When I first visited this property in Glen Iris, I could immediately see its potential. The garden had some wonderful mature trees and generous open space, but it felt disconnected and lacked the warmth and character the home deserved. As part of the design process, I also worked closely with my client, Cora, to select the home's exterior colour palette and refine the materials palette, ensuring the architecture and landscape worked together as one cohesive composition that reflected the vision of a contemporary cottage garden. The family also needed additional off-street parking for their growing family, all while protecting the magnificent, mature Liquidambar that had become home to a family of nesting owls. Preserving that tree was never up for debate.

For me, creating a successful landscape has always meant looking beyond the planting palette. It's a part of my role that many people don't initially realise landscape designers and landscape architects undertake, but I believe the most successful gardens are those where the architecture, materials, colours and planting are considered together from the outset. Rather than treating the house and garden as separate elements, my goal is always to create one cohesive composition where each enhances the other. Cora really embraced this collaborative approach, and together we were able to create the contemporary cottage garden character we had envisioned from the very beginning.

Before:

After:

Cottage garden feels with a lot of textural interest! · More Info

The challenge was to introduce functionality without sacrificing the home's welcoming cottage character. Rather than relying on masses of flowers alone, I designed a richly layered planting scheme where contrasting foliage, varied leaf forms and seasonal colour create visual interest throughout the year. A new pedestrian entry, automatic gate and carefully organised pathways improved circulation, while the planting was designed to soften these more functional elements and help them sit naturally within the landscape. Existing trees were retained wherever possible and complemented with new understorey planting to celebrate, rather than compete with, the established garden.

Before:

After:

Cottage garden feels with a lot of textural interest! · More Info

Today, the garden feels far more inviting, immersive and connected to the home. It offers practical solutions for everyday family life while creating the relaxed charm of a cottage garden that will continue to become richer and more beautiful as the planting matures - a reminder that thoughtful landscape design is about creating gardens that improve with time, not just on the day they're completed.

Cottage garden feels with a lot of textural interest! · More Info

Cottage garden feels with a lot of textural interest! · More Info

Cottage garden feels with a lot of textural interest! · More Info

Cottage garden feels with a lot of textural interest! · More Info

Here is what our dear client had to say:

Check out the entire project here!