Creating a beautiful garden and deck extension in Sandringham, Auckland Central

Help Wanted

Cameron’s backyard in Sandringham, Auckland was a “Plain Jane”. There was no design, planting was sparse, and the small deck with troublesome stairs lacked any personality. Hardly an inspiring place to kick back with the family or host a BBQ! Cameron was hoping that expert landscaping could transform the space into a relaxing retreat, so he contacted his local Zones Consultant Kate Ryan for some advice.  

Kate arranged a free consultation to meet with Cameron and discuss goals for his outdoor renovation. A deck extension was a top priority, as well as a more purposeful garden design to make the area more inviting. Kate offered some initial advice and explained more about the Zones process. 

Zones renovations are tailored to your needs by a consultant committed to delivering outstanding results on time, on budget, and stress-free. Your consultant remains your single point of contact throughout the project, and no work begins until you are completely happy with the design and budget. This type of managed service sounded perfect to Cameron, so he gladly moved forward to the exciting design phase. 

Creating a Concept

As an experienced consultant with a keen eye for design and detail, Kate was thrilled to work on Cameron’s backyard blank canvas. Transforming the existing deck would be a key feature of the renovation; steps would be extended down to the lawn between new feature planter boxes, and the odd alcove would be cleverly turned into a sunken seating area. Time was spent deliberating over a potential pergola and different screen options, but ultimately Cameron decided to increase the budget to achieve the design look he wanted with stunning custom-made cedar wood screens.

Elsewhere, porcelain pavers and built-in bench seating would feature in the new sunken zone, while new pebbles, pavers, and planting between the fence line and the house would smarten up the property. New, easy-care gardens with edging would be established all around the property, and the boundary fences spruced up with fresh paint. Garden lighting would be the cherry on the top!

Work Underway

Once Cameron signed off on the concept, it was time to sit back, relax, and watch Kate’s trusted team of professionals work their magic! Ordinarily, sourcing multiple quotes and scheduling tradespeople can be a time-consuming headache, but with Zones, every element of the build is managed for you – including council consent – to keep the stress at bay. You’re always kept up to date by your consultant, and have access to the customer portal anytime, anywhere.

Kate expertly managed every element of the landscaping, from the deck build and planting, to sourcing the custom cedar screens and installation of garden lighting. During the work phase, Cameron decided to also add lawn irrigation which Kate was able to organise.