flash (Ficus microcarpa hillii ‘Flash’) hedging. Fragrant gardenia (Gardenia augusta ‘Florida’) runs beside the pool. Kidney weed (Dichondra repens) and juniper (Juniperus sabina ‘Tamariscifolia’) provide groundcover. Bowie the cavoodle stands on ‘Dover’ limestone; Arrowmill ‘Technifirma’ paving, both Eco Outdoor. BOTTOM RIGHT Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans), bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai), sedums (Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’), euphorbias (Euphorbia wulfenii) and Lord Howe wedding lily (Dietes robinsoniana). Table setting, In Good Company. BOTTOM LEFT B&B Italia sun loungers, Space. Atelier Vierkant pot, Cosh Living. Bangalow palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana), frangipani (Plumeria rubra) and grape ivy (Cissus rhombifolia). “THE OWNER ASKED US TO CREATE A BOTANICAL GARDEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY.” Myles Broad, Eckersley Garden Architecture H G GARDENS 180 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
FEATURE PLANTS TREES Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) Bangalow palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) SHRUBS Bush anemone (Carpenteria californica) Cherry pie (Heliotropium arborescens ‘Lord Roberts’) Miss Muffet pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira ‘Miss Muffet’) Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Oakleaf ’) Savin juniper (Juniperus sabina) White Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica ‘Springtime’) SUCCULENTS Crassula (undulatifolia ‘Max Cook’) PERENNIALS Green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) Myrtle spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites) Red stonecrop (Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’) GROUNDCOVERS Kidney weed (Dichondra repens) Groundcover star jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) CLIMBERS Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) Scarlett bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra ‘Scarlett O’Hara’) Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) 182 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN H G GARDENS
REAR GARDEN Where there was once a tennis court, there is now a sweeping lawn on two levels. The lawn is flanked by black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica), Indian Summer Coral Pink crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Tuscarora’) and bull bay magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) trees, together with low-growing dwarf plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides), cannas (Canna x hybrida Salmon) and sedums (Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’). Bowie stands above steps in ‘Dover’ antiqued limestone from Eco Outdoor.
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FRONT GARDEN Raven granite pavers, Eco Outdoor. Existing black steel gates and rendered masonry fence. Sculpture by Clement Meadmore. The RTF fescue lawn is flanked by Lord Howe wedding lilies (Dietes robinsoniana) and oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia), with a ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) in the middle of the lawn. Lemon myrtles (Backhousia citriodora) flank the entrance. Fine-leafed Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata ‘Lowii’) sits to the left of the gate. AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 185
A majestic date palm (Phoenix canariensis) sets the tone for the rear garden. Below sit an agave (Agave attenuata ‘Boutin Blue’), miniature grape ivy (Cissus striata) trailing over the wall, Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans), Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki ‘Fuyu’), foxtail ferns (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii’), Miss Muffet pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira ‘Miss Muffet’) and prostrate rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’). Chairs and table, In Good Company. 186 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN H G GARDENS
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A Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) towers above the patio in ‘Dover’ antiqued limestone pavers from Eco Outdoor, as Bowie the Cavoodle looks on. Kidney weed (Dichondra repens) and fragrant gardenia (Gardenia augusta ‘Florida’) provide groundcover. ‘Palissade’ bench, Hay.
AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 189 GARDENS H G THE SOURCE 1 Burgon & Ball heart-shaped trowel by Sophie Conran, $59; 2 Little Veggie Patch Co organic herb seed bundle, $36/six; 3 Garden Trading canvas garden storage bag, $42; 4 Burgon & Ball twist cultivator by Sophie Conran, $49; 5 Burgon & Ball kneeler in Blue by Sophie Conran, $45; 6 Ecomax ‘Coconut’ string, $20/100m; 7 Burgon & Ball ‘Love the Glove’ women’s gloves in Oak Leaf Moss, $49; and 8 Kinto Japan Aqua Photograph by Will Salter. Culture propagation vase, $49, all Backyard Botanist. # 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 Enjoy a renewed sense of gardening enthusiasm with this delightful selection of tools and accessories. 6
Changing things up in your green spaces can open up a whole new world of growth. STORY Mike Booth PHOTOGRAPHY Jeremy Simons DIVERSITY W in the garden hen I first started gardening, I identified with English and French formal gardens and their clean, orderly lines, with endless topiary and pleached hedging with one or two flower types. The gardeners I spoke to always talked about pests and diseases affecting their plants. That was until I had the privilege of visiting King Charles’s Highgrove Gardens, where diversity, sustainability and organic gardening were pioneered long before fashionable. While I still absolutely love that formal style of garden, I now understand that you can have lovely clean lines (as we do at Rosedale Farm) with mountains of diversity that require less human interference. Since focusing on diversity at the farm, I’ve noticed that we have a far more sustainable garden. A diverse garden can support a wide variety of plants, insects, birds and other wildlife, creating a balanced ecosystem. You don’t need a huge area to create a little haven. People are always surprised that in our one-acre vegetable garden, filled with more than 170 different flowers, fruit trees, vegetables and roses, we don’t spray or use chemicals. This diversity in turn helps control pests, and increase pollination and overall ecosystem health. For example, I used to plant an entire bed with corn, but now we have corn in the centre, basil around the corn, and dahlias, zinnias and marigolds at the ends. You will also have noticed in your own garden that different plant species have different levels of resistance to diseases, pests, and environmental stressors. A diverse garden is more resilient to challenges such as climate, pests and diseases. By adding a couple of bird boxes to encourage the wrens and finches, you could help reduce the mosquitoes, flies and spiders around your home as they love to feast on these insects. And even in the smallest garden, you could have native stingless bees, which happily live in a shoebox-sized house and will become an endless source of interest. You may even choose to break the garden up into different areas or zones with a variety of plantings. I have a formal hedged garden, with roses, catnip, dahlias, lavender, wisteria, sage and zinnias, then five metres away, the tall golden grasses of a paddock that create refuge for quail, finches and small lizards. For a garden lover such as myself, a landscape with plants in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes can be far more visually appealing and create a more interesting, vibrant space, not to mention be far less maintenance. So when you are next at your garden centre, consider selecting plants you don’t already have and, even better, plants that attract birds and insects. #
