Did You Get The Summer Break You Desired?

Envisage Your Dream Summer Afternoon and Work Backwards

There is a Kiwi ideal that a deck is all you need to enjoy outdoor living and for some it is - but we encourage you to dig a little deeper and take some time to consider what your dream summer afternoon looks like and how your outdoor living space can best accommodate that. You could be reading your book and sipping wine in a hammock, or enjoying an outdoor shower after the morning surfing, or maybe spending the afternoon at the BBQ preparing a feast. Our builders and designers can take this ‘dream experience’ and translate it into an outdoor living space that is tailor-made for you and your family. And if that dream experience is as simple as a deck, we can help with that too!

Set the Mood with Outdoor Furniture, Decor and Lighting

A trend we have noticed in Kiwi outdoor living spaces is that they tend to be quite sparse and often when the sun goes down we rely on the moon and the back porch for light. Dressing and lighting your outdoor living area as you would any other room is the key to creating an inviting space that you will be drawn to everyday. So consider: What furniture does this space need? What decor brings me joy and serves a purpose? What mood are we creating with lighting?

As an example, take an outdoor dining area

        Consider this:

• Outdoor furniture: Naturally you will need a dining table. Seating presents more options - you could do individual use chairs or a portable bench seat, or a built in bench seat. What's is practical for your needs and your space? 

• Decor: Of course in the outdoors there is typically greenery around which makes a great backdrop. But consider adding some sculptural art pieces in your garden or table setting. A layer of soft furnishings such as an outdoor rug, cushions and a stash of cozy blankets is a great way to soften a space items an practical for when the evening chills.

• Lighting: This is really a 2-for-1 as a great lighting scheme doubles as decor. There are many ways to incorporate lighting into your outdoor space including candles (consider citronella candles for the added benefit of repelling bugs), lanterns, solar garden lights, exterior house lights and hanging string/festoon lights. A combination of these lighting layers work together to create a magical ambience that will take your space to the next level.

Take the Kitchen Outside

For myself - and I’m sure many of you when I think of enjoying summer days in the outdoors - food and drink is always involved. We all do outdoor dining but all to often this is preceded by a few hours INSIDE, cooking and preparing - AKA missing out on sunny afternoons spent outdoors. So why not take the kitchen outside? Think of the open plan living style we employ indoors and then take it outdoors. As well as your typical BBQ  consider creating a proper kitchen with bench, sink, fridge and storage, and covered area, and even consider something special like a pizza oven or smoker to create a space you will love to cook in. But if an outdoor kitchen sounds too expensive a luxury,  or you just don't have the space, a great alternative to connect your existing kitchen to the outdoors is a servery window.  This allows you to be a part of the outdoor fun and easily pass food back and forth - and the addition of a bar and stools under the window means. you'll never be alone in the kitchen and can chat and cook at the same time!