Landscape architecture by Bethany Williamson Landscape Architecture (BWLA)
In the leafy Australian suburb of Ivanhoe, Victoria, a young family sought out a garden renovation that would merge contemporary living with the timeless charm of their heritage weatherboard home.
Landscape architect Bethany Williamson was entrusted with the task of designing a garden fit for purpose for a family with young children and busy lives. The main focus was on designing functional spaces paired with a low-maintenance plant design.
The Brief
With an impressive old oak tree framing the front garden and a modern addition planned for the rear, the project required thoughtful planning to allow for a design palette that balanced both tradition and modernity.
The homeowners’ vision for the front garden was to maintain the heritage architectural style of their home, creating a gentle and engaging flow from the footpath to the front door. The grandeur of the oak tree inspired the subtle and elegant design of this space, encouraging visitors to appreciate the beauty of the home’s historic exterior from the moment they step foot on the property.
Meanwhile, the rear garden brief was driven by the family’s active lifestyle, calling for a functional outdoor space. This included a swimming pool, a lawn for the children to play, and strategically placed screening plants to offer privacy and a sense of seclusion. Another overarching intention of the design was to soften the architectural elements with calming plantings, creating an inviting and low-maintenance retreat for the family to enjoy.
The Transformation
The design process began with the front garden, where bluestone was used for the main pathway to echo the traditional elements of the property. The length of the path was punctuated by a series of stepping stones, encouraging visitors to slow down and admire the finely curated plantings on either side.
In the rear of the property, large doors opened out onto the garden, providing an indoor-outdoor flow, while a cozy window seat overlooked the swimming pool. The simplicity of the layout was enriched by the careful selection of materials and plants, which added texture and colour to the environment. A key design feature in this location was the planting along the pool fence, which softened the hard lines of the pool and other structures. The mix of lush green foliage and gentle textures provided a soothing contrast to the modern architecture, allowing the garden to feel like a natural extension of the home.
The Result
The outcome of this thoughtful garden renovation is a balanced space that has ‘the best of both worlds’, catering perfectly to the family’s contemporary lifestyle, while preserving the historic character of the property. The front and rear gardens, though distinct in their purpose and design, are unified by the careful selection of plants and materials, creating fluidity from one space to the next. Both gardens offer functionality and beauty, with plantings that bring a sense of calm and cohesion.
Key Plant List
“ We wanted the planting to be interesting and provide seasonal interest, but also relatively low maintenance.” — Bethany Williamson
Some of the main plantings in the rear garden include:
- Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese laurel)
- Tristaniopsis ‘Luscious’ (Water Gum)
- Magnolia ‘St Mary’
- Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez’ (White Crepe Myrtle)
- Acer ‘Autumn Blaze’
- Parthenocissis quinquefolia (Virginia Creeper)
- Stachys byzantine
- Heliotrope ‘Lord Roberts’
- Crassula undulatum
- Nepeta faassenii
- Iris germanica
- Liriope ‘Evergreen Giant’
- Pittosporum ‘Miss Muffet’
- Osmanthus ‘Heaven Scent’
- Viola hederacea
There is more seasonal colour in the front garden with flowering perennials to achieve a softer, more traditional look. Some of the main plantings in the front garden include:
- Achillea ‘Terracotta’
- Cotinus ‘Grace’
- Miscanthus ‘Klein Fontaine’
- Salvia leucantha
- Stachys byzantine
- Liriope muscari
- Bergenia cordifolia
- Arthropodium ‘Matapouri Bay’
- Viola hederacea
- Plectranthus argentatus
- Plectranthus ‘Velvet Elvis’
- Bartlettina sordida
- Rhaphiolepis ‘Oriental Pearl’
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