Don looked at a very good design solution to the problem of a tiny garden. As well as the small size, there were other constraints. Large windows from the kitchen and dining room of the house face onto courtyard areas. A focal point was needed to create visual interest and draw attention away from the small garden. It was also important to choose paving and paint colours that would not clash with the red brickwork.
Design solution
A theatrical design was chosen, which provided a focal point or framed view to the centre line of each window. This was achieved by using either a lion’s head fountain, or a large ram’s head urn mounted on a concrete pedestal and enclosed by lattice arches.
The formal lines of the courtyard were further emphasised by the use of pavers set in the lawn in a geometric pattern. The garden walls were painted with a bold, blue/grey lime wash. This colour was reinforced in the blue/grey Pazotti tiles and also in the beautiful sky blue to almost aqua coloured riverstones, or eco pebbles. The trellis arches were painted a rusty red to provide contrast to the blue border tiles, and also to relate back to the external walls of the house.
Plants
Korean box (Buxus microphylla var microphylla) is used for hedging throughout the garden, and is also planted in the ram’s head urns. Blue/green conifers (Juniperus virginiana ‘Spartan’) tone very well with the blue/grey limewash on the walls. Other plants featured include sasanqua camellias (Camellia sasanqua), port wine magnolias (Michelia figo) and mandevillas (Mandevilla ‘Alice du Pont’).
Cost and availability
The ram’s head urns cost $170 each. They are available from Menduni Garden Artistry, Vineyard. Phone: (02) 9838 1645. Eco pebbles are priced at $65 per 20-25kg bag (covers approximately one square metre), from Imperial Gardens, Terry Hills. Phone: (02) 9450 2455. The pavers (40mm thick) used in the grassed area of the courtyard were “Country Stone” from Paving Plus. They cost $65 per square metre. Phone: (02) 9481 1855.
Further information
Our segment was filmed at Mirvac Homes, Homeworld, Kellyville, NSW.
The garden was designed by John Happ, 3rd Dimension Designs, 31 Wentworth Road, Strathfield, NSW, 2135. Phone: (02) 9744 2658.