Home Trends Vol. 27/11

Everyone needs to be able to escape, whether it's to the sea, the mountains, or simply a tranquil outdoor living area at home. Westpac can help you create the best retreat for your family

From the resort-style waterslide and poolside bar to the expansive patios and outdoor kitchen, this property was designed for entertaining on a grand scale

Safety does not have to come at the cost of aesthetics

Whether you are building a new holiday home or updating a traditional bach, Resene has lots of colourful ideas to enliven the interior

Space is often at a premium in built-up areas, but, as these projects show, there's usually a landscape design solution that doesn't involve compromise

The major prize in a national lottery, this family home represents more than the sum of its parts

The Trends Sculptor of the Year 2011 competition was won by Andrew Deadman, whose work celebrates the natural world

A pared-back yet innovative design maximises a semi-detached site to create indoor-outdoor flow that's also environmentally sustainable

Bright blue mosaics complement this Royal Blue pool by Mayfair Pools

New Zealand products are transforming landscapes in the south of France. This picturesque Mediterranean hilltop garden features Verda Outdoor timber decking and furniture

Originally a terraced lawn and garden, this rear yard has been transformedwith a new infinity-edge swimming pool, spa and barbecue area

For visual continuity, this pool landscape features an architectural framework of natural schist pillars that echo the material palette of the house

Your outdoor areas can easily be improved with advice and assistance from the experts at Palmco

A terrain-hugging design, green ethos and strong outdoor connections all ensure this residence is in tune with its surroundings

The simple form of this bach respects the bush-clad site on which it sits, blurring the line between indoors and out

Perched high above the ocean, this house draws from New Zealand's architectural history and the landscape in terms of its design and materials

This Bali holiday home is sensitively designed to respect the surrounding landscape