b'Ipictures: Mark Heaslip going I withthe A well-designed garden pathway is like a good friend, leading you confidently through the landscape and ultimately bringing you to a clear destination. The de Lautour/Jacob family needed such a pathway thatgarden by olive trees. which define spaces and structure would draw visitors past their front garden, beyond thewithin the garden. inviting French doors into the lounge. and direct them Steppingstones of concrete that matchthe drive lead straight to the front door, which is actually on the side of pasttheolivetrees,protrudingupfromtheground the house. totheelevatedboardwalk.Builtfrommacrocarpa, Dorothy de Lautour and her husband, Brian Jacob, havetheboardwalkisraisedabovestreetlevel,butsits just completeda major renovationof a two-bedroomlower than the deck,whichreinforcesthedistinction bach,whichis settowardsthebackof thesection.betweenthepathwayanditssurroundingelements. They built forward and up, gradually converting it into a spacious four-bedroom home that would comfortablyStepping stones of concrete that match the accommodate them and their three small children. drive lead past the olive trees,protruding up "We made a conscious decision to place the front door on the side of the house," says Dorothy,"but that didfrom the ground to the elevated broadwalk. create some challenges." Directing visitors to the front door was just one ofthe"We planted Pratia puberula to delineate and soften the objectives of the garden. Another priority was to createedges of the stepping stones and torate them from the sepaa private and welcoming space that would feel like anmain deck," says Brett. "Olive trees and panels of bay on the outdoor room. With French doors opening out from theother side ofill provide screening from the the boardwalk wlounge, Dorothy was hoping to establish a natural flowneighbours as they grow and fill in, helped byflowering two between the indoor and outdoor spaces.climbers, Tecomanthe speciosa and Pandorea pandorana." A new drive needed to be built leading to a newThegrey-greenolivesandblue-floweringP.puberula garage, all-newtocomplement the pale weatherboards and royal blue trim planting was required and the pathway needed be designed. Dorothy wanted a low-maintenance gardenof the house. \\\\~tha relaxed ambience. She enlisted landscape architect"We used lots of colour throughout the garden," says Brett Madennan of Price & Humphreys Landscaping toBrett. "Flowering plants, used in repetition, can contribute give shape and form to her ideas.to a softer, more informal feeling." "ThebriefrequiredsomesignificanthardscapingforFor the main garden, Dorothy wanted a grassy area that felt the drive and walkway,but we also wanted to build aenclosed and would provide a good space for the children structural garden that had a free-flowing feel," says Brett.to play. This is anchored bytwomaturea liquid amber, trees: The property is fenced at the street and the new concretethe green leaves of which transform to a radiant bronze drive curves around to the garage. It is screened from theevery autumn, and a deciduous camphor tree. habitat65'