Our Home Garden Reno: One Year On – Part Two
It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since we bought our early 2000s home — a classic rental for 25 years, complete with dated interiors and a blank canvas for a garden. From the moment we moved in, we saw the potential to transform this place into our tranquil haven.
We started outside.
The garden was bordered only by a pittosporum hedge and backed onto a beautiful, well-established park reserve — a real gift, offering both privacy and the feeling of borrowed landscape. Our vision was clear: to create green, secluded garden rooms that felt peaceful, textural, and low-maintenance.
The spa area came first. We added white stone, sculptural pots, textured plantings, and one of my favourite features — a concrete statue we’ve named “Contemplation.”
From there, a walkway winds to the back garden through a mix of hydrangeas, hostas, and the bold foliage of tractor plant.
In the backyard
We carved out zones: raised garden beds for veges and dahlias, and a shaded hydrangea haven where even the clothesline feels charming. Stepping stones lead you from one garden room to the next, with lime chip paths adding a crisp, clean finish.
Having had labour-intensive gardens before (think box hedging and rose overload!), this time I wanted something more restful.
Layers of green, stone-covered beds, and leafy textures that offer beauty without the endless pruning.
We’ve created spots to enjoy morning sun with coffee, and summer evenings now flow seamlessly from house to garden.
We even brought our outdoor kitchen from our old home — now nestled into new concrete paths and hedges.
This zone is still evolving, and this year we plan to add a roof and outdoor fire to complete it.
The Outcome
Unlike previous homes, where we embraced high-maintenance gardens full of buxus hedging and endless roses, this time we wanted something more restful — rich in texture and greenery but easier to care for.
We’ve created sun-drenched coffee spots and an outdoor living space for long summer evenings.
Our outdoor kitchen made the move with us, now nestled into new concrete flooring and framed by simple hedges. It’s still evolving — we hope to add a roof and outdoor fireplace this year to complete the space.
Inside, we’ve taken a more staged approach than with previous renovations — juggling our home updates alongside the demands of growing Victoria Jane. Like any startup, it requires constant reinvestment, so we’ve been creative and strategic with how we spend.
This journey has reminded me that you don’t have to do everything at once. Some of the most beautiful transformations come when you work with intention, creativity, and patience.
Hope this inspires you to create your own home renovations and share more on how I achieved this. Let us know what you think! 💞