Creating a stylish outdoor living area in Point Chevalier, Auckland

The Initial Consultation

Clare’s home in Point Chevalier, Auckland was in a fabulous location but lacked the outdoor living she wanted. An existing brick patio had just enough room for an outdoor table and chairs, and its wooden pergola didn’t do much to provide relief from the elements. Bi-fold doors opening onto the patio meant there was enormous potential for an outdoor living area with great flow from inside: it just needed the right design!

Clare contacted her local Zones Landscaping Consultant Kate Ryan for advice and a free consultation. With Clare and her partner both working long hours, it was important to find someone experienced to manage the project. Kate was only too happy to meet with Clare at her home to view the space, listen to her ideas and goals for the renovation, and explain more about the 5-step Zones process that has delivered thousands of successful outdoor renovations. 

Defining the Scope

Kate and Clare worked together to determine everything Clare wanted from her outdoor area as well as a feasible budget and timeline. A new deck that could be utilised year round was a key priority which would mean investing in a shade system. However, Clare wanted to keep the existing bougainvillaea climber which provided a stunning pop of colour, so finding a way to accommodate this was included in the brief. 

Incorporating the existing outdoor fireplace was important, and Clare also wanted a private nook for their spa where they could relax and unwind out of sight from neighbours. The general garden was also looking quite tired and in need of a spruce up.

Clare was realistic with the budget and set Kate a target of $100,000 to transform the backyard. Kate got to work designing and refining ideas to maximise Clare’s vision of the space while keeping within budget.

Customised Solutions

The design for Clare’s outdoor living space centred on a spacious new deck with a customised pergola. The pergola would feature a mix of clear plexiglass and louvre roofing to allow plenty of light as well as protection from the elements, with a customised build around the existing bougainvillaea. This meant more posts, but through clever design these were able to be mostly hidden by the plant itself.

The louvre structure couldn’t be fixed directly to the house cladding which meant additional posts needed to be incorporated. Always up for a design challenge, Kate was able to have the posts moved to areas that would keep them ‘hidden’ and not obstruct views or flow. The larger deck space allowed plenty of room for entertaining, as well as room for the feature outdoor fire and the steps down into the garden.