This Camberwell garden by Bethany Williamson Landscape Architecture subverts the focus of traditional garden design to the front of the house, where a plant-focussed palette elevates heritage architecture, in one of Melbourne’s leafy suburban enclaves. The design moves away from a lawn-centric front garden and towards an abundant, subtle garden, with plenty of layers.

‘We wanted to play with the elements usually found in traditional front gardens, and give them a contemporary and current feel,’ explains Bethany. ‘Clipped hedges, soft shrubs, a path from the gate to the front door, flowering perennials and pebbles were all used to make the space feel calm rather than traditional.’

The drama in the scenery comes from the plants rather than built-forms, meaning textures and colours were required to work in perfect cohesion. Mounds of undulating Japanese buxus shrubs flank the front path and lend a sculptural element, while remaining green all year round. Tall stalks of purple ivia ‘mystic spires’ supply height behind the ground covers, low-lying hydrangeas lend a delicate touch to the palette, and pink coneflowers give a burst of seasonal colour at the height of summer!

‘The clipped buxus contrasts with the burst of softness in the perennials,’ says Bethany. ‘The soft foliage of the silver birches contrasts the round, smoothness of the pebbles. The texture of the pavers next to the creeping groundcover of star jasmine sit comfortably with each other.’ This garden is all about variation.

Working in tandem with the heritage home facade, this generous project is one for the whole street to enjoy!

Keen as a bean to see more of Bethany’s projects? See them all here!