Challenges
A 530 mm level difference between the courtyard floor and the living room sliding door needed to be resolved. Another key challenge was translating a grand French aesthetic into materials that are readily available and appropriate to the Australian context.

Solution
Across Melbourne, French-inspired villas are common, typically expressed through gardens that are grand, refined, orderly, symmetrical, and formal. In contrast, the southern French (Provençal) garden style emphasises nature, ease, and romance. It seeks a balance between rustic and refined qualities, often incorporating aged furniture and weathered timber to evoke a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle. The client was drawn to this unhurried way of living and wished to see it reflected in the garden of their new home.
Core Provençal elements include weathered natural stone walls, warm tones (beige and ochre), wrought-iron seating with decorative details, aromatic plants (lavender, rosemary, thyme), and climbers such as wisteria. Based on the client’s reference images, we developed the following design responses:

• Stone: natural stone stepping stones, French-style beige–grey gravel garden paths, and feature stone accents.

• Metalwork: dark-toned wrought-iron decorative wisteria pergola, creating year-round views from the living room and master bedroom.

• Timber: naturally toned, distressed or reclaimed timber tables and chairs to express a sense of lived-in patina.

• Planting:

  • Herbs and flowers: lavender (purple), rosemary, thyme.

  • Courtyard trees and climbers: small olive trees, crepe myrtle, cascading wisteria, and Chinese jasmine (used as a low-maintenance alternative to grape vines).

• Colour and lighting: a warm, bright palette with beige and yellow tones, complemented by LED strip lighting and ground lights integrated into the paving.

• Decorative elements: large terracotta pots (terra-cotta pots) used as focal planting features.

Summary
By carefully resolving the level change and thoughtfully adapting Provençal garden principles to locally available Australian materials, the design delivers a relaxed yet refined courtyard. The outcome balances structure with softness, creating a warm, Mediterranean-inspired outdoor space that supports everyday living while remaining practical and low-maintenance in the Melbourne context.