Notes from the Coast's gardens.
Straight answers on costs, approvals and materials, and ideas from our own projects across the Central Coast and Northern Sydney. Written by the crew who build them.
Concrete pool finishes explained: tiled, pebble or polished, and the coping that frames them
The finish is what you see and feel every time you swim. It sets the colour of the water, how the pool feels underfoot and how much care it needs. Here's how the main options compare, and how coping and edges complete the picture.
Read the article · 3 min
Designing a bushland garden: grass trees, gabions and gravel paths on a sloping block
Some of the Coast's best gardens don't fight the bush, they borrow from it.
3 min read
Sandstone on the Coast: walls, steps and terraces that only get better with age
Few materials feel as at home on the Central Coast as sandstone.
3 min read
Cosy summer nights: designing outdoor fireplaces and fire pits for NSW homes
A soft breeze off the coast, the sun dropping, a gentle crackle of flames.
5 min read
Outdoor paving and polished concrete: costs, finishes and slip-safe choices for coastal homes
Salt, wind, summer heat and sudden downpours push driveways, paths and pool surrounds to their limits.
4 min read
Building a pool in NSW: real costs, approvals and the design choices that save thousands
Warm summers, coastal breezes and sloping blocks across Terrigal, Wamberal and North Avoca make a pool both a lifestyle win and a design challenge.
4 min read
Decking done right: composite versus timber in NSW, and what it really costs
Composite boards and Australian hardwood both look stunning by the ocean and both handle backyard entertaining.
3 min readRetaining walls in NSW: costs, approvals and the best materials for sloped blocks
On a sloping block, a retaining wall turns awkward levels into usable terraces, protects your home from erosion and sorts out drainage.
4 min read
Smart landscaping budgets in NSW: what to spend, and where it pays off
A good outdoor space is worth its weight in gold.
3 min read
Let's unlock your outdoor space.
Tell us a little about your project and we'll arrange a time to walk the block with you and talk through ideas, timing and budget.