Adam Rothwell

Backyard patios are supposed to be peaceful, right? A little table, maybe a few string lights, a spot to enjoy your iced coffee before the chaos starts. But let’s be honest—if you’ve got kids, your patio probably looks more like a dumping ground for scooters, half-deflated balls, and chalk drawings that have merged into some […]

Let’s be honest—our mailbox is usually the most forgotten part of the front yard. It’s stuck out there collecting bills, birthday cards, and takeaway menus, and meanwhile it’s not really adding much to your curb appeal. But it could be. I mean, if you’ve already gone to the effort of tidying up the porch and

You know how every front yard seems to have that one little neglected corner? At our place, it was the sad patch around our wonky old mailbox—half grass, half dust, sometimes decorated by the neighbour’s cat. Honestly, I didn’t think much of it until my youngest asked, “Mum, why is the mailbox surrounded by nothing?” And that

You ever look at a glossy outdoor magazine and think, “Where do people even find time (or money) for this?” Yeah, same. Most of us just want a comfy patio where we can plop down with a cup of coffee, maybe host a casual BBQ without stepping over a bike or inflatable pool. But somehow, the backyard

Let’s be real—if you’ve got a backyard that’s just lawn and a sad plastic chair, you’re not alone. I used to think “outdoor living space” meant something reserved for magazine homes or luxury Airbnbs. But turns out, you don’t need a sprawling estate or bottomless budget to build an outdoor room that feels like a

If you’ve ever looked at your backyard and thought “Something’s missing…” — it might just be a path. I’m not talking about a tiny row of stepping stones that wiggle around when you walk. I mean large, grounded, visually satisfying stone pavers that actually make your outdoor space feel put together. Large pavers are one of my favorite

There’s something magical about having a backyard with actual space. Not a postage-stamp-sized patio, but a real backyard with patches of grass, shady corners, and maybe even a spot where your kids can attempt to dig to Australia. But just having a backyard isn’t enough — it should feel like part of your home, not the forgotten patch

There’s just something magical about a summer night spent outside—with the pool lit up, music in the background, and the kids (and maybe a few adults) giggling under neon lights. If you’ve ever hosted a pool party that started off strong but fizzled out after sunset, you’ll know the vibe totally changes once the sun

There’s something wildly satisfying about having an open terrace, especially when the weather starts behaving itself. It’s like having an extra living room, just without the roof. But when it comes to seating? That’s where things get a little… fussy. Whether you’ve got a sprawling rooftop with skyline views or a compact balcony pretending to

Let’s be honest, once the colder months hit, our outdoor spaces often get… abandoned. And I get it. There’s that awkward moment in mid-October where your terrace still has a few struggling plants and a forgotten plastic chair, but the wind has other ideas. I used to think terraces were a summer-only situation—until I accidentally

You ever step outside onto your terrace after the kids are in bed, tea in hand, and feel like the space is… missing something? Not broken, not ugly—just kinda “meh”? That was me last autumn. I had the outdoor rug, a few mismatched chairs I told myself were eclectic (they weren’t), and some fairy lights

I used to think terraces were only for holiday villas or those dreamy homes you see on shows where no one ever spills juice. But then we had kids, got a mortgage, and realized we needed every bit of space—including that flat bit outside the upstairs bedroom that used to collect laundry baskets and the

If your backyard is currently more mud pit than play zone, you’re not alone. We reached a point where I was basically washing the dog, the kids, and half the house after every sunny afternoon in the yard. That’s when I started looking into pea gravel landscaping—and honestly, it was a game-changer. It’s low maintenance, budget-friendly,

When we first moved into our family home, the backyard was a bit… well, sad. A square patch of tired grass, a few lonely weeds pretending to be wildflowers, and not a single spot that made me want to sit and breathe it all in. I remember standing out there, baby monitor in one hand

If your backyard has a slope, you’ve probably had that sinking feeling: “What on earth do we do with this?” I get it. Sloped yards can feel like more of a design problem than a playground opportunity—but I promise, with a bit of planning (and some smart choices), they can become one of the most exciting,

We didn’t plan for a terraced backyard—it just sort of came with the house, like a surprise side dish you didn’t order but kind of love now. When you first look at a sloped or stepped yard, especially with kids or pets in the mix, it feels like a design headache wrapped in dirt and

When we first talked about setting up an outdoor cooking space, it honestly felt like a big-deal, magazine-cover kind of project. Something reserved for Pinterest-perfect homes with endless lawns and glowing string lights. But once we started small — like, just a basic grill and a few stepping stones — it turned out to be

Let’s be honest—most of us ignore the side of the house. It’s the “meh” zone. You walk past the bins, maybe trip over a hose, and try not to look at that muddy patch that never quite grows grass. It’s not the glamorous front porch, and it’s definitely not the backyard barbecue zone. But the

Narrow side yards often get overlooked. They’re the awkward, in-between spaces where trash bins go to hide or weeds take over. But with just a little planning, that long skinny strip can become one of the most peaceful, purposeful zones in your outdoor space. Whether your home’s in the city, by the ocean, or nestled

There’s something timeless and grounding about gathering around a wooden table outdoors. Maybe it’s the warmth of the timber under your hands as you pass around the plates, or the way the knots and grain feel just right in a cozy backyard setting. If you’re dreaming of building or upgrading your outdoor dinner table using timber planks—you’re

Not all of us inherit a backyard with lush grass and a ready-to-go patio. Some of us get… dirt. And rocks. And maybe a stray weed or two waving at us from the corner. But honestly? That’s a blank canvas with potential. Whether you’ve got a small patch of dust or a long, unlevel backyard

There’s something oddly satisfying about a long driveway. It’s got that “pull up and exhale” vibe. You’ve just survived a grocery run with toddlers or a 6pm meltdown, and now you’re gliding past trees, gravel crunching under tires, a moment of calm before real life resumes at the front door. But let’s be honest—most long

There’s something a bit magical about ornamental grasses. Maybe it’s how they catch the light in the evening, or the way they sway when the breeze picks up just before dinner time. But if you’ve ever tried to wrangle a family-friendly yard—one with footballs flying, scooters scraping, and maybe a dog or two—you’ll know not