Real Homes – March 2013

We’ve created our dream outdoor room

By turning an old garage into a sunny patio, Lynne and Les Alexander transformed their garden into a tranquil spot to enjoy year-round

Words Alison Gibb Photographs Douglas Gibb

‘Our home has been in the Alexander family for years. The south-facing garden, with its truly stunning vista, is the main attraction,’ says Lynne. ‘We renovated the house in 2006, and a couple of years later we decided to update the garden.’

The Alexanders’ wish list for the outdoor space included a low-maintenance design with a large deck, a pergola for climbers, a greenhouse, water feature, vegetable beds, flower borders and a small lawn.

‘To achieve everything we wanted, we soon realised that we would need to enlist professional help,’ recalls Lynne.

The couple contacted local landscape designer Gillian Polley, and were instantly impressed by her ideas. ‘We also knew it would be a good idea to use someone from the local area,’ says Lynne. ‘Gillian is familiar with the soil and the local climate, and therefore knew what would grow well and thrive in our garden.’

Article Excerpt: Real Homes, March 2013