Better Homes and Gardens Australia

A big hello from me, it’s wonderful to meet you. This issue is my first with Better Homes and Gardens, and I so look forward to exploring this journey with you. This month, the sun is out, and we’re moving into entertaining season. In between the fun and socialising, this issue is all about taking a breath, stopping to smell the roses (or in this case, Banksia roses), and retreating to the outdoors. We’ll show you the best climbing plants to cover your pergolas and fences in a cascade of fragrance and colour (p36), as well as our picks for alfresco accessories (p34) and fresh accents for timeless interiors (p132). We’ve gone mad for avocados, covering not just how to grow your own (who says money doesn’t grow on trees?…

Editor Megan Osborne Creative director Scott Cassidy Deputy editor Raffaela Pugliese Production editor Joseph Kenworthy Chief sub-editor Jo McKinnon Design director Monique Larracy Senior designer Carol Tang Decorating editor Raffaela Pugliese Garden editor Jenny Dillon Food editor Sarah Murphy DIY editor Tiff Bancroft Beauty editor Annie Millar Stylist Kate Walsh Enquiries (02) 9282 8000 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS In your garden Tony Fawcett Moon guide Milton Black Better pets Caroline Zambrano ADVERTISING Commercial brand manager Jo-Ann Taylor Brand executive Claire Ellis NSW head of sales Blake Wright  Vic head of agency sales Ben Wiles  Vic, SA and WA head of direct sales Will Jamison  Qld head of sales Judy Taylor  Marketing manager Jess Taylor  Subscriptions campaign manager Ankita Jathar TELEVISION  Host Johanna Griggs  Presenters: Pets Dr…

INNER SANCTUM Create a little haven like this award winner by Paul Pritchard Landscapes. It’s a low-fuss composition of water, plants and contrasting textures. LANDSCAPING TIPS • Use natural materials such as stone walls, rock borders, a timber base for the day bed and timber stools. • Plant strategically so you catch natural shade from tall trees. Decorative plants need to suit your garden’s climate, aspect and soil type. INNER JOURNEY Think about moving your whole living area outdoors in warmer months. This design by Christian Jenkins has one pavilion for lounging and another for dining, linked by a pool that reflects the mature trees above. LANDSCAPING TIPS • Install simple pavilions that give shelter but let in light. They can also provide support for climbing plants. •…

In urban, even suburban gardens, it seems there’s no escaping the outside world – the noise of traffic, neighbours, barking dogs and leaf blowers, the smells of uncleaned barbecues and the sight of ugly power lines. With patience and imagination you can block out these invasive species and create a haven where you ignore everything except your own peace of mind! 1 HIDDEN FROM THE WORLD Enhance a sunken garden with a sense of enclosure by planting a Leyland cypress hedge. This grows at speed – up to 1m a year – and can reach 25 metres! Then make the scene even more cosy with an outdoor fire framed with ivy and sweet box (Sarcococca confusa) below. It produces tiny, sweetly scented flowers in winter. MAINTAIN THE SERENITY WITH TEAK…

1 HANG OUT IN STYLE A smart tip for planning an outdoor room is to think of it as an extension of your home’s interior. Delineate your zones just as you would in an open-plan living room. Here, the dining zone, next to the barbecue, transitions into a pergola-covered lounge area with a fire pit that helps establish a conversation spot. 2 CREATE A CANOPY Provide structure and shade in your backyard with an umbrella that has a cantilevered side-post to maximise space. An outdoor patterned rug further defines the dining area. Choose one large enough to allow the feet of chairs to stay on the carpet when pulled back from the table. 3 SET UP YOUR WORK STATION Repurpose a well-loved buffet or sideboard into a space-saving island bench.…

COME AROUND This comfy staple of languid days in the sun is crafted from durable aluminium and polypropylene rope. Cannes Outdoor Round Daybed Sun Lounge in Charcoal, from $2590, baygallery.com.au. SWAY WITH ME Lounge for hours with your favourite person, or pooch, in the Combo Double Cotton Hammock with Stand. $169, templeandwebster.com.au. Patio glow-up Hung from your pergola or placed on the table, this beautiful filigree lantern will add enchantment to your garden get-togethers. It has a built-in light sensor to detect darkness, automatically illuminating at night and turning off at dawn. Moroccan Inspired Solar Lantern, $26.90, hoselink.com.au. Pizza party HOT BOX! Your guests will be ‘oohing’ and ‘wowing’ when you serve up fresh flame-baked slices in 60 seconds from this portable multi-fuel pizza oven. This is no one-trick pony…