Daylight saving starts the outdoor living season.

The exciting days of outdoor living will start soon with the start of daylight saving at the end of this month.

Many older Dunedin houses are being renovated to make the most of outdoor living, which also means remodelling gardens to flow with the new house layout. Most new-build houses are designed from the outset to include outdoor living. Features that work beautifully for encompassing the outdoors 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 overall living area of the house.

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

Once a new landscape design layout is ready, I can then add the planting plan that brings the whole property together. Every garden has it’s own microclimate, each home has an owner with specific desires for their new garden, and every Leaf Landscape Design plan is bespoke to the house and the owner.

Enjoy the coming longer days, and get in touch if you have a question about your garden. Feel free to add a comment below.

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