O U T E R
SPAC E
Awell-designedbalconyextends
yourlivingandbreathingroom.
STORYElizabeth Wilson|PHOTOGRAPHY Sue StubbsW
ithupstretchedbranchesthatlooklikea
flamboyantcandelabra,Euphorbiaammak
is aneye-catchingplant.Sittinginanoversized
terracottapotinthecornerofthisbalconygarden,it is
theperfectheropiece,saysdesignerandstylistAdam
Robinson,whotransformedthis5.5x3.5mspacein
inner-citySydneyaspartofa collaborationwithoutdoor
furniturespecialistHarbourOutdoor.
Adamlovesthechallengeofcreatingbalconygardens.
“It’saboutdesigninga lushandgreenenvironmentto
maximisea client’shomeandlifestyle...withtheadded
challengeofnothavinganynaturallyoccurringsoilto
plantinto.Potsareeverything!”
Utilisingtheentirelengthandbreadthofthebalcony,
hehascreatedbothanoutdoordiningzoneandsitting
area,usingdesignerpiecesthatechothesophistication
andcomfortofthehome’sinteriors.Forthediningarea,
hechosea compactroundtableteamedwithlight-framed
chairsfeaturinglatticewickerbacksupports.Forthesitting
area,heselecteda sleekL-shapedsofa,featuringweather-
resistantSunbrellafabriccushions.
Thecrucialpottedplantsareplacedinneatclusters
aroundthefurniture,helpingtodemarcatethetwozones.
“We’veusedclassicterracottapotsintraditionalshapes
butmodernisedthemwithcontemporary-lookingplants,”
saysAdam.Beinga north-facingbalconywithnoirrigation
system,it wascriticaltoselecthardy,waterwisespecies.
“They’reinteresting,texturalplantsthatareallintriguingto
touchandobserve,”hesays.TheseincludetheEuphorbia
ammak, jadetree(Crassulaovata),Sansevieria‘Congo’,
pricklypear(Opuntia), centuryplant(Agaveamericana),
Japanesebox(Buxusjaponica) andKalanchoebeharensis.
Adam’sfavouriteelement?“Thatoversizedpot.It’s
120 x 60 cmandcontainstheEuphorbiaunderplanted
andsoftenedwithold-fashionedrosemary.I love
unusualplantcombinations.” #
Adam Robinson Design; adamrobinsondesign.com.