Up Close and Personal with Amanda Balmer of Award Winning WAX Design

"I believe in creating landscapes that bring joy to people and generate opportunities for people to connect with nature"

Where do you live? Kensington SA. Do you play sport? If walking the dog could be considered a sport, I am quite experience in the art! I also enjoy yoga and have recently started working out with a personal trainer, as I have found motivation for exercise is easier when you have someone else encouraging you along. 

Favourite place to travel? I am not really good with a ‘favourite’ anything, but I enjoy travelling and sharing new country adventures with our family, it especially excites me that our teenagers have inherited our sense of adventure and intrigue in discovering new cultures and environments. On the weekends I enjoy? Tending my bees, I became a qualified apiarist 2 years ago and find the beehive brings both my garden and our family so much joy, along with some wonderful seasonal honey. Hidden talent? I am a qualified Reki Master

Who is the loudest in your team? I am so lucky to work with such an awesome team, and each individual brings their own talents and personality to the WAX family. Mauricio is from Columbia and brings a passion for plants, food, coffee and pastries. Blake is our artist in residence and his youthful exuberance keeps us fresh and focused. We have recently welcomed Carina back to our team with her green thumbs, as our permaculture and sustainability expert. Kieran is ready for the next challenge as always and is itching to spread his wings and travel now that our borders are opening up, so the studio will be much quieter without his infectious laugh and cheeky demeanour. Warwick is the most dedicated landscape architect I know, determined to work in the profession since he was 13 and has brought his years of experience working in the UK and Middle East to our practice in Adelaide. Who is the most important team member? Our most important team member is Charlie, our morale officer and studio dog who has a busy day looking for treats and anyone who has a free moment for a pat. 

Favourite Flower or plant? I love working with native plants and championing their beauty, diversity and suitability for our south Australian climate. Favourite wine region is? I feel blessed to live in Adelaide and have such an amazing variety of wine regions to choose from, but my heart is the Barossa as we were married there. I’m most comfortable when? I am out in nature, tending my vegetable garden, walking in the bush or spending time at the beach.