Tell us a little more about the concept of a “transterior”
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Transterior describes the "sweet-spot" where the inside and the outside of a house merge and is my design philosophy of merging elements of the interior and exterior to create a transterior with a stronger sense of shared space.
![Jamie Durie designed Observatory Apartments Jamie Durie designed Observatory Apartments](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/84533089-8682-4155-9423-9055794c6473.jpg/r0_0_729_410_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Is Canberra the sort of place where a transterior can work? Your house in LA is lovely, but how do you incorporate seasons into the concept?
Yes, the concept can work in Canberra too. The trick is to make your outdoor rooms as warm and inviting as your indoor rooms. Try matching a fireplace to one you may have inside, with a bench in front of the hearth to give people a reason to go outside and enjoy the cosy space. A rug underfoot and having a basket of throw rugs handy also helps to up the cosy factor.
![Jamie Durie designed Observatory Apartments Jamie Durie designed Observatory Apartments](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/8686af9f-6c82-41f3-a291-2d72343df887.jpg/r0_0_729_410_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The transterior philosophy also extends to areas of the interior home that are not in close proximity to the outdoors. You can always bring the outside indoors through your choice of materials, having indoor plants/gardens, bringing other natural elements and textures in through cut flowers, branches, soft furnishings and wallpapers and rugs with botanical and animal motifs, and so on.
What would some essentials be in a Canberra transterior?
A hot trend right now is using sheep skins, goat hides and reindeer pelts as rugs on the floor or spread on beds and sofas indoors. I also like using them outdoors to warm up outdoor settings and make them feel luxurious and warm in the cooler months … perfect for Canberra.
Your latest book is Edible Garden Design. Canberra’s got a very strong edible garden community, from big suburban blocks, apartments and community gardens.
![Jamie Durie designed Observatory Apartments Jamie Durie designed Observatory Apartments](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/28dae805-0c22-443b-8269-4d11a0f27c6b.jpg/r0_0_729_410_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
I love that people are really switching on to the joys of growing food in their own backyards. Everyone can have a backyard that tastes just as good as it looks. It is not only practical and saves money, it’s wonderful for your well-being and a great way to connect kids to nature’s cycles and to teach them where food and nutrition come from.
What are the latest trends in garden design? What’s next?
![Jamie Durie Jamie Durie](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/f6ab2619-fc4b-4cd4-9380-85f32aed297b.jpg/r0_0_729_410_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Verticality … since our gardens are getting smaller, space is such an issue that gardens are moving vertically … through garden walls, hanging plants, roof gardens, containers on top of walls, balcony gardens, window boxes. They are simple to create and without question, add an amazing dimension to your home. Keep an eye out for the next column.
What sort of plants should we be working with in Canberra?
![Jamie Durie and Leona Edmiston at Floriade in 2012 Jamie Durie and Leona Edmiston at Floriade in 2012](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/aa2cfa20-ec1b-4152-8ae2-5a7a7b4774e7.jpg/r0_0_729_409_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Canberra can be a tricky place from a gardening point of view. I would focus on water-wise gardens using Australian native plants to link your suburban garden with the bush.
Have you done much work in Canberra? I know you’ve been here for Floriade. Any private gardens?
![Jamie Durie's RIVA 1920 bungalow stool Jamie Durie's RIVA 1920 bungalow stool](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/cdf0215a-e5b0-4e2c-87b9-d0e48fd4ea96.jpg/r0_0_729_409_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
No, unfortunately, I’ve not done any private gardens in Canberra …yet.
Tell us a little more about the Observatory Apartments and the ideas behind your communal gardens there?
![Jamie Durie Edible Garden Design Jamie Durie Edible Garden Design](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/845acf64-db31-48e6-8c06-c784efd69f8e.jpg/r0_0_729_409_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The main idea behind the communal gardens was to give residents many different breakout spaces … or "people pockets" as I like to call them. There is a central garden space, with modern, clean lines, changing levels, a lap pool, a series of sheltered outdoor rooms and seating areas. There is also a great firepit terrace where people can congregate and have a chat and a pear tree grove which is like a relaxing sanctuary to get away from it all.
What other projects do you have going on at the moment?
![Jamie Durie Jamie Durie](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/8128b0be-9655-4291-9e13-816750570d7e.jpg/r0_0_729_410_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Too much as always! I’m in the United States right now doing a garden nursery tour and book signings for my new US edition of the Edible Garden Design book. After that I’ll be filming a new backyard makeover television show for a US network. I’ve also been to the Milan Furniture Fair this year, which was fantastic. We launched more furniture pieces in our collection for RIVA 1920 which is available through Fanuli Furniture in Australia.
Any plans to fit Canberra into the schedule?
I hope so …stay tuned.
Edible Garden Design: Delicious Designs From the Ground Up, by Jamie Durie. (Lantern, $49.99.)
geocon.com.au/property/observatory/