Gartrell Kitchen
South Australia
Cloud9 – A Garden That Feels Like a Good Time Waiting to Happen
Cloud9 was all about capturing that feeling — the kind you get when everything just feels right. Picture this: a fire crackling, the sun dipping low on a cool, clear winter evening, a glass of wine in hand, and good friends gathering. Plants moved gently in the breeze, the light shifted as the night set in… it wasn’t just a garden — it was a whole mood.
From the moment you stepped in, Cloud9 was designed to make you feel at ease. Circular concrete steppers guided you through soft, flowing plantings — with carpets of Viola hederacea and Pratia pendulata underfoot and tall grasses swaying all around. Every detail was chosen to feel good — to walk through, to sit in, to spend time in.
And honestly, none of it would’ve happened without the incredible people who helped bring it to life. A huge shoutout to Janek, who worked magic with the concrete elements. From building the formwork to pouring and burnishing everything to perfection — every step was approached with skill and attention to detail.
At the heart of the space stood a custom steel fireplace, designed, custom built and welded by Jason in his own home. It became the centrepiece — glass on all four sides so you could see the fire no matter where you were. It’s the kind of spot where you settle in, conversations stretch on, and the night just flows. Just nearby, a copper spout gently poured into a custom water feature — subtle, grounding, and always quietly present in the background.
Every person who touched this project brought something unique, and it shows. Steel and concrete were balanced by thoughtful planting and a layout that followed how people naturally move and gather. We’re so proud of what we created — and even prouder of the team who made it possible. Thank you to every single person and business who helped bring Cloud9 to life. You made it more than just a garden. You made it a feeling.
Big thanks to Clint and the Waterpro team for filming- you can watch the interview here: Cloud9
Plant Selection
- Pyrus nivalis
- Buxus microphylla var. japonica
- Arctostaphylos manzanita
- Lavandula ‘Lavish Blue’
- Anigozanthos ‘Bush Diamond’
- Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’ (now classified as Salvia rosmarinus)
- Elaeagnus × ebbingei
- Cotyledon orbiculata
- Festuca glauca
- Lavandula ‘Lavish Musk’
- Poa labillardierei
- Senecio serpens ‘Dwarf’
- Dietes ‘White Tiger’
- Calamagrostis brachytricha
- Dichondra repens
- Viola hederacea
- Pratia pendula
Hardscape Specification
- Formed burnished concrete
- Glazed porcelain tile
- Iron Ash timber
- Dulux ‘Willow Leaf’
- Huzza Pole Lite – Copper
Sponsors
A huge thank you to all of our sponsors for their help and generosity who came together to make this all possible, in no particular order:
- Redstem Nursery (feature trees, Calamagrostis, Miscanthus, and Elaeagnus)
- The Light Impact
- SA Grown (Heynes Nursery)
- Italia Ceramics
- Travis Kreig Painting
- Southern Steel Supplies
- Jeffries
- Bianco
- Plant Tiles Australia
- Waterpro
- Goldie Pottery Studio
- Adbri Concrete
- Pure Glass
- Ted Turner Signs
- Arentz Surface Preparation
- Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA
- Warren Sheetmetal Benair
