From the lounge in Ben and Kylie Crawford's home in Auckland's Castor Bay, majestic kânuka and ponga catch your vision, leading your eye up the ascending section into the bush. Tul and kererü sing out as they dive from tree to tree.
Accessed from the living area and rear deck, Ben and Kylie's garden comprises two levels covered in artificial grass. The levels have been built around the mature trees, allowing children Huxley, five, and Mylo, three-and-a-half, easy access to the trampoline and playhouse, and free rein to roam this native sanctuary.
The garden overlooks a creek, which the couple regenerated and turned into a feature of their house design. One part of the garden leads to a spa pool and a bridge linking to the bedroom wing of the home. It is the last step in the couple's vision for the site, which they chanced upon in 2014.
When the couple first saw the land, it was underwhelming, overgrown with noxious weeds but it had beautiful native bush around the boundary and a creek running through the property.
"We were looking for a section to buy and saw this bit of land, which is big at 1397sqm and covered in mature bush close to the beach," says Ben, who won the inaugural The Block NZ season with his sister Libby, and is now co-founder of brand agency Tomorrow Studio. "While it had its challenges, we saw the opportunity to create something special."
Esta historia es de la edición May 2024 de Your Home and Garden.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 2024 de Your Home and Garden.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
GET MERRY
Everyone will go crackers about these festive dinner favourites and the delicious trimmings
A brief history of...The Lips sofa
How to straighten up and free yourself from negative behaviour patterns
BREAKING BAD HABITS
How to straighten up and free yourself from negative behaviour patterns
MOMENTS of JOY
Sue Pat's whimsical stationery cleverly captures the wonders of Christmas
GIFTS of the EARTH
An excerpt from garden and interior designer Michael Mansvelt's longawaited book Everyday Opulence
All WHITE NOW
A fresh, coastal take on the classic white Christmas starts with a backdrop of relaxed vintage style. On top, layer shades of white from rich cream to crisp snow, offset by foraged shells and coastal flora also spray painted in white, then worked into wreaths and other essential festive decor elements.
COASTAL CHRISTMAS
A writer is all about enjoying a cruisy, coastal celebration with family and friends
Happy place
A shed on the garden's edge became healing renovation project
ALL IS BRIGHT
Colour is key in Kip&Co co-founder Alex McCabe's vibrant home over the holidays
BOLD & ECLECTIC
In an excerpt from The Makers, writer Pandora Sykes' home is a cosy and chic statement in fearlessness with colour and patterns