Stickybeak of the Week: Entertainers' Garden Swims Laps Around the Rest
A lush garden attached to a historic Victorian home is transformed for a modern family who love to spend time outdoors
With summer well on its way, we start to think about how we are going to spend more time outdoors. In many homes, the backyard becomes the regular hotspot where we can enjoy a barbecue, kick back with friends and, for those of us who are lucky enough, go for long a leisurely swim in the pool. With that in mind, this back garden by Ian Barker Gardens provides the perfect retreat on those balmy Melbourne days. The landscaper was asked to transform an overgrown and uninspiring outdoor room into a lush entertainer’s paradise suitable for family fun.
Garden at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their three primary-school-aged kids
Location: Box Hill, Melbourne
Size of land: Approximately 1,300 square metres
Designers: Landscaping by Ian Barker Gardens and swimming pool by Enkipools
Garden at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their three primary-school-aged kids
Location: Box Hill, Melbourne
Size of land: Approximately 1,300 square metres
Designers: Landscaping by Ian Barker Gardens and swimming pool by Enkipools
One of the recurring features in the garden is the Agastache ‘Sweet Lili’, which adds colour to the green palette.
The home’s old garage and driveway were originally located at the side of the house. Barker demolished the garage to create space for a side garden. A new bluestone pedestrian pathway was put in place and Labrador violet (Viola labrodorica) was planted in between each step.
The home’s old garage and driveway were originally located at the side of the house. Barker demolished the garage to create space for a side garden. A new bluestone pedestrian pathway was put in place and Labrador violet (Viola labrodorica) was planted in between each step.
An outdoor entertaining area was also added by Barker and is where many gatherings happen throughout the year. The structure is a combination of reclaimed wooden beams and recycled weathered bricks from the old garage.
The black-painted tin shed adds extra storage to the backyard, while the mesh screen in front of the wood is a fun modern and industrial element.
While a barbecue is the most common outdoor cooking element, this pizza-loving family requested a wood-fired oven to make their pizzas ultra authentic. The logs to fire the oven can be accessed via a gap in the brick wall.
The pergola is also highly functional during the colder weather as a Spotted Gum sliding door enables the family to shut off the entire space for both warmth and privacy.
Table and chairs: Cosh Living
The pergola is also highly functional during the colder weather as a Spotted Gum sliding door enables the family to shut off the entire space for both warmth and privacy.
Table and chairs: Cosh Living
Wisteria slowly grows up and over the pergola to provide some more greenery and natural shade, and the Salvia nemorasa ‘Caradonna’ adds more colour to the space.
Approaching the pool area, bluestone stepping stones were laid, surrounded by lawn. Barker also planted a small garden bed filled with salvia to stay in keeping with the perennial style of the landscape.
“The family love using their pool regularly and the kids love to play on the generous lawn areas in front of it,” says Barker. The rectangular concrete pool with an inbuilt spa was installed by Enkipools. To ensure the landscape and the pool feel integrated, a frameless glass fence was installed. As for shading, the pre-existing row of ornamental pear trees provides the family with some cover.
Lounges: Cosh Living
“The family love using their pool regularly and the kids love to play on the generous lawn areas in front of it,” says Barker. The rectangular concrete pool with an inbuilt spa was installed by Enkipools. To ensure the landscape and the pool feel integrated, a frameless glass fence was installed. As for shading, the pre-existing row of ornamental pear trees provides the family with some cover.
Lounges: Cosh Living
Both Barker and the homeowners are pleased with the results as the design suits the family’s lifestyle and the historic architecture of the home.
“With the scope of this design brief, the number of large garden beds and the beautiful heritage property, we had a wonderful opportunity to design the type of spectacular naturalistic perennial planting palette that we love and are very proud of,” says Barker.
“With the scope of this design brief, the number of large garden beds and the beautiful heritage property, we had a wonderful opportunity to design the type of spectacular naturalistic perennial planting palette that we love and are very proud of,” says Barker.
The perennial-flowering garden is part of a historic Victorian home in the suburb of Box Hill. It was important for the family that lives here for the garden and the home to blend seamlessly, but they also wanted it to suit the modern lifestyle of a young family. The owners requested a more contemporary, streamlined design to the pre-existing one, with the inclusion of a swimming pool and an entertaining area with a pizza oven.
“With regards to the planning process, it was important that we remained conscious of the heritage overlays,” says Barker. “To this end, it was always our intention to respect the heritage while providing the owners with an up-to-date garden.”