Split your garden into rooms like an interior designer | Inspiration & design | Gardening Australia

Sophie visits the home of an interior designer to see how he’s created a tropical paradise in hot, dry South Australia. Subscribe: http://ab.co/GA-subscribe

There are many distinct ‘rooms’ around the relatively small garden, with lots of places to sit and enjoy the lush surrounds.

Owner: Interior Designer Steve Angel
Location: Peramangk Country, in the Barossa Valley, SA
Climate Zone: Warm temperate/Mediterranean
Style: Tropical resort

Steve says we live so much outside that interior design is just as relevant to creating outside spaces. Colour is important and used to link spaces together. Large-leafed plants give a tropical feel.

He started designing in the front with a deck, screened by a Willow Myrtle and plum hedge. Shade is provided by a pergola with glory vine growing over it.
Instead of lawn, they created a pond.

In the backyard there is another small water feature with running water. Steve explains how he created it quite cheaply.

A paved courtyard works as a larger dining area, which features a fire pit under the table for use in winter. Steve allows about 5 square metres for 8-10 people.

Through a door is another table with Balinese-style hut that Steve uses in summer. Bamboo panels and a day bed add to the atmosphere.

A third water feature area sits in an area with a more Mediterranean feel, enhanced by blue glass and pots. It is the only area with any lawn.

Steve allows a gap between paving and other areas – covered by grass or pebbles – to allow for changes in infrastructure such as irrigation.

When starting to design a new garden, he advises starting to look at small areas first, rather than tackling the whole garden at once.

Featured plants:
Willow myrtle (Agonis flexuosa cv.)
Plum ‘Oakville Crimson Spire’ (Prunus cerasifera cv.)
Glory vine (Vitis coignetiae)
Giant White Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)

Always check before planting: a plant may be an environmental weed in your area

Filmed in Peramangk Country & Barossa Valley, SA

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