How to increase diversity in your garden ● Start by adding new plantvarieties to your garden. ● Consider installing a bird box to attract insect-loving birds. ● Install an insect hotel or a native stingless beehive to add new life and interest into your environment. ● Place shallow dishes of water in the garden to encourage wildlife. ● If you are growing vegetables, make sure you plant flowers nearby. AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 191 GARDENS H G
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Deriving inspiration from nature and his surrounds – think everything from tree resins to sawdust – is an integral part of this ceramicist and photographer’s creative process. Jeremy Simons PHOTOGRAPHY Jeremy Simons
AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 195 THE CREATIVE TYPE H G JEREMY’S FAVOURITE THINGS From top ‘Bamel’ bowl by Jeremy Simons, SLIP Ceramics. The Storyteller memoir by Dave Grohl, $24.99, Simon & Schuster. Largo al Factotum: Tribute to Rossini artwork by John Olsen. The Mountain Is You book by Brianna Wiest, $32.99, Thought Catalog Books. OPPOSITE Jeremy in his studio. “I prefer to use textures and elements found in nature, such as bone and leaf matter.” When I was growing up, Dad was in the Navy, and as a consequence, we moved around over the years. So I ended up at boarding school, which afforded me endless hours in the art block creating images in the darkroom and making things with clay on the wheel. Day to day, I am a commercial photographer, working to briefs, mood boards and shot lists. So when I’m in the SLIP Ceramics workshop I choose the clay body I’m going to work with and let it happen. I guess what determines the shapes and forms is the amount of clay and how much time I have, having to also allow for turning, sanding and finishing before the end of the day or weekend. With my ceramic work, it’s a passion and love of clay. With that in mind, I prefer the element of process and creative flow inspired by my environment. I prefer to use textures and elements found in nature, such as bone and leaf matter, to texturise my work and, if and when possible, ‘earth-fire’ my work using sawdust, fire, tree resins and so on. Do I listen to anything when I’m working? Absolutely, for me, [music and art] go hand in hand. The creative process determines the tunes – I listen to everything from Nils Frahm and Apparat to 80s classics, 90s hip-hop (Wu-Tang Clan, rappers Guru and MC Solaar), funky acid jazz (Ronny Jordan), and blues. But life wouldn’t be complete without the rock of AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes, and Full Flower Moon Band and the 90s grunge era blasting out of the workshop. I also love a bit of ABC radio and, more recently, Book Club Radio. Finding the space and time to fit it all in – family, relationships, work, sport, travel and adventures, and passion projects – has been the biggest challenge so far. My partner, Janeane, and I – and our dog Chef – are planning to move to the NSW North Coast in a year or so, and I’m hoping to create time then to do more ceramics and art-based work with my photography. A particular achievement I’m most happy with to date? Making work and forms that people like, and getting back into clay after 10 years off, has given me a freedom that I denied myself for too long. The latest exhibition I’ve been working on is called TABLED. It’s a collaboration-based project where a ceramicist and chef team up to produce a menu that merges ceramic form and plated food. It’s a group show with some of the finest ceramicists and foodies in the country. Luckily for me, my friend and long-time workmate Emma Knowles agreed to team up for the show. Her skills as not only a chef, but as a visionary recipe writer and food stylist have elevated my work. The show opens on May 3 at Manly Art Gallery & Museum in Sydney. Sadly, I still haven’t found the perfect work-life balance, but I am very fortunate to do what I do, both as a photographer and a clay worker. I get to spend my days with amazing people who are kind, passionate and inspiring. And I get to take my dog, Chef, to work with me. It’s the one time you can tell the chef to “get out of the kitchen!” I admire installation artists such as Robert Smithson and Andy Goldsworthy; painters, Francis Bacon, Sir Hans Heysen, Paji Wajina Honeychild Yankarr, and John Olsen; and modern Australian artists such as Candice Hooper, Stacey Mrmacovski, Craig Parnaby, Anita Jokovich and Michelle Ball. I love Indigenous art and l’ve found endless inspiration from photographers, stylists, clay workers, and more recently an exhibition by woodworking designer/maker Simon Hooper. Inspiration is everywhere! At the moment I’m listening to The Storyteller by Dave Grohl, reading The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest, and I’m planning and preparing for a multimonth trip around Australia in 2025. I love the small sculptures and paintings we have bought on our travels overseas, including from India, Japan and Italy. Once we settle into our Queenslander on the North Coast, I’m looking forward to doing a little reno and creating a beautiful open-style house. I love minimal design and space, but it seems to conflict with my love of found objects and collection of knick-knacks. My idea of true luxury? Cultural experiences with great food shared with family and friends in the mountains or by the ocean. On my travel list: lots of ski touring and winter camping this year, then off around Australia. The main focus for the trip is WA, the Kimberley and Arnhem Land. Beyond that, I’m open to all travel and adventures that I can possibly squeeze into this lifetime. My favourite eateries include Blume Restaurant in Boonah, Queensland. In Sydney… Quay, Lankan Filling Station, Cafe Paci, Banh Xeo Bar, any menu by Mike Eggert and, of course, whatever comes out of Mum’s kitchen. # Jeremy Simons: jeremysimons.com.au; slipceramics.com.