Rose Bay Courtyard Garden

The brief

The aim was to make this large Rose Bay courtyard an outdoor lifestyle space to enjoy the stunning hillside view. 

A connection between the contemporary indoors and a large paved courtyard. The Louvred pergola was existing, but the garden was almost non existent and had to match the dark brick & architecture of the home.

Courtyard centred on the view

The dining area flows immediately from the internal dining space through minimal sliding doors.

The new modular lounge is set underneath the charcoal louvred pergola. The light coloured outdoor modular was selected to provide a contrast to the darker tones of the house.

The pergola gives this area allweather protection. Its dark frame complements the window trims and glass balustrade.

The patterned rug was selected to provide a contrast and helps create the lounge’s footprint, While the coffee table breaks up the linear modular with it’s organic round shape.

From inside, dining and seating read as two parts of one garden.

Planting and materials

The planting has two distinct scales. 

The fenceline contains a more established clipped evergreen screen while a fan palm in a tall pot softens the dark brick and glazing of the home. 

In front of the modular, broad-leaved tropical planting in ribbed charcoal pots add height without interupting the view.

Along the glass balustrade, a continuous charcoal trough holds a lower, more layered composition. Mass planted with Philodendron ‘Xanadu’, while fine strands of Rhipsalis spilling over the edge. 

The repeated planting draws the eye along the courtyard terrace to the trees beyond, with enough texture at close range to make the dining area feel part of the garden.