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Posted on: April 7, 2010

Nature Boy

Rethink outdoor rooms with HGTV's Jamie Durie. Consider space, scale and the Russian nesting doll technique

By Mary M. Murphey
CTW Features

Garden design by Jamie Durie; photography by Andrew Curtis

Jamie Durie knows his way around a backyard. The landscape designer and horticulturalist has made a name for himself and his outdoor room movement in his hometown of Sydney, Australia. Through his company, PATIO Landscape Architecture and Design, and a litany of TV shows and books, Durie has honed his Russian nesting doll technique of building outdoor rooms within outdoor rooms until a space is complete.

His focus on the freedom and individuality of these spaces can be spotted in his HGTV show, "The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie," during which he and his team makeover problem yards and create sanctuaries within expansive outdoor spaces.

"My philosophy is to create smaller rooms within the larger space to bring a feeling of intimacy and privacy," he explains. "I think where the freedom comes into it is that because you are creating an outdoor space there is more give when it comes to being evocative and sensory... like designing a sitting area to sit in a shallow pool of water."

Space and scale dictate all elements of a design, Durie says. When rethinking a landscape, start with them.

Think big. "Always make the space a little larger than you think is adequate. A generous space is much more inviting than a small, poky one," he says. "Spaces can be deceiving, even when drawn to scale on a plan."

Look to the right and the left for design cues. To envision the best scale, consider the context of the outdoor room. "What is around it? Tall buildings or open fields? How do you want it to feel? If a space is not in scale with its surroundings, it is going to feel awkward and you will not want to spend time in it," Durie says. "Space and scale are like the skeleton of the design. "Once you have them right, the rest will fall into place."

5 of Jamie Durie's favorite things

1. Shelter: Protection from natural elements such as rain, wind and cold is essential. This means you will be able to spend time in your outdoor room all year round.

2. Privacy: When spending time in your outdoor room you want to feel enclosed, safe and hidden from prying eyes. If it is not private enough to walk around naked then I haven't done my job properly!

3. Seating: No point having a lovely inviting space with nowhere to sit and enjoy it. Think of incorporating built-in seating and even a day bed for the ultimate relaxation experience.

4. Plants: If there are no plants in an outdoor room you may as well stay indoors! Use plants as features to screen out the neighbors, and also as shelter. There is nothing better than lying under the shade of a lovely tree in summer. Also, think about incorporating edible plants into your space. Not only do they look great, they will also feed you at the end of a lovely, relaxing day in an outdoor room.

5. Personality: Make it yours. The gardens I love the most are always a personal expression of their owners. Make sure you get the design right first, think about the above elements and ensure that the space will work as you want it. Then have some serious fun! Bright colors are a great way to infuse a space with personality. So are quirky found objects, such as a collection of old bottles or driftwood. There are no rules here. Just get creative and have some fun.