We know Kiwis love outdoor living, from enjoying a morning coffee on the deck to having friends around for a summer BBQ.  Creating an enjoyable outdoor space is all about making the most of what you’ve got, and including your outdoor living area in your plans (and budget) right from the start. With some careful planning you can incorporate a great outdoor living area into any build, even with a smaller section or a tighter budget! Here are our tips to get it right. Start by deciding how you’ll use the space Thinking about how you’d like to use your outdoor area is an inspiring way to kick off the process, and will help you provide the right information to your home designer and landscaper.  A few quick questions to get you started: What kind of outdoor living do you and your family enjoy? Will you be spending quiet summer evenings outside with a book, or inviting plenty of people around for a backyard brunch? For most people, backyards centre around a mixture of entertaining, cooking, and relaxing. Determining how you’ll use the space will make sure you’ve got the right priorities in mind during the design process.  If you have children or pets, how will they use your outdoor space? Do you need extra storage, highly durable materials, or room for activities?  If you’re a regular entertainer, how many people are you expecting to host, and how much seating will you need?  Are you a keen gardener, who needs plenty of spots for fruits, veggies, and herbs? Or would you prefer a low-maintenance garden that just needs the occasional tidy? Would you like to include any sculptures, water features, or outdoor art in your space?  Make the most of what you’ve got From sprawling rural sections to smaller urban areas, every space has the potential for amazing outdoor living. This is where our design service really comes in handy! Here are some of the things we can help with. Designing your home so your outdoor living space soaks up the sun, and is protected from the elements (because nobody enjoys a BBQ in a wind tunnel). Visually maximising your space; for example, did you know that cleverly placed decking can make your backyard look larger? Taking advantage of any natural features of the section, like a great view or a sheltered corner. We’ll also help to minimise any features that you don’t want to bring into your outdoor space, like popping in a trellis to provide privacy from the neighbours. Planning how your exterior and interior spaces work together, and creating ‘indoor-outdoor flow’ for a seamless transition to your outdoor entertaining area. Think of your outdoor area as an extra room of the house When done well, an outdoor living area functions as another additional room in your home. Outdoor living spaces share the same essential functional elements as any other room, and thoughtful design choices will give you an ‘outdoor room’ that you can enjoy year-round. FlooringFlooring creates a defined area for your outdoor living space, separating it from the rest of your backyard. There are plenty of options, from timber decking to paving stones or stamped concrete. Walls and boundariesThe general idea is to have three ‘walls’ in your outdoor space. We’ve put that in quotation marks because often these walls are actually trellises, railings, or vertical planters! Your ‘walls’ don’t need to be tall, but should be high enough to create visual boundaries and make your space feel contained and private. Cover and shelterThere are plenty of options to keep your outdoor living area shielded from the sun and protected from rain. Permanent solutions like pergolas and louvred roof systems can be incorporated into your house design, or we can simply extend your roof to cover the area. If you’re on a lower budget, shade sails and cantilevered umbrellas are an affordable and practical option. HeatingKeep your outdoor entertaining going all year round with an outdoor heat source. Inbuilt fires can be a stunning focal point if space and budget allow, and are a good way to add value to your home. Alternatively you might prefer a sleek, slimline overhead heater, a standing gas heater than can be moved to suit individual guests, or a fire pit or pizza oven that provides a rustic look and serves as a social gathering point. LightingYour outdoor lighting should combine practical solutions (like path lighting, and task lighting around the BBQ) with feature lighting that adds ambience. String lights and solar lights are both affordable, attractive options to make your outdoor space a little more special. Solar lights, in particular, have improved a lot over the last few years, with an ever-increasing range of high-quality options. StorageStorage is often overlooked when planning an outdoor area, but you’re going to need somewhere to keep your BBQ tools, cushions, Frisbees and other bits and pieces. Bench seats that double as storage boxes are an easy and affordable choice. Landscape for the perfect finish Landscaping puts the finishing touches on your outdoor space and ties it in with the rest of your property. A landscaper or landscape architect can help you with: Choosing the right materials from a functionality and maintenance perspective, as well as recommending materials that will look great with the rest of your garden. It’s all about the visual details: think about the difference between a path made of neatly trimmed grass and stone pavers, compared to a bark or gravel path surrounded by wildflowers. Choosing the right plants. You’ll want plants that are beautiful and complement the design of your house, and will thrive in your conditions. Landscapers will also be able to let you know how your plants will look as they grow and mature, and what your space will look like after 10, 20, or 30 years of growth. Helping to design additional usable spaces in your garden. You might do the majority of your entertaining on your deck, but also plan a sheltered, private seating area at the bottom of your garden. We hope these tips will help you to create your ideal outdoor living space! Our team is dedicated to creating beautiful, functional spaces throughout your new home. Get in touch and let’s make your first home dream a reality.

