The Big Outdoors with Earth Creations
With a spring in his step and on his mind, Pete Goodlet has big ideas to inspire the ultimate outdoor spaces.
In Noosa we love the big outdoors, and there is no spot we love more than our own backyard. The more we love our backyards, the more we expect great things from them. Long gone are the days of a patch of lawn for cricket, a veggie garden up the back and Hills Hoist for elicit swinging on when the folks weren’t looking.
Modern gardens are designed to make the most of every square metre. We have been redefining the indoor/outdoor lifestyle since it came into vogue with the modernist homes of the 1960s. Large sliding or bifold doors allow easy flow from living areas to decks or terraces.
Matching flooring levels between inside and outside increases the feeling of spaciousness and flow.
Designing the terrace space for usability is vital. Picture it as an extra room and if you need it to function as dining and sitting areas, design it appropriately. Also allow for flow of foot traffic with entry and exit points placed so that kids are not running through the quiet lounge zone.
You may want to roof some of this area to allow for outdoor entertaining even in the rain. Even sunny Noosa has the odd wet day! If possible don’t let the alfresco roof block beautiful northern light to your inside living areas, that beautiful winter sunshine warms up your house and your soul.
Even with all of Noosa’s beautiful beaches it is a delightful luxury to have a pool or spa – a smaller plunge pool can be both. The closer these are to your outdoor living area the more you will use them. But if you have rowdy kids that love to do bombs and splash around, you may want the relaxation zones well out of the splash zone.
Privacy is a key factor when it comes to pool placement. If your backyard is overlooked, you may wish to place the pool centrally allowing room for fence line privacy planting, without leaves and debris falling into your pool. Though your screening may have to be almost jungle-like to deter the avid eyes of Beryl next door voyeuristically enjoying your moonlit, skinny dip!
Speaking of fun and games, why not add a Bocce court. With casual benches at each end or side you can have the benefits of a great game and the creation of negative space. Also known as white space, it allows the eye to drift past and focus on features surrounding the space. You may choose to place a sculpture in low planting at the end of your bocce court, thus drawing your eye further into the garden.
Few backyards have the space for a tennis court, but a medium sized patch of lawn can provide the setting for a putting green, a game of Shuttlecock or a good old-fashioned whack of Totem Tennis.
Speaking of tennis, if you have the space, you could create a games room with space for table tennis or a pool table.
Make it extra lux with an attached powder room and outdoor shower and ultimately a bath. It is hard to beat a bath under the stars gazing at a crackling firepit. This can be an economical way of adding a much-needed extra bathroom to a home full to the brim with family and guests.
Firepits are an excellent way to create smaller more intimate spaces in your garden. It is a primal joy to gather around a crackling fire. Just make sure your kindling and wood is very dry and the firepit draws air well. A clean hot fire gives off less smoke and is kinder to the environment.
Link all the elements in your garden with good non-slip pathways and steps. Light the path with ground level low voltage lighting. You want to be able to navigate safely but not take away from the sparkling skies above.
With this much function and joy demanded of our gardens today it is vital we get it right. And the expert at filling your garden with joy, love and perfect entertaining spaces is the most excellent Stuart and his ultimate team at Earth Creation Landscapes. Call them today!
