Oceanfront, Tamarama by Inspired Exteriors

A striking Tamarama home needed a garden that could hold its own — salt-tolerant, privacy-giving, and centred on a double-height internal courtyard with a individually sourced mature olive tree at its heart. Featured in Architecture Australia and The Local Project.

Title:: Oceanfront, Tamarama
Landscape Designer:: Inspired Exteriors
Category:: Residential/; Landscaping
Completed:: 2019
Price range:: $0.25m - $0.5m
Building style:: Contemporary
Photographers:: Inspired Exteriors

This garden was conceived as an extension of the architecture itself. Working alongside a Madeleine Blanchfield-designed home, the brief was to soften a striking but demanding build, ground it into its coastal surroundings, and solve the very real challenge of gardening 50m from the ocean.

Salt-tolerant planting was the foundation of every decision. A raised garden wrapping the upper storey uses Elaeagnus, Rosemary and Senecio to create privacy and texture without competing with the ocean views. The same palette continues at street level, tying the building to its site and giving the architecture a sense of belonging in the landscape rather than sitting above it.

At the heart of the home, a double-height internal courtyard called for something more considered. An individually sourced mature olive tree was selected and placed to be enjoyed from every angle, its canopy filling the void in a way only a specimen tree of that scale can. Herbs and coastal plantings complete the space, working with the radial cobblestone paving to bring warmth and life to what could easily have been a hard, unforgiving interior volume.

Featured in Architecture Australia and The Local Project.

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Transforming the harsh coastal beauty of Sydney's Tamarama beach into a private oasis, the landscape design for this architecturally stunning Madeleine Blanchfield home harmoniously blends seaside favourites with a touch of elegance, showcasing a double-height feature tree in a courtyard that will make your heart sing.

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Professionals used

Inspired ExteriorsLandscape Designers

Inspired Exteriors

Landscape Designers

inspiredexteriors.com.au

Inspired Exteriors. Inspired Exteriors is an award-winning landscape design and construction firm based in Woollahra, Sydney, led by two of the industry's most respected names, Charlie Albone and Shane Kingsbury. Charlie Albone is one of Australia's most prominent landscape designers, with over 20 years of experience across some of the world's most prestigious garden stages. His work has earned Silver Gilt medals at the 2015 and 2016 Chelsea Flower Shows, and in 2023, Inspired Exteriors claimed Gold and Best in Show at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. A familiar face on Channel 7's Better Homes and Gardens and formerly The LifeStyle Channel's resident Landscape Design Expert for 13 years, Charlie brings a rare combination of creative vision, horticultural depth, and media-recognised authority to every project. Shane Kingsbury joined as Director and Principal Landscape Architect in 2024, adding a powerful layer of technical expertise and design leadership to the business. With extensive experience across high-end residential and large-scale commercial projects, Shane oversees landscape design, documentation, project management, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring seamless delivery from concept through to completion. His collaborative, innovative approach consistently exceeds client expectations, with a strong focus on sustainable design and long-term value. Together, Charlie and Shane lead a dedicated team that has delivered exceptional outdoor spaces across Australia and internationally, including projects in the UK, France, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Their combined expertise, creative ambition, and commitment to excellence has attracted some of Sydney's best design and construction talent, making Inspired Exteriors the go-to firm for clients who refuse to compromise on quality.