The brief for our Toorak Garden was to transform the front entrance to match the beauty and character already present in the existing landscape. While the side stone stairs leading down to the lush lawn area and the rear entertaining space were stunning, the front entrance felt underwhelming by comparison. Our clients also requested enhanced privacy screening from a newly constructed home across the road.
Our vision was to honour the property’s heritage aesthetic, with its 1920s-era architecture and existing Castlemaine slate stonework, while creating a more grand and cohesive arrival experience. Drawing inspiration from the talented Edna Walling, we designed layered stone walls with curved forms to soften harsh lines, incorporated a stone water feature with a brass water spout, and used traditional English planting schemes with muted mauve, white, and soft pink tones.
The main hardscaping features include carefully matched Castlemaine slate crazy paving for the front path, designed to blend seamlessly with the existing stonework. New curved retaining walls were built to raise the soil height, creating a sense of enclosure—almost like a private orchard or foyer before entering the home. This elevation allows hedges to establish more quickly while providing effective screening from neighbouring views. Practical elements, such as bin storage, were integrated into the stonework, ensuring that functionality never compromised aesthetics.
The plantings feature a palette of Wisteria, Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangeas), Azaleas and Bartlettina sordida, all carefully selected to evoke a timeless, romantic garden feel. The Wisteria, which was existing, now has beautiful companions that bloom in harmony throughout spring and summer. The colour scheme remains restrained and elegant, with layers of soft purples, mauves, and whites that complement the stonework and architecture.
Our goal throughout this project was to create additions that feel original to the property rather than imposed upon it. We wanted to add to the garden in such a way that new elements appear to have always belonged. The challenge was achieving a seamless blend between what existed and what we introduced, ensuring visitors would struggle to distinguish between the two.
The result is a front entrance that now reflects the sophistication and beauty of the rest of the property, offering both grandeur and intimacy. The garden has matured beautifully, with the hedges providing effective screening and the water feature creating a welcoming focal point. We’re pleased to have helped the clients achieve their vision of a more cohesive, private, and characterful home.
