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Planning a Balinese Courtyard

Janet Camilleri · 05/11/2013 ·

We have a great under-roof patio area adjacent to our lounge room in our home – but would you believe it was never properly finished, even with red dirt underfoot. Ugh!

At long last we’ve had exposed aggregate poured there and as a pathway along the side of the house. What a difference it makes! We feel like we’ve gained a whole new outdoor room.

Although it’s much more useable, at the moment it looks rather sterile – concrete, bricks, fence and glass sliding door. But that’s all set to change.

Forget about a white Christmas, I’m dreaming of a … Balinese courtyard!

Here is a list of what I think of as the key elements for a Bali-style outdoor retreat …

water

1. Water

Obviously the gardens above are a whole different level altogether, but they’re great as inspiration. I’m keen to include a water feature in my new courtyard area.

2. Lush Greenery

This shouldn’t be too hard to achieve in our sub tropical climate. We have a narrow garden bed in front of the fence waiting to be planted out, and I have plans to include lots of potted plants. I’ve already started growing and gathering cordylines, mint, mondo grass, and bamboo with a view to transplanting them to my courtyard in due course.

seating

3. Seating

We already have a dark wood park bench (the kids gave me one each for Mother’s Day); it needs a coffee table of some sort too. In time we may trade up for a timber table and benches.

4. Colour

To me, Bali is synonymous with colour. I’m planning to inject colour with some cushions, flowers, colourful shrubs, and perhaps an artwork or two.

colour

5. Lighting

No Bali-style area would be complete without some lanterns, fairy lights, or other lighting feature. I already have a spray of twigs with fairy lights entwined, ready to pop into a pot and turn on, plus a couple of solar lanterns for the garden bed. And I’m sure there’ll be some candles in there somewhere too!

6. Statues or Sculptures

lush

Some of the gorgeous oriental-style lanterns are practically works of art in themselves. But I think some form of scultpure in copper or sandstone might be just the thing.

To complete my courtyard makeover, I’m thinking some sort of rug (it is under-roof, remember!), wall hangings, and wind chimes … is there anything I’m missing?

Of course when it’s finished I will share pictures here on the blog! I’d love to have it done in time for Miss Almost 17’s formal photos but that’s only next week – eeek!

Do you love Bali-style? Or have you incorporated another style in your garden?

Linking with Essentially Jess for I Blog on Tuesdays!

Filed Under: House & Home

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Miss Cinders says

    05/11/2013 at 3:59 pm

    Ohhh I love!!! I am a bali girl. I love the colour and the feel of it.

    I think you are going to be the envy of a lot of people including me when it’s all finished!!!

    MC xo
    #teamIBOT

    • Janet says

      05/11/2013 at 4:48 pm

      Mind you, I’ve never been to Bali but hoping to fix that in the next year or two! 😉

  2. Nikki@wonderfullyWomen says

    05/11/2013 at 4:37 pm

    I love all things Bali, fell in love the minute I got off the plane. Our Brissie climate is perfect for reproducing the Balinese lush gardens, and thankfully so many shops stock goodies to add to the scene. Can’t wait to see the end result. 🙂

    • Janet says

      05/11/2013 at 4:48 pm

      Me too Nikki!

  3. Lydia c lee says

    05/11/2013 at 7:51 pm

    I love Bali & that outdoor living room biz. I can’t wait to see those photos!

  4. Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says

    05/11/2013 at 8:29 pm

    I love the look of it, and while I hate to be a wet blanket, would all that greenery thrive in our dry conditions right now? But dream away lovely, they are free xxx

  5. Bec @ The Plumbette says

    05/11/2013 at 8:44 pm

    I love it. We are about to buy an outdoor lounge setting so that I can sit and relax while I watch Esther play outside. We have a nice alfresco area, but don’t use it enough because of seating. I love the sound of water features too. You will have to show us before and after photos when it’s done. 🙂

  6. EssentiallyJess says

    05/11/2013 at 9:57 pm

    It’s been years since I went to Bali, and I wasn’t really taking notice then of the ‘style’ so to speak. I’d just be happy to have a courtyard honestly!!
    Can’t wait to see your before and after pics 🙂

  7. Rae Hilhorst says

    06/11/2013 at 7:44 pm

    We are lucky with our climate and use our outdoor space all the time, especially for breakfast on the weekends, right throughout the year. Bali style though beautiful wouldn’t match the rest of our house. We will be going to Bali for the first time next year, I have always been reluctant to go, so deep breath here we go. xxx Rae

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Meet the Middle Aged Mama

Janet Camilleri is an Australian bloggerHi - I'm Janet Camilleri aka the Middle Aged Mama; crazy cat lady, award-winning business woman, and mother of two grown children. I might be a middle aged woman, but that doesn't mean I've lost all interest in looking stylish! I love chocolate, chick lit, cruising holidays and the husbear - and not necessarily in that order wink. I live in Brisbane, Australia, and I'm learning how to fashion a new life now that we have an empty nest - did somebody say "travel"?!

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