When our clients purchased their federation home in Sydney’s Bondi Beach as an active family of five, they were drawn to the sizeable backyard for their three young children as well as the potential it offered their growing family (they are now a party of six!). However, even with all that sought-after space, the back garden felt separated from the main house and our clients were struggling to make that all-important indoor-outdoor connection seamless and cohesive.

Our brief was to reimagine the traditional Australian backyard and create a child-like wonderland where kids could play safely, explore endlessly, and grow and flourish just as the garden itself would around them. So, we set off on our design journey to tick all of their boxes, all the while maintaining an eco-conscious frame of mind that was vital to our clients’ way of living, prompting a number of natural materials choices to create a clean and simple design for the home, both inside and out.

Our first design challenge was to reconnect the exterior to the interior, as the house is elevated from the backyard, which added to a sense of disconnection between the spaces.

By introducing a large deck off the main family living space with an outdoor dining area and retractable pergola, we were able to create a romantic yet whimsical space among the treetops. This space not only encouraged fluidity between the interior and exterior but was also highly practical for the family to enjoy alfresco dining all year round.

The deck also allows for shade in the garden below that we harnessed for a more relaxed seating area which the family can enjoy by hosting larger gatherings and summer BBQ’s.

As you descend the stairs into the now-lush, tropical paradise you enter an oasis of childhood fun – an outdoor wonderland for endless adventures. We incorporated a basketball hoop, cubby house, tyre swing, climbing wall and jungle gym, encouraging infinite hours of fun and enjoyment to be had for all kids (young or simply young at heart)!

We envisioned a garden that would be a welcoming space where active children can play and learn from nature, creating a sense of place and an emotional connection to the surrounding environment. To help bring our concept to life we were thrilled to collaborate once again with the talented team at Sticks & Stones.

Director and Landscape Designer Fiona Ericsson describes it as, ‘a garden for the senses with a plant palette of interesting foliage, deciduous trees, and flowering shrubs.’

The vast use of soft foliage planted at child’s height were selected to ensure the garden was safe and inviting to explore. Artificial grass under the play equipment and basketball hoop will keep the garden looking green all year round and survive the wear and tear of tiny feet after hours of play every day.