This Just In: Poolside Dining Nook, Melbourne, Australia
This delightful poolside entertaining area is the toast of the town!
Susan Redman
23 December 2015
Houzz Australia Editorial Staff; writer, author, dreamer.
A couple with three active children presented landscape designer Georgia Harper of GHLD with a tough backyard challenge: they wanted a sparkling pool, surrounded by decking, featuring a cheerful light-filled poolside dining nook that could be easily seen from the house. The problem was that the backyard was small, dark and, oh… there was a two-metre drop from the house to the rear fence that made visibility poor. But design won out and Harper transformed the outdoor space. She explains how she did it in her answers to our interview questions below.
Project at a Glance
Project name: Family poolside paradise
The feature we love: Poolside dining nook and screen
Designer: Georgia Harper of GHLD
Builder: The Garden Company
Clients: A busy family of five: working parents and kids aged 8 to 12
Location: Moonee Ponds, Melbourne, Victoria
Cost: Total cost was approximately $250k (which includes some other elements, such as the house deck, change rooms etc.)
Timeframe: The design was executed mid-2013, and the building works completed at the end of that year
Project name: Family poolside paradise
The feature we love: Poolside dining nook and screen
Designer: Georgia Harper of GHLD
Builder: The Garden Company
Clients: A busy family of five: working parents and kids aged 8 to 12
Location: Moonee Ponds, Melbourne, Victoria
Cost: Total cost was approximately $250k (which includes some other elements, such as the house deck, change rooms etc.)
Timeframe: The design was executed mid-2013, and the building works completed at the end of that year
What was the brief for this project?
The brief was to create a space where a family could congregate, but also where three growing kids could entertain friends. It had to feature a pool, changing rooms, expanded entertaining areas off the house, and we had to solve the problem of low visibility from the house, since the drop to the backyard was significant.
How did you achieve this?
To create maximum usability for the outdoor pool areas, we added a spa to the original pool brief. To increase visibility from the house, we lifted the entire rear garden and pool deck up by about 600 millimetres, by pouring the pool half out of the ground. We also extended the deck space adjoining the house, and lowered the space underneath to accommodate a change area for swimmers and storage for pool equipment.
The brief was to create a space where a family could congregate, but also where three growing kids could entertain friends. It had to feature a pool, changing rooms, expanded entertaining areas off the house, and we had to solve the problem of low visibility from the house, since the drop to the backyard was significant.
How did you achieve this?
To create maximum usability for the outdoor pool areas, we added a spa to the original pool brief. To increase visibility from the house, we lifted the entire rear garden and pool deck up by about 600 millimetres, by pouring the pool half out of the ground. We also extended the deck space adjoining the house, and lowered the space underneath to accommodate a change area for swimmers and storage for pool equipment.
Tell us about the construction?
This project required a full strip-out of the existing rear garden, and significant structural work to create the under-deck pool equipment-cum-change room. There’s also an built-in outdoor fridge.
How did you make the seating in the nook, and the screen?The seating in the poolside nook was custom-cast from a fibreglass-foam composite to achieve a smooth, fluid look. The poolside canopy or screen is a powder-coated steel custom screen by Lump in ‘Hippo Skin’ pattern.
What materials and colours did you use elsewhere?
We used tumbled travertine paving from Eco Outdoor, painted the wall render in ‘Malay Grey’ from Dulux, coated hardwood timber screening battens in Sikkens Cetol HLSe in ‘Ebony’, and laid Atlantic pool tiles from Swimple.
This project required a full strip-out of the existing rear garden, and significant structural work to create the under-deck pool equipment-cum-change room. There’s also an built-in outdoor fridge.
How did you make the seating in the nook, and the screen?The seating in the poolside nook was custom-cast from a fibreglass-foam composite to achieve a smooth, fluid look. The poolside canopy or screen is a powder-coated steel custom screen by Lump in ‘Hippo Skin’ pattern.
What materials and colours did you use elsewhere?
We used tumbled travertine paving from Eco Outdoor, painted the wall render in ‘Malay Grey’ from Dulux, coated hardwood timber screening battens in Sikkens Cetol HLSe in ‘Ebony’, and laid Atlantic pool tiles from Swimple.
What were the challenges associated with the project?
The main challenge was working with a space that was very difficult to connect to the level of the home. The drop from the house floor to the backyard was more than two metres over a relatively short distance, so it was crucial that we were able to effectively ‘lift’ the pool area up closer to the house level, in order to feel a connection across all of the space, and to provide visibility to keep an eye on children.
What wasn’t working before this project was created?
As there was a long drop from the house to the backyard, there was no reason to go there. The garden was sectioned up into small, dark areas that couldn’t be used for anything. There was no room to entertain – it was simply a dead space.
The main challenge was working with a space that was very difficult to connect to the level of the home. The drop from the house floor to the backyard was more than two metres over a relatively short distance, so it was crucial that we were able to effectively ‘lift’ the pool area up closer to the house level, in order to feel a connection across all of the space, and to provide visibility to keep an eye on children.
What wasn’t working before this project was created?
As there was a long drop from the house to the backyard, there was no reason to go there. The garden was sectioned up into small, dark areas that couldn’t be used for anything. There was no room to entertain – it was simply a dead space.
Describe the success of the project
The whole space now works as one area, rather than the small pockets it was originally. Through careful use of bright colour and texture, it seems much bigger and definitely more inviting. The clients love it too, as they are able to host large family gatherings. And their kids’ friends now come to visit them, which has greatly cut down their driving time, I’m told.
Any tips?
My number one tip is to think outside the box when it comes to redeveloping your outdoor space. There are often ways to gain space vertically as well as horizontally. You’d be amazed as to what you can squeeze into an area, and how you can get many uses from it.
The whole space now works as one area, rather than the small pockets it was originally. Through careful use of bright colour and texture, it seems much bigger and definitely more inviting. The clients love it too, as they are able to host large family gatherings. And their kids’ friends now come to visit them, which has greatly cut down their driving time, I’m told.
Any tips?
My number one tip is to think outside the box when it comes to redeveloping your outdoor space. There are often ways to gain space vertically as well as horizontally. You’d be amazed as to what you can squeeze into an area, and how you can get many uses from it.
TELL US
What clever design features have you incorporated in an outdoor pool area? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
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What clever design features have you incorporated in an outdoor pool area? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
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Hi Rocksfam - thanks for the love! It's one of my faves for sure.
Keibue, have a look at the before pics of the whole project under Georgia's profile - I am sure you'll agree, it's an amazing transformation.
looks amazing! love the white lounge up the back.