Known for his refined, considered design aesthetic, Darren Palmer approached the transformation of his outdoor space into an oasis with a meticulous eye for detail. From his initial landscaping vision to the final touches, every decision was carefully curated for both beauty and functionality. Keep reading to discover Darren’s top tips for creating your very own outdoor oasis.
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1. Plan your oasis
Before embarking on any design project, it’s vital to clarify your outdoor vision and project requirements. Draw it out and use visualisation tools, such as 3D drawings, as an effective way to plan for your space. Don’t be afraid to ask an expert for help, it will save time down the track.
Before starting his renovation project, Darren had a clear idea of what he wanted to achieve.
“I’ve been planning this space for years before we did the DA,” he shares. “It was really important for me to try to get the most amenity and the most entertaining space out of the amount of land that we’ve got on this kind of strange-shaped block.”
His thoughtful planning resulted in a space that matched his exact vision:
“I’m very, very happy that we have this space. It’s worked out beautifully. It looks exactly like my renders.”
Having a clear vision of what you want keeps the project on track, reducing time and minimises the risk of scope creep.
2. Design for life
Darren wanted his outdoor space to complement his lifestyle. His goal was to create an oasis for mixed purposes, for both relaxation and entertaining. A space that not only added value to his property, but also to his daily life.
“We have this little private oasis in here, which I just think is a massive value add to the home. It is also a big value add in terms of my lifestyle. And it’s quite wonderful.”
Connecting the function of the space with personal lifestyle choices is critical to overall enjoyment. If you are someone who hates cleaning and gardening, then think of choices that will require minimal maintenance. If you love entertaining, then consider what things will make hosting easy for you. Is a fridge closely accessible? If you have a green thumb and love nothing more than digging into soil and reconnecting with nature, then a sprawling garden bed might be exactly what the soul needs.
3. Collaborate
Darren worked closely with professionals and stakeholders to ensure everything was up to code and aligned with regulations, allowing his vision to move smoothly from render to reality.
Navigating:
- Pool compliance,
- Council approval and
- Neighbour negotiations
is an essential step in any project of this scale.
Even with years of design experience, Darren still knows when to call in the experts. He worked closely with Adam Robinson, Ladybug Landscapes, and Exotic Nurseries to bring his vision to life.
“I had an idea of what I wanted to achieve with the landscaping, but I’m no landscaper. Between them and myself and the vision that I had for the front and backyards, we’ve achieved exactly what I wanted and then some.”
4. Choose the right materials
Darren needed durable, secure materials suited for a coastal, poolside environment. ModularWalls provided a multifunctional solution—acting as boundary, retaining, and pool-compliant walls.
“These fences aren’t just fences, they’re boundary walls, they’re also retaining, they’re also pool compliant. It was really important that I chose a material that was non-climbable and was going to be appropriate for this coastal, poolside environment. It’s robust and it’s secure.”
Privacy was key, and ModularWalls also provided the sense of acoustic and visual seclusion he craved.
“The ModularWalls system creates acoustic and visual privacy and it just gives me this sense of being in my own private little bubble away from the world. The hustle and bustle of Bondi is right there and I feel like I’m in my own private oasis.”
5. Budget wisely
As a seasoned industry professional, Darren knows major renovations can be costly – balancing the budget is key. By investing in certain items and saving on others, Darren was able to create a striking finished project while remaining within budget.
“Having to carry out so many things for this project, building a whole house from scratch, rebuilding basically my house from scratch, there are a lot of costs involved. [With ModularWalls], we have that gorgeous rendered appeal, but not at that cost. It provided everything that I needed and at a better price than I could have ever imagined.”
6. Balance design elements
Darren’s project expertly combines style and functionality. He achieved a cohesive result by mixing contrasting and complementary elements (for example, pairing his ModularWalls with a custom aluminium pool fence). Additionally, Darren retained aspects of the existing landscaping, contrasting established plants with exciting new additions.
“The balustrading is gorgeous and pairs beautifully with the subtle ModularWalls fencing. It does its job really well.”
7. Find your oasis
Keeping the design simple and streamlined created a zen, luxurious oasis.
“We’ve got a really simple colour palette here. We’ve got beautiful benches, outdoor chairs, this great umbrella, and fantastic pots in plants and pots. They are absolutely stunning.”
8. Choose trusted suppliers
It’s crucial to choose trusted suppliers for lasting results.
“ModularWalls adds value to properties by being so adaptable, so versatile and so predictable. In my work, I really love predictable outcomes. I like to know that what I specify is exactly what I’m going to get.
For me personally, ModularWalls was the ultimate system for my requirements. I recommend ModularWalls for their acoustic qualities, for the ease of use, and the fact that you get the outcome exactly as you expected.”
With over 30,000 projects successfully completed over twenty years in business, trust ModularWalls for a seamless quality and value.
Darren Palmer’s oasis.
Darren’s discerning approach to design and careful consideration of each element of his outdoor oasis has created a space with universal appeal.
“Everybody loves the house. But personally, I’m blown away. I think that’s the most important feedback we can get!”
His outdoor space isn’t just a place to entertain—it’s an oasis of calm and reflects his vision, lifestyle, and passion for considered design.
