5 Urban Landscapers in Sydney To Design Your Backyard in 2023
4 min
Landscaping your residences should be much more than installing a lawn and a few plants by the perimeter. A well-considered garden can evolve into an oasis of calm, bringing enjoyment and privacy to your family
The value and enjoyment of a house is vastly improved by sympathetic landscaping. A good landscaping service can tie the outdoor areas of the house to the indoors and enhance the value of both.
Landscaping designs can be minimal to high maintenance, depending on your desires (and budget).
A few designers who excel at creating memorable spaces in limited urban spaces include the businesses below.
1. Think Outside Gardens
Think Outside Gardens’ vision is to provide landscape architecture integrated with high quality construction for residential gardens in Sydney. Director, Mick Drower has over 20 years design experience.
Mick and his team strive to ensure that every garden is built to the highest standard whilst managing the unique challenges of each site. From the initial garden design ideas through the garden construction and into ongoing garden maintenance, their workmanship is guaranteed.
Website
Address
111 Sutherland St, Paddington NSW
Contact
imagine@thinkoutsidegardens.com.au
2. Secret Gardens
Established in 1994 by managing director, Matthew Cantwell, Secret Gardens focus on landscape architecture, landscape construction and horticultural services for the residences.
Secret Garden offers its customers a talented team including landscape architects and designers, structural landscaping specialists, carpenters, stonemasons and horticulturists.
With a diverse portfolio of garden design ideas their practice can design and implement gardens of varying scale and style. From the initial garden design ideas through the garden construction and into ongoing garden maintenance, their workmanship is guaranteed at every stage of the process and ensures accountability for years to come.
Think Outside Gardens is big enough to have years of experience yet small enough to be involved in every stage of the project.
Website
secret@secretgardens.com.au
Telephone
+612 9314 5333
Address
17 Aylesbury Street, Botany NSW, 2019
3. Garden Life
Set in St Peters, Sydney and sourcing a unique range of products to enhance your outdoor living. We also offer a complete landscape design service.
Located in St Peters and operated by brothers Richard and Michael Unsworth, Garden Life is Sydney’s most stylish garden emporium. From travels far and wide the new St Peters location carries a unique range of products, plant specimens and beautiful pots designed to enhance outdoor living.
Also offering a complete landscape design service – from concept through to construction, project management and ongoing maintenance
Website
Address
158 Princes highway St Peters Sydney, NSW, Australia 2044
Telephone
(02) 9517 3633
grow@gardenlife.com.au
4. Good Manors
Established in 1985, Good Manors creates outdoor living spaces that offer a lasting, integrated connection between people and their home, garden and pool.
Good Manors prides itself on considering the whole landscape as a home’s outdoor space provides an opportunity to expand the living environment in a way that creates a sense of belonging in the space, allowing the outside area to become not just an add-on to a residence, but a beautiful, functional, seamless transformation of it.
Good Manors works with its clients from design through to build and beyond, sharing their experience of what can work now and as you grow with your garden over the years.
Good Manors draws on its years of experience and strong network of service providers to provide its clients with award winning horticulture, project design, planning, landscape and pool construction and renovation services.
Website
Address
32 Halloran Street, Lilyfield NSW
Telephone
(02) 9818 3377
info@Goodmanors.com.au
5. Outdoor Establishments
Founded in 2011 Outdoor Establishments by its directors Matthew Hook and Trystan Graham, Outdoor Establishments offers garden design & landscape architecture, landscape & swimming pool construction, and horticultural services to high end residential market.
Inspired by the laid-back Australian way of life and seeking to create considered spaces that promote outdoor living, Outdoor Establishments works closely and collaboratively with homeowners, architects and builders to offer unique environments tailors to homeowners needs.
This concept to completion approach allows for a single point of contact for the entirety of the project, ensuring the design intent is delivered and maintained as the landscape is built and managed into the future.
Website
Address
1/65 Nicholson Street, St Leonards NSW 2065
Telephone
(02) 9966 8630
design@outdoorestablishments.com.au
Kanebridge News did not receive anything of value from any of the businesses included in this article.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Americans now think they need at least $1.25 million for retirement, a 20% increase from a year ago, according to a survey by Northwestern Mutual
6 min
Outdoor furniture is not what it used to be. Long gone are the rickety timber settings and faded plastic chairs. Thanks to innovations in surface development, outdoor furniture and fabrics can now be hard to distinguish from their indoor counterparts. Water, UV and mould resistant, they have been engineered to withstand weather conditions while still maintaining their good looks. With summer almost here, we’ve assembled our best 10 outdoor furniture retailers to ensure that when the sun comes out, you’re ready to enjoy your own great outdoors.
