Getting excited about outdoor living

We will be excited to start living outdoors again soon, when the warm weather comes! Surprisingly it will only be a matter of weeks away. Dunedin houses haven’t always been well designed for indoor-outdoor living.

However, many are being renovated to make the most of extending living into the outdoors. Alternatively, setting out an alluring space to look out upon, inviting you to spend more time outdoors. Most new houses are more considerate to outdoor living. Features include bifold doors opening onto a sunny deck, a large portico for covered outdoor entertaining or a private courtyard off the kitchen for family outdoor dining and barbeques.

What each of these features has in common, is cleverly extending the square metre living area of the house into beautiful, all-weather, outdoor rooms.

When designing these new areas for a client, I consider sun, shade, wind and view, at various times of the day. These are often conflicting elements which, in a new or established garden, need careful consideration. Easy access to the outdoor living space, and circulation around the property are also high on my list. The easier we make your outdoor rooms to use, the more you will utilize them.

Once a new landscape concept is ready, I can then add a planting plan. Within each garden, is a different microclimate, each home has an owner with specific desires for their new garden. Every Leaf landscape Design planting plan is bespoke to the house and the owner.

Above and below are two gorgeous outdoor living areas at the same property on the Taieri, designed by Leisa Browne, of Leaf Landscape Design.