What was the primary purpose of your rooftop?
What elements were integral to achieve your perfect entertainment rooftop?
- A BBQ was one of the first purchases. We are an Aussie family through and through and enjoy cooking everything on the BBQ from a huge snapper, to sausage sangers, to cobs of corn.
- A beechwood dining table was also high on the priority list, to carry on the yellow hues that are featured through the terrace.
- I love plants and envisaged having climbers crawl over the pergola to make a green roof. This was forever difficult as the rooftop attracted so much heat and wind. Pot plants that we watered and nurtured daily struggled to grow. In retrospect, I understand why so many rooftop gardens on apartment buildings in Australia feature succulents!
- We got a gas heater for a wedding present and used it often – made for some greater winter evenings up there.
Where did you find inspiration for your garden?
I wanted an ‘english’ garden, but sadly, the climate wasn’t ideal. Plants that grew well were seasonal, potted, colour succulents and dry grass plants. Not the prettiest, but hardy. I would plant very different cuttings given my time over. For our wedding we were gifted a Western Australian ‘blackboy’ (my husband is from WA and they are a nostalgic plant for him). If we reworked the space we would probably try to use this as a starting point. Naturally, plants native to the W.A sun would suit an Aussie rooftop well.
Where did you source your plants, pots and other decorative items?
We are definite bargain hunters and I squirm when I see nursery prices. We sourced most of our plants from the Rozelle markets In Sydney. Lots of lovely elderly people selling cuttings they are growing in their own gardens. It’s one thing to read about ‘best growing conditions’ on the back of a tag, but to have a good chat with a market seller who has actually grown that plant is amazing. We also hunted for pots in markets, op-shops and very sneakily on ‘council pick up night’. So many wealthy, inner-west, Sydney folk throwing out perfectly good pots!
What tips would you have for someone who wants to create a garden in a small space?
- Use the height of the space. Long lines that reach high can give a lovely sense of spaciousness.
- Be sure to choose the correct plant for the right sized pot. Have a look at the growing potential of the plant and make sure you buy a pot to match if you want to work it to its full potential.
- Over-sized furniture is horrible. There is no need to shop at ‘King Furniture’ when you live in the inner city. Big furniture makes a small space look tiny. Rather select one or two cute, small, vintage chairs with a lovely cushion.
