What We've Done
Here is a deck we created for a new house in Northcote. The client didn't want Merbau so instead we recommended Black-Butt decking. It's a gorgeous timber that looks absolutely amazing. They also wanted some built-in seating so we created this "floating" bench seat together with a new planter box (just visible on the RHSide).
The clients asked us to create a "built-in entertainment unit" in their living room. Accompanied with a very rough sketch on a scrap of A4 paper, they also wanted some slide-out drawers underneath. So we came up with this concept and suggested they purchase some Ikea drawers which we then modified to incorporate in the unit.
The client wanted to make her small backyard (7m x 3.6m) more usable and interesting. Her lounge area looks out onto this area through large glass doors. She designed this outdoor sitting area with integrated planters to go the entire length of the yard. Yes 7 metres. The fence is on the north side so she wanted the plants to sit as high as possible to try and capture the sun. Each planter is 1m high and the end ones are 1m square. The middle one is 75cm square. The seats are hinged so she can store garden tools etc. out of the weather. She's ecstatic with the result. Eventually she will put "umbrella" type plants in the planter boxes and exotic grasses along the front of new sitting area.
Here's a little project we did at a holiday house. The customer wanted a new outdoor shower on the side of their beach house, so we organised the plumber to fit the taps, showerhead and a drainage pit. We then built a small deck for standing on, framed up some walls and attached this brush fencing for privacy.
This client came to us asking if we could create a paved sitting area in his otherwise uninteresting backyard. Upon further discussion it was obvious he really wanted a lot more. The backyard had a patterned concrete path which was proving to be difficult to make coherent with a paved area, and a grassed sloped area to the back fence. We suggested levelling out the backyard, new retaining walls around the perimeter for new garden beds, a new deck that started from the back door that was incorporated with the retaining walls and a slightly raised grass area to separate it from the path that is actually level with the new deck. After sketching out the idea we got the go-ahead and created this new "entertainers" backyard that the owners are "over the moon" with.
This fence has transformed the front of this Edwardian in Ascot Vale. What was a dreary falling down wire fence is now a vibrant picket fence more suited to this lovely house. The owner wanted "All The Trimmings" with this one and that's what we've delivered. Exposed posts with Capitols atop. The pickets ebbing up-to and down-from each post. The front gate set back from the street to help make this a grand entrance.
This was an interesting dilemma. If you look carefully you'll notice that there are 2 different size pavers. They were purchased at different times and the owner was able to match the colour but not the size. So we suggested creating a "border" between the different pavers from cement that is inlaid with pebbles.
Here's a really simple yet stylish deck on the back of an inner-city terrace. The owner insisted the deck have a curve in it where she could put cushions in place for visitors to sit on nice days and to make it more aesthetically pleasing. The result was beyond her (and our) expectations
At the other end of the deck was your typical boring fence. Here we've created a nice "screen" to hide the fence and down pipe, but also give the deck a wholistic "closed in" feeling that the owner was looking for. Apparently it's now a great spot to relax with a comfortable cushion and glass of wine whilst reading a good book.
This is a shed in a very small backyard that didn't look overly attractive. So we gave it 2 coats of render and created this piece of artwork from some extra decking left-over at the same job. Now instead of the shed dominating the space, it is integrated giving the entire yard a nice "complete" feeling.
This Courtyard was totally stripped of all weeds. We then laid a complete weed mat and gave it a treatment to minimise the future growth of weeds. The end result was achieved by using premium grade top soil followed by the planting of Standard Roses a delicate Mondo Grass boarder and finished with striking black mulch
This front yard was once occupied by knee high weeds and a dying patchy lawn. The area was totally stripped of all weeds followed by a complete weed mat and treatment to minimise the future growth of weeds. Premium grade top soil was then used followed by the planting of Standard Ficus's and English Box Hedge's. The visually stunning center was achieved by using 2 different size pebbles highlighted by a gorgeous wrought iron urn.