Backyard Mates

This built-in BBQ has turned out a treat. Once the owner has the benchtop tiled, it should look even better.

A new picket fence and gate helps make access to the yard secure again

These nice etched corten steel pieces can help dress up an area

Another laundry makeover that completely transforms the space

These Baltic pine boards were underneath carpet with a couple of significant indentations. When we pulled the carpet up it was obvious that borers had been having a lovely time. Each small section became a larger problem. We could have kept going but the owner wanted to patch it ready for new carpet. Hopefully this will last until they're ready for a bigger renovation.

The old steps were dangerously rotten. The owners were "walking" gingerly up the RHS to avoid any mishaps. Next up will be the rest of the verandah (when funds permit 🤞)

For Mahalia getting a new sliding door fitted across the back of the house meant the old stairs were now in the wrong spot (oh and they were ugly concrete ones) so we built these new ones over and around them (they can be just seen in the planter box) so now it's easy peasy to get into the backyard again.

The old garden beds had rotted out so we made and fitted some new ones

How good does a deck or verandah look after it's been cleaned and oiled

This cal bungalow had two rooms joined by double-glass doors, and a small bathroom next to one of them. We removed and blocked off the opening to create two separate rooms. A lounge and a bedroom. Then we removed and blocked off the bathroom door, and relocated it to create an en-suite opening for the bedroom. Interestingly the dividing wall was half brick and half (horse-hair) plaster. The en-suite is now going to get a much needed makeover.

We don't do a lot of these mini-corrugated iron fences but when we do, there is a feeling of satisfaction about how good they come up

Putting a new pool in the backyard means a lot of compliance. When it's next to an existing open carport the solution is to build a wall that serves two masters. The pool is safe and the carport becomes a garage. This is lined with "shiplap" cladding and we even made the window. Once painted it'll look even better than it does now.

So what's going on here. The top hole gets covered by a TV. The bottom hole gets covered by an entertainment unit. And no cables to be seen.
We cut out the plaster, fitted some conduit behind the wall, then refitted the plaster and stopped it up. Once it's dried, sanded and painted, no-one will be ever the wiser.

This raised garden bed has been set at the right height for the added functionality of being a seating option in this small courtyard

These new steps are a nice way to access the front of the house

This door frame got "modified" in a couple of spots by a naughty doggo trying to get out. We cut out the damage and fitted some new timber. Once it's painted no-one will be any the wiser.

Literally no fence is too small for us (but some are too big 🙂)

Sometimes "enough" shelving isn't enough. This new shelf is just big enough for cans stored 2-deep and doesn't take up too much valuable space in your pantry.

Tasha in Seddon has a small front yard at her young house that gets the afternoon sun. Only problem is that the builder/plumbers had to put in a couple of oversize pits that dominate space, and then tried to pretty it up with a small (virtually unusable) deck, but also left the whole area quite open. She wanted to utilise it more so we made the deck bigger and fitted it with ekodeck boards (for no maintenance), then redid the front fence making it a little higher, and extended it around to the front of the house with access via small gate. However the location of one of the pits limited the design somewhat but still dominated the entry, so we suggested covering it with geotech fabric, putting a couple of nice pots with plants in place and surrounding them with some river stones. The pits are still accessible if/when required and the whole place looks fabulous.

This new balcony pergola is going to provide lots of shade once the vine (lower left hand corner) is attached and allowed to grow over it.

Sometimes you need every available centimetre of space. And so it was with Gallery Smith when they didn't have enough wall space for hanging paintings but there was an open kitchenette that also needed to be "hidden". The solution. We built a wall to close off the opening and fitted this huge sliding door.

The backyard was a mess and difficult to get to before we laid the coloured concrete and built these steps. Now it's a nice usable area again.

Another really nice picket fence with nice capitols on each post. We also did the brick paving from the front, around the side of the house, to the back.

Nice new picket fence in Kensington made tricky by the fact that it's level across the top but on an angle across the bottom. Every picket had to be cut to size at the correct angle. Phew!

Some really nice feedback and photos of a recently completed job in Brunswick