A neglected Wellington backyard becomes a flourishing garden

A dark Resene stain was used on the concrete floor, which was once part of an old garage, and a black-stained covered pergola was added for shade from the midday sun in summer.

Anastasia and Tom – pictured with their children, Jacob, Sophia (standing) and Christina plus Rosie the dog.

From this vantage point, diners enjoy views of the surrounding garden and distant hills.

“The large backyard was definitely a big drawcard when we were looking at the property,” says Anastasia. “All we could see was the potential and how lucky we would be to have such a big blank canvas. A lot of Wellington has been subdivided now, so, having three kids, the backyard was a dream come true.”

The catalyst for the whole outdoor kitchen project was the pizza oven, built by Tom after more than two years of research.

Homegrown garlic hanging to dry and freshly picked vegetables.

The family use the outdoor space all the time, whether they are entertaining large groups of families with kids or enjoying a meal on their own.

The gorgeous wooden wall was created by Tom from a mixture of freshly milled native timber (rimu, matai and tawa) and recycled rimu sarking. Anastasia made the macramé holder for the dish of lemons, and the sink was recycled from the original laundry.

The succulent wall hanging made by Anastasia serves as a striking living artwork.

Anastasia has plenty of imaginative ideas for decorating the house and garden for special occasions: hammocks are hung from the flowering cherry tree and the branches adorned with garlands, strings of beads and ribbons made by the children and lanterns, along with old spoons and forks for chimes.

Anastasia likes to have fresh flowers in the house and grows a number of cottage garden favourites including cosmos, hydrangeas, roses, foxgloves, phlox and cornflowers.

Many of the plants in the garden were either gifts or grown from cuttings given to the family by grandparents and parents.

“Our garden is a non-stop story and over the years we will create so many more memories, and it will see so many more ages and stages of our lives, to add to it,” says Anastasia.

Anastasia’s flair for decoration is evident indoors, too. She made the macramé window screens in the dining area and painted the panels on the kitchen island built by Tom.

“Knowing that some of the things we were using either had come from someone else in our family or already had a history with the property was important, and felt right,” says Anastasia.

The family have spent the last seven years turning the neglected backyard into a flourishing garden complete with an outdoor kitchen.