Riviera Dreaming

In this resort-style garden, the pool is the star of the show and the plants the essential supporting players

- Karen Booth

Mention the French Riviera and thoughts turn to people lazing on Mediterranean beaches, a crystal-blue sky overhead and luxury yachts moored nearby. Places like St Tropez and Cannes come to mind, as do luxury resorts with swimming pools to die for. That was the inspiration behind the design of this outdoor entertaining area and what motivated the homeowners to name their coastal property “La Riviera”.

Originally, design duo Beverley Harrison and Debbie Taylor of Mondo Landscapes were called in to create a planting plan that would ensure the new home, nestled in Madora Bay, a 50-minute drive south of Perth, would be cosseted by beautiful resort-style gardens. Before long, however, the brief developed into something much more substantial and, for Beverley and Debbie, much more rewarding.

“As the project evolved, we became involved with the design of the pool area, including tile selections, as well as the selection of the hardscape finishes around the home,” explains Beverley. “The custom-designed pool zone is, in our opinion, the hero of the home. The pool features a negative rolled edge and reservoir which offsets the need for a pool fence, allowing the space to feel open and inviting.