A major renovation of an old and much-loved lakefront, family home required an entirely new landscape. From the street an entry garden and visitor parking were important. The downstairs apartment needed a green outlook and slope retention.

On the lakefront, the landscape needed to provide vehicle and trailer access to the boat ramp and incorporate the new swimming pool, in addition to providing a quiet place to sit and ponder the lake.

Magnolias, maples and stone feature in an entry garden that draws visitors to the front door and adjacent water feature. The layout provides a subtle diversion from the visitor parking space without compromising the ambience of the garden.

As the house steps down the slope a more resort-style garden cascades around stone terraces providing a tranquil outlook from the downstairs apartment.

On the lakeside, the house opens onto a sunny terrace and a large new pool. Timber decking is used to lighten pool surrounds and create a floating affect over the garden.

Frameless glass maintains the sightlines to the garden, while the lawn wraps around the pool providing the required vehicle access to the boat ramp and leading you to a bench in a quite nook beyond the pool.

“From the very first meeting with Colin, I was at ease with his approach and excited by the ideas he presented. The design and construction were complex and well managed and at the end of the project I considered it money very well spent.

Colin is a delightful man to deal with and I enjoyed the whole experience greatly”

- Debra. Lake Macquarie.