Many people dream of having a grand old tree in their backyard, but they can sometimes throw up challenges!

The owners of this Fitzroy North home certainly didn’t want to remove their property’s beloved tree, but wanted a house and garden that better embraced the oak in all its glory, without impacting the dwelling.

Kennedy Nolan stepped in to devise a careful reworking of the existing Victorian house, which now feels embedded in its accompanying Amanda Oliver designed garden. 

In order to transform The Green House from a poky rabbit warren into a bright, interconnected dwelling fit for a contemporary family, DOOD Studio placed a north-facing courtyard at the centre of their design.

The architects blended a minimalist architectural style with new and existing retro finishes to create a unique yet contemporary attitude for the space. Green cabinetry, stucco render and perfect indoor-outdoor connection exudes a Melbourne-Mediterranean sensibility!

Today our intrepid gardens columnist Georgina Reid of The Planthunter join us once again, with a truly enviable garden in Glenmore, NSW, just about an hour west of Sydney.

‘Glenmore House‘ is known to many garden enthusiasts.  This Victorian homestead and its rambling grounds was purchased by Larry and Mickey Robertson and their family in 1988. In the years that have passed since then, Mickey, an interior designer by trade, has established the most incredible gardens here.  Occasionally, they are opened up to the public for special events, and Mickey also runs kitchen gardening and cooking workshops.  (She also has a sweet blog, well worth checking out for a peek into busy garden life behind the scenes!).