SOUTH COOGEE - HouseContemporary Exterior, Sydney

5. Make your nearby pool an asset, not an eyesoreIt can be tempting to take a break from pool maintenance during the cooler months, but it can soon bring your outdoor area down without regular upkeep. Test the pH level regularly and hire help if you’re too busy to keep it looking its best. If it frees you up to relax and unwind, it will probably be well worth the expense.

The home’s original pool filled the entire backyard space. The Wallers demolished half the pool and created a new one with a more modern shape. This freed up space where the kids could run around on grass. Glass partitions keep the kids safe. Nearby, there’s a large built-in barbecue and outdoor lounge area. “Now we have created spaces that connect with internal rooms to make each space feel larger,” Bettina says. “All of the outdoor areas have a purpose; they all connect with each other and every family member of any age and stage is catered for. One of the most common comments we hear when people come in is, ‘It feels like a resort’.”

9/23 - outdoor lighting shining up and down

stairs closed off with partial wall of rails and dry wall.