Outdoor Living

The outcome for this outdoor project is serene, easy-care and inviting, but the various aspects addressed to achieve this look were diverse

Agave attenuata survives on minimal water, thriving in extremely dry, sunny spots including sandy, well-drained soils, as well as tolerating partial shade

This standout landscape and pool design enhances connection to the family home for improved use – level changes are seamless

This backyard makes its square meterage count – a fire, a Pétanque piste, lawn and entertaining area combine to make a space for all occasions

A BeefEater Signature Proline barbecue features in this indoor/outdoor pavilion – with a resource like this who wouldn't celebrate with a pop!

Here, the designer uses simple forms of large insitu concrete pavers that matched the house form to lead guests down to the entrance

This outdoor living zone is centred on the element of fire – sculptural and eco-friendly it achieves the intended look of having always been there

A Bull Angus barbecue completes the picture of seaside cooking bliss for this al fresco penthouse kitchen

For this project, a pergola dripping in Boston ivy provides a natural, easy-on-the-eye poolside shelter from the sun

This pool and surrounds are not just pleasing in their own right – they also serve to complement the dramatic architecture right behind 

This easy care city garden with entertaining space, non-slip decking and floating steps facilitates safe and sure movement while lighting brings it alive at night

Whoever said getting there is half the fun might well have taken this sweeping drive with mature gