A lovely 100-year-old home recently extensively renovated with a professionally designed garden.

A landmark three-metre-high cypress hedge, mature trees, and over half an acre of grounds surround Belltunga, a grand bungalow built in 1925 and celebrating its centenary this year. The home has recently been extensively renovated and the garden revamped with a modern and timeless design, yet in keeping with the traditional architecture of the residence.

The new layout retained many existing shrubs and trees, including a pair of very tall palms and an outstanding frangipani. Over the years, the extensive lawns have hosted many gatherings and garden parties, but now there is also a swimming pool and a sunken entertainment area with an impressive outdoor kitchen.

Elsewhere in the garden, the new plantings comprise water-efficient plants chosen for their interesting leaf colour and texture, many with foliage in shades of silver to tone with the colours of the home. Blue grey chalk sticks, clumps of furry lambs’ ears, salvias with brilliant purple or rich red flowers, and various grasses contrast with the shapes and forms of the hedges, the many clipped spheres, and several impressive topiary spirals dotted throughout the garden beds. In the back garden, a small bridge crosses a winter creek overhung with the canopies of several large trees that provide shelter to shade-loving plants and camellias transplanted from other parts of the garden.

Large format pavers set in grass make a spectacular approach to the front door, and like the paved areas throughout the garden, are of durable natural limestone. A large water tank sits hidden beneath the front lawn

The garden owners would like to acknowledge the involvement of the builder Craig Linke for the renovation of their home, Fiona Smith of Two Blocks North for the design of the garden and Eddy Mills and crew from Botanic Living for their input and expertise in maintaining the garden.

Belltunga is beautiful – a manicured family garden that is a harmonious blend of classic and contemporary design and an integration of old and new planting.