Gregg Chapman's Garden

Don visited Gregg Chapman, landscape designer, and Nicole Faulkner, landscape architect, at their home in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton. They have transformed a dull and uninteresting garden into a beautifully designed, stylish garden that works for the entire family. Their requirements included simple spaces, low maintenance and the use of strong colours on the walls, so the garden looks bright and cheerful all year round. The design incorporates an entertainment area, swimming pool, small lawn for the dog and the children, decorative elements and a service yard.

Front garden

When Gregg and Nicole bought the house the front garden was very cluttered. They kept a silver birch (Betula pendula) which was well situated in the middle of the lawn, and added pavers, box hedging, conifers and a water feature. Gregg and a metal-sculptor friend built the fountain as a fun piece, then built the hexagonal surrounds to suit the fountain.   

Back garden

The back garden was originally very dull. It featured charcoal grey pavers with bluestone walls, and in summer it was unbearably hot. Gregg and Nicole kept the existing pool, but replaced the dark paving with light coloured paving inset with grey pebbles to match the pool capping. The walls were rendered, bagged and painted with Murobond Fez (Moroccan pink), Murobond Fresco (strong ochre) and Murobond Silt (purple/grey).

The focal point of the garden is a water feature with 3 spouts and Spanish tiles. The tile colours complement the Fez and Fresco paint on the walls. Mesh just under the water line makes the fountain safe for children. The different levels of the water feature and raised garden beds add interest as well as providing extra seating. Succulents and heat tolerant plants were chosen to withstand the hot afternoon sun.

Further information

The garden was designed by Gregg Chapman and Nicole Faulkner, phone (03) 9596 0059 or 0417 381 304.

The textured cement paint used in the design is by Murobond Coatings. 'Fez', the Moroccan pink paint used on the wall behind the water feature, costs around $50 for 4 litres. Murobond paint is available Australia wide. For your closest outlet contact Murobond Coatings, phone (02) 9906 7299, or fax (02) 9439 7593.

Copyright CTC Productions 2000