We know Kiwis love outdoor living, from enjoying a morning coffee on the deck to having friends around for a summer BBQ.  Creating an enjoyable outdoor space is all about making the most of what you’ve got, and including your outdoor living area in your plans (and budget) right from the start. With some careful planning you can incorporate a great outdoor living area into any build, even with a smaller section or a tighter budget! Here are our tips to get it right. Start by deciding how you’ll use the space Thinking about how you’d like to use your outdoor area is an inspiring way to kick off the process, and will help you provide the right information to your home designer and landscaper.  A few quick questions to get you started: What kind of outdoor living do you and your family enjoy? Will you be spending quiet summer evenings outside with a book, or inviting plenty of people around for a backyard brunch? For most people, backyards centre around a mixture of entertaining, cooking, and relaxing. Determining how you’ll use the space will make sure you’ve got the right priorities in mind during the design process.  If you have children or pets, how will they use your outdoor space? Do you need extra storage, highly durable materials, or room for activities?  If you’re a regular entertainer, how many people are you expecting to host, and how much seating will you need?  Are you a keen gardener, who needs plenty of spots for fruits, veggies, and herbs? Or would you prefer a low-maintenance garden that just needs the occasional tidy? Would you like to include any sculptures, water features, or outdoor art in your space?  Make the most of what you’ve got From sprawling rural sections to smaller urban areas, every space has the potential for amazing outdoor living. This is where our design service really comes in handy! Here are some of the things we can help with. Designing your home so your outdoor living space soaks up the sun, and is protected from the elements (because nobody enjoys a BBQ in a wind tunnel). Visually maximising your space; for example, did you know that cleverly placed decking can make your backyard look larger? Taking advantage of any natural features of the section, like a great view or a sheltered corner. We’ll also help to minimise any features that you don’t want to bring into your outdoor space, like popping in a trellis to provide privacy from the neighbours. Planning how your exterior and interior spaces work together, and creating ‘indoor-outdoor flow’ for a seamless transition to your outdoor entertaining area. Think of your outdoor area as an extra room of the house When done well, an outdoor living area functions as another additional room in your home. Outdoor living spaces share the same essential functional elements as any other room, and thoughtful design choices will give you an ‘outdoor room’ that you can enjoy year-round. FlooringFlooring creates a defined area for your outdoor living space, separating it from the rest of your backyard. There are plenty of options, from timber decking to paving stones or stamped concrete. Walls and boundariesThe general idea is to have three ‘walls’ in your outdoor space. We’ve put that in quotation marks because often these walls are actually trellises, railings, or vertical planters! Your ‘walls’ don’t need to be tall, but should be high enough to create visual boundaries and make your space feel contained and private. Cover and shelterThere are plenty of options to keep your outdoor living area shielded from the sun and protected from rain. Permanent solutions like pergolas and louvred roof systems can be incorporated into your house design, or we can simply extend your roof to cover the area. If you’re on a lower budget, shade sails and cantilevered umbrellas are an affordable and practical option. HeatingKeep your outdoor entertaining going all year round with an outdoor heat source. Inbuilt fires can be a stunning focal point if space and budget allow, and are a good way to add value to your home. Alternatively you might prefer a sleek, slimline overhead heater, a standing gas heater than can be moved to suit individual guests, or a fire pit or pizza oven that provides a rustic look and serves as a social gathering point. LightingYour outdoor lighting should combine practical solutions (like path lighting, and task lighting around the BBQ) with feature lighting that adds ambience. String lights and solar lights are both affordable, attractive options to make your outdoor space a little more special. Solar lights, in particular, have improved a lot over the last few years, with an ever-increasing range of high-quality options. StorageStorage is often overlooked when planning an outdoor area, but you’re going to need somewhere to keep your BBQ tools, cushions, Frisbees and other bits and pieces. Bench seats that double as storage boxes are an easy and affordable choice. Landscape for the perfect finish Landscaping puts the finishing touches on your outdoor space and ties it in with the rest of your property. A landscaper or landscape architect can help you with: Choosing the right materials from a functionality and maintenance perspective, as well as recommending materials that will look great with the rest of your garden. It’s all about the visual details: think about the difference between a path made of neatly trimmed grass and stone pavers, compared to a bark or gravel path surrounded by wildflowers. Choosing the right plants. You’ll want plants that are beautiful and complement the design of your house, and will thrive in your conditions. Landscapers will also be able to let you know how your plants will look as they grow and mature, and what your space will look like after 10, 20, or 30 years of growth. Helping to design additional usable spaces in your garden. You might do the majority of your entertaining on your deck, but also plan a sheltered, private seating area at the bottom of your garden. We hope these tips will help you to create your ideal outdoor living space! Our team is dedicated to creating beautiful, functional spaces throughout your new home. Get in touch and let’s make your first home dream a reality.

