About Outside Living

Established in 1995 Outside Living provides professional landscape design and management services.  We specialise in residential landscape design and pool design. 

Our understanding of design principles is strengthened by extensive horticultural knowledge – allowing us to create beautiful and functional outdoor living spaces.  We have a strong understanding of regulatory requirements and can provide a complete service in design, development approval applications and styling - making a difficult process easy for our clients. 

"Our sincere thanks for taking the pressure off us.  As usual a job well done."  Sue and Greg, Warrawee.  

"Wanted to let you know what a fantastic job you did on our back garden. It is everything we wanted and we are enjoying the beauty of it every day. We love it."  Bernadette, Pymble.  

About Karen Staunton-Ross

Karen is a qualified and practising horticulturist, landscape designer and technician. 

Following careers in teaching and in finance, she completed studies in Horticulture, Landscape Design and Bushland Regeneration at Ryde TAFE.  Her outstanding academic achievements were recognised when she was awarded the TAFE NSW State Medal for Outstanding Performance plus the Landscape Contractors of NSW Most Outstanding Student Award.

Karen has experience in landscape design and documentation and report writing and presentation as well as landscape management.

Karen is a Fellow of the Landscape Design Institute (LDI) formerly Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers (AILDM).  She served on National Council from 2005 til 2015, as Treasurer from 2008 til 2015 and the Hidden Design Festival co-ordinator from 2015 to 2018. Karen also represents LDI on the committee reviewing the Australian Standard AS1926.1 - Swimming pool safety - Safety barriers for swimming pools.