BACKYARD BLISS: 5 OUTDOOR AREAS WITH A DIFFERENCE
We’re hurtling towards summer in the Southern Hemisphere and the season of long afternoons and evenings entertaining outside are beginning. Can we get a WOOHOO?! 🙌
Whether you love family barbeques, hosting pool parties or simply sitting outside while watching the kids play, a well-designed backyard has the ability to transform how you live in your home. But one of the biggest mistakes we made when we first started renovating houses was getting so excited with all the fancy finishes and furnishings INSIDE, that we didn’t leave enough budget for the OUTSIDE. #rookieerror Landscaping costs more than you think!
That’s why we dedicated an entire module of Three Birds Reno School to teaching our students how to transform the outside of their homes to create outdoor areas they love as much as the inside spaces. And just like with interiors, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ when you’re designing a backyard. What works for one family may not suit how another family loves to live. And we think that’s fabulous!
Take a look at these outdoor areas, lovingly created by our students, each with a fabulous point of difference, no matter what the size.
1) YOU SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND, BABY!
Why have a regular pool when you can have a cool pool?!
Kelly Allen’s round swimming pool is such a fun and unique feature of her Gold Coast property and it’s not only popular with her family but also with high fashion brands wanting to hire it for photo shoots too.
2) DELIGHTFUL DECKING
When Freya White renovated this house to flip, she transformed the tired outdoor spaces by creating a wraparound timber deck that allows the house to flow from inside to out with ease.
If you’re not keen on garden maintenance, timber decking can be a wonderful practical solution to connect indoors and out without the need for turf to mow and gardens to tend to. Pop on some big pots for greenery, sit back and enjoy.
3) FROM FIRE PIT TO SWIM-UP BAR!
When Alex Riemann built her new family home in a coastal suburb of Perth, WA, she nailed the resort-style vibes in the backyard, taking it to the next level with a firepit in one corner and a swimming pool, complete with a swim-up bar, in the other.
When we design alfresco areas, we always start by dividing the total usable space into zones and ensure that there’s a purpose for each zone so that all the space is utilised to its potential. Alex’s home is a great example of this with a kitchen/dining/lounging zone undercover and close to the house, the perfect patch of grass with a fire pit which encourages people towards this part of the garden and then the swimming pool with the bar and TV for hours of fun and entertainment for the whole family.
4) A BASKETBALLER’S DREAM
Here’s Renae Hoogvelt’s proof that it is possible to create a fun backyard that looks good too! We don’t know many kids (or parents of kids!) who wouldn’t go crazy for a basketball court in their yard and this aesthetically pleasing one gets a massive slam dunk from us.
If you’re in the market for a basketball court, you’re in luck! Renae’s just listed her stunning home in Wagga Wagga, NSW, so it’s yours for the taking.
5) BIG LOVE FOR A SMALL STUDIO ALFRESCO SPACE
They say that good things come in small packages and we agree! We love this small but perfectly formed alfresco courtyard created by Reno Schooler Rachel Gadiel. Rachel turned the lower level of her house into a self-contained studio that is now luxurious accommodation for couples - Havenly Mollymook on the NSW South Coast.
The space was previously used for storage and required several tonnes of soil to be excavated from the backyard to create this private courtyard. It’s a good reminder that bigger doesn’t always mean better. In a studio apartment, any outdoor space is a bonus! Add some cute tiles and gorgeous styling and it’s the perfect space for guests to enjoy a drink or read a book.