Tait
Susan and Gordon Tait started their outdoor furniture business in 1992 with a commitment to Australian designed and made outdoor furniture created to withstand local conditions. Thirty years later, they have an enviable reputation for sustainability, offsetting 25 tonnes of carbon dioxide and diverting almost a tonne of soft plastic from landfill each year, as well as continuing to manufacture out of Melbourne. Oh, and their ranges of steel and timber chairs, tables, benches and accessories have a timeless beauty and durability that makes them incredibly desirable.
madebytait.com.au
Mamagreen
Another business committed to sustainable practices, Mamagreen furniture is manufactured using materials that are either recycled or can be recycled. More than 90 percent of the teak Mamagreen uses is sourced from old buildings, with the remaining timber from managed plantations. If you’re looking for that resort feel at home, this is the place to go. In fact, their products can be found in hotels around Australia. We love the circular Begonia lounge, which is perfect for hosting friends while, for shade, you can’t go past the flexible Sombrero shade.
mamagreen.com.au
Coco Republic
This Australian business headed up by Anthony Spon-Smith has been making great strides with its outdoor furniture ranges in recent years. Perhaps more than any other of the leading brands, the outdoor furniture looks and feels like the indoor equivalent, with upholstered seating (designed to get wet and dry off quickly) and chunky timber or stone-look tables and pedestals. Taking inspo from Mediterranean resorts like the French or Italian Riveras, this is one brand worth staying home for.
cocorepublic.com.au
Cosh Living
Founded in 2008 on an ethos of Live Life Well, Cosh Living offers a comprehensive range of products for outdoor use, from pots, tables and chairs, through to outdoor lighting, rugs, daybeds and more. With leading brands such as Manutti, Tribu, Dedon and Coast at their disposal, the look is one of relaxed sophistication, whether it’s a bean bag poolside or an oversized sofa on the deck. With such an extensive range of products, this is one company where a visit to the showroom is useful, to help coordinate your look.
coshliving.com.au
Eco Outdoor
Equally well known for their range of outdoor building supplies such as pavers, walling and pool surfaces, Eco Outdoor’s selection of outdoor furniture is just as popular, thanks to its focus on European styling and durability. Specifically designed for outdoor living, there’s everything from outdoor dining tables and chairs in teak, wicker or aluminium through to lounges, beanbags and umbrellas. With showrooms in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, you can drop in and assess the quality for yourself.
ecooutdoor.com.au
Satara
Whatever you need to furnish your outdoor space, chances are Satara has it. From lounge chairs and barstools to outdoor rugs and pot stands, this retailer has everything you need to create a comfortable and stylish outdoor space. With showrooms in most capital cities, you can experience the quality for yourself before making a final purchase. Designs range from classic Australian style through to contemporary Euro.
satara.com.au
GlobeWest
If it’s flexible outdoor furniture with modern lines you’re after, check out the range of sofas, coffee tables and dining suites from GlobeWest. Materials range from teak and aluminium to woven resin and ceramic in contemporary styles suited to a variety of architectural styles. Available direct to trade, the website also has an easy stockist search option to locate your nearest retailer.
globewest.com.au
Cotswold Furniture
There’s a reason why this legendary outdoor furniture supplier has been in business for more than 40 years. Known for its classic, durable outdoor furniture, Cotswold has longstanding associations with brands such as Vincent Sheppard and Fast Outdoor Lifestyle, as well as Cotswold Teak. While their loyal client base loves the classics, including Lloyd Loom and teak Adirondack chairs, this company has continued to evolve and innovate with contemporary ranges designed to stand the test of time.
cotswoldfurniture.com.au
Ikea
It’s hard to go past Ikea for knockabout, versatile outdoor furniture that retains a sense of style. If you have an outdoor space to fill, chances are Ikea has the chair, lounge, outdoor table or accessories to fill it. We particularly love the classic moulded frame of the Skarpo chair (pictured) but could be persuaded by the highback woven Hogsten chair. For smaller spaces, the Torparo is a great shelf or mini table you can attach to the railing or fence.
ikea.com/au
Castlery
This largely online furniture retailer initially sought to provide adaptable, compact furniture for the apartment market in Singapore. As it turns out, it’s a great fit for the Australian market too, as backyards and balcony spaces decrease in size. The range of dining and lounge suites is classic, with slimline armrests and legs. Colours are limited to greys and beiges but could easily be brightened up with accent cushions if that’s your style.
castlery.com/au
How do I choose the right outdoor dining setting for me?
While many of the same principles apply whether you’re dining indoors or out, the big difference is the weather. Outdoor furniture can take a beating if it is exposed to UV and rain for extended periods of time, so your choice will depend on whether your furniture will at least have some covering or will most likely be completely in the elements. Aluminium furniture can be a great option because it is lightweight and easy to move around, while teak ages to silver grey when left in the sun. If space is a factor, folding or stackable chairs can be useful.
What’s the difference between indoor lounge cushions and the ones on outdoor lounges?
Outdoor cushions are specially designed for the weather conditions, with quick dry foam inserts to allow water to drain away relatively fast. They’re also covered with UV, water and mould resistant fabrics specified for outdoor use. Sunbrella is the market leader for outdoor fabrics in Australia and uses solution dyed acrylic to create fabrics that are almost indiscernible from their indoor equivalents. Interior designers have been known to specify high quality outdoor fabrics for use in high traffic indoor spaces, such as family and rumpus rooms.
I have an outdoor space I want to furnish. Should I choose a lounge suite or a dining setting?
It’s really a lifestyle decision here. If you enjoy entertaining friends regularly, a dining setting might be the most useful option. In some homes, outdoor dining might also provide a bit more room to move, making it a great option for hosting bigger groups. However, if you already have an indoor dining setting facing onto the outdoor space, there’s not much point doubling up. An outdoor lounge can create a flexible space for casual relaxation, or somewhere to sit to enjoy coffee or drinks with friends before or after dinner.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Americans now think they need at least $1.25 million for retirement, a 20% increase from a year ago, according to a survey by Northwestern Mutual