We know Kiwis love outdoor living, from enjoying a morning coffee on the deck to having friends around for a summer BBQ.  Creating an enjoyable outdoor space is all about making the most of what you’ve got, and including your outdoor living area in your plans (and budget) right from the start. With some careful planning you can incorporate a great outdoor living area into any build, even with a smaller section or a tighter budget! Here are our tips to get it right. Start by deciding how you’ll use the space Thinking about how you’d like to use your outdoor area is an inspiring way to kick off the process, and will help you provide the right information to your home designer and landscaper.  A few quick questions to get you started: What kind of outdoor living do you and your family enjoy? Will you be spending quiet summer evenings outside with a book, or inviting plenty of people around for a backyard brunch? For most people, backyards centre around a mixture of entertaining, cooking, and relaxing. Determining how you’ll use the space will make sure you’ve got the right priorities in mind during the design process.  If you have children or pets, how will they use your outdoor space? Do you need extra storage, highly durable materials, or room for activities?  If you’re a regular entertainer, how many people are you expecting to host, and how much seating will you need?  Are you a keen gardener, who needs plenty of spots for fruits, veggies, and herbs? Or would you prefer a low-maintenance garden that just needs the occasional tidy? Would you like to include any sculptures, water features, or outdoor art in your space?  Make the most of what you’ve got From sprawling rural sections to smaller urban areas, every space has the potential for amazing outdoor living. This is where our design service really comes in handy! Here are some of the things we can help with. Designing your home so your outdoor living space soaks up the sun, and is protected from the elements (because nobody enjoys a BBQ in a wind tunnel). Visually maximising your space; for example, did you know that cleverly placed decking can make your backyard look larger? Taking advantage of any natural features of the section, like a great view or a sheltered corner. We’ll also help to minimise any features that you don’t want to bring into your outdoor space, like popping in a trellis to provide privacy from the neighbours. Planning how your exterior and interior spaces work together, and creating ‘indoor-outdoor flow’ for a seamless transition to your outdoor entertaining area. Think of your outdoor area as an extra room of the house When done well, an outdoor living area functions as another additional room in your home. Outdoor living spaces share the same essential functional elements as any other room, and thoughtful design choices will give you an ‘outdoor room’ that you can enjoy year-round. FlooringFlooring creates a defined area for your outdoor living space, separating it from the rest of your backyard. There are plenty of options, from timber decking to paving stones or stamped concrete. Walls and boundariesThe general idea is to have three ‘walls’ in your outdoor space. We’ve put that in quotation marks because often these walls are actually trellises, railings, or vertical planters! Your ‘walls’ don’t need to be tall, but should be high enough to create visual boundaries and make your space feel contained and private. Cover and shelterThere are plenty of options to keep your outdoor living area shielded from the sun and protected from rain. Permanent solutions like pergolas and louvred roof systems can be incorporated into your house design, or we can simply extend your roof to cover the area. If you’re on a lower budget, shade sails and cantilevered umbrellas are an affordable and practical option. HeatingKeep your outdoor entertaining going all year round with an outdoor heat source. Inbuilt fires can be a stunning focal point if space and budget allow, and are a good way to add value to your home. Alternatively you might prefer a sleek, slimline overhead heater, a standing gas heater than can be moved to suit individual guests, or a fire pit or pizza oven that provides a rustic look and serves as a social gathering point. LightingYour outdoor lighting should combine practical solutions (like path lighting, and task lighting around the BBQ) with feature lighting that adds ambience. String lights and solar lights are both affordable, attractive options to make your outdoor space a little more special. Solar lights, in particular, have improved a lot over the last few years, with an ever-increasing range of high-quality options. StorageStorage is often overlooked when planning an outdoor area, but you’re going to need somewhere to keep your BBQ tools, cushions, Frisbees and other bits and pieces. Bench seats that double as storage boxes are an easy and affordable choice. Landscape for the perfect finish Landscaping puts the finishing touches on your outdoor space and ties it in with the rest of your property. A landscaper or landscape architect can help you with: Choosing the right materials from a functionality and maintenance perspective, as well as recommending materials that will look great with the rest of your garden. It’s all about the visual details: think about the difference between a path made of neatly trimmed grass and stone pavers, compared to a bark or gravel path surrounded by wildflowers. Choosing the right plants. You’ll want plants that are beautiful and complement the design of your house, and will thrive in your conditions. Landscapers will also be able to let you know how your plants will look as they grow and mature, and what your space will look like after 10, 20, or 30 years of growth. Helping to design additional usable spaces in your garden. You might do the majority of your entertaining on your deck, but also plan a sheltered, private seating area at the bottom of your garden. We hope these tips will help you to create your ideal outdoor living space! Our team is dedicated to creating beautiful, functional spaces throughout your new home. Get in touch and let’s make your first home dream a reality.