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Like so many of us, Kristin Rawson’s attention turned to home when state borders closed last year. From the moment she purchased this property on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Kristin knew that she wanted to improve the landscaping and put in a pool.
So, making the most of the extra time at home, she seized the opportunity to completely overhaul the backyard and create a beautiful indoor-outdoor space that makes the most of the large block.
Large-format travertine pavers have been paired with natural marble waterline tiles in this pool belonging to interior stylist Kristin Rawson. Her seven-year-old daughter Billie wears swimmers from Yoli & Otis. Beach blanket from Land & Sand Essentials.
“During lockdown, I was working from home and that enabled me to put my designs into action,” Kristin says. From sketching plans to crafting moodboards and collaborating with a landscape designer, she was hands-on from start to finish, even rolling up her sleeves and doing some of the work herself.
Kristin opted for a low-maintenance garden of palms, succulents and rosemary, with fluffy Zoysia grass, white crushed gravel and white rendered walls completing the look. She did the painting herself, using a creamy white colour to add warmth and avoid intense reflection. Landscaping by Hollandscapes.
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“I specified every element of the build, sourcing everything myself to ensure the final product was just as I’d imagined.”
On the pool fence, the white towel is from Lucy Folk and the Roman organic cotton towel in Sage and Chalk is from Baina.
Conscious of the strong Australian sun, Kristin designed an undercover poolside shelter complete with built-in seating where the family can gather for a meal or afternoon refreshments. “Our outdoor space is a natural extension to the home,” she says.
Kristin’s children Billie, 7, and Jackson, 9, delight in their newly upgraded backyard. Kristin added two styles of silver ash fencing, installed by Screening Solutions in Melbourne. The pool equipment is concealed by batten fencing that integrates into the drop edge of the pool, meeting up with the glass pool fence. The beach blanket is from Land & Sand Essentials.
“The kitchen, living and dining areas all open up with sliding doors to create a lovely flow. It’s our little slice of heaven, and a luxury to not have to leave the house on hot days. The children swim in the pool while I potter around in the garden or tend to the veggies we have growing.” Sounds delightfully idyllic!
For the undercover area, Kristin selected a dining table and bench from Early Settler, pendants from GlobeWest and a white linen tablecloth from Carlotta + Gee.
Landscaping tip: “I went for lush Zoysia grass, which was a bit
of an upgrade to what we previously had. It’s so fluffy and gorgeous, and there’s less mowing required.”
The cushions were custom designed by Kristin in collaboration with Grace Garrett. The seat cushions are Linen GlamSwags in Natural from GlamSwag. On the table are, from left, a bread board and ceramics from Ecology Homewares, large white ceramic bowls from Wonki Ware, a white ceramic vessel with branches from MCM House and a terracotta vessel from McMullin & Co. The artwork is by Vynka Hallam.
budget breakdown
Landscape design: $3000, Formed Gardens.
Landscaping: $40,000-$50,000, Hollandscapes.
Pool: $60,000, Concept Pools.
Pool tiles: Chambon Travertine natural stone tiles, $8000, Eco Outdoor.
Pool fence: $450 per m, Australian Frameless Glass Installations.
Rendering: $3000, Render Lines.
Carpentery: $800, Josh Wilson Carpentry.
Ceramics were sourced from Wonki Ware and Coco Republic, while the towel is from Mamapapa.
