The Browns have been living in their Kloof home near Durban for 17 years, and they’ve worked on the garden, section by section, since they moved in. Over time, they’ve changed the style to complement the house and introduced a variety of plants, but their chosen aesthetic doesn’t necessarily lend itself to indigenous gardening – so they’ve done their best to introduce indigenous plants where they can. As with most gardens, theirs is an ongoing project, as they enjoy making constant improvements.

Typical of older properties, the pool is large and the challenge was to make this area a bit cosier. This was achieved by placing an ornate lattice screen and a similarly shaped Lutyens bench on the far end while the length of the pool was divided by repeating large planters on either side – the colourful flowers also serve to attract birds to the garden. The family has plenty of fun in and around the pool, so it made sense to integrate the entertainment and pool areas.

Open Up!
The Browns were very keen to extend their patio but this posed architectural problems, so the solution was to create the illusion of greater space by adding an ornamental trellis along the length of the patio and a pergola looking onto the pool. The patio floor was extended by a metre with square flagstone pavers, with mondo grass edging. French doors open up onto the patio, creating a flow between the lounge area and patio.

Words and images: Home magazine