A Life Outside with Kate Seddon

A landscape designer whose practice integrates design-driven work with horticultural expertise, Kate starts every project by listening and observing. This approach attunes her deeply to the outside world, in which she finds great inspiration.

What comes to mind when you think of A Life Outside?

I think about humans need for connection with nature and the nurturing qualities of gardens and natural landscapes. Spending time outside is a key emphasis when we are designing gardens as our designs are about both the experience of seeing gardens from the house interior and also about leading you out and into these open spaces. Whether it be to relax, to rejuvenate, to entertain or to have some quiet space, gardens can offer many qualities and experiences.

What is your overall intention/objective when designing outdoor spaces?

As we work generally in the residential sphere, the most important intention is to address the site and aspect, the architecture and the client brief in the development of the landscape design. To produce a design that talks to these various elements and creates purposeful and beautiful places to be in and to look at.

Could you share your process for designing outdoor spaces?

After an initial briefing with the clients, once engaged we return to site to spend time there, reflect on the qualities of the property, special features and aspect, how the house may address the site or can be anchored by the garden, the opportunities for connection between house and landscape. Working with a features and levels survey as well as site photos, we then develop the concept design to address the key elements in the brief as well as our observations of the site and its possibilities.

How have the great Australian outdoors influenced you as a landscape designer?

Observing geographic forms and plant communities when travelling and working, we gain great inspiration from nature.

What does sustainability mean to you?

Using local materials where possible, minimising removing and replacing built and planted elements and working as closely as possible with site conditions. Using plants appropriate for the site following the principle of right plant, right place, which reduces external input and bodes well for better performance long term.

Quick 5

Most inspiring outdoor space?
The Donnell Garden in Sonoma, California designed by Thomas Church – sinuous forms and dynamic interaction between site geometry, plant placement, the curvilinear pool and the distant views.

Favourite regular outdoor hangout?
The front deck at my country house – in most seasons we sit out there for lunch looking out over the garden.

Favourite outdoor sculpture/piece of art?
James Turrell’s Amarna installation in the garden at MONA, Hobart

Must-see Australian landscape?
Ubirr in Kakadu – an extraordinary rock art gallery on an escarpment looking out over floodplains.

Favourite Tait piece?
Love the Rockpool range for its natural elegance, scale and colour palette.

Published 2 September 2026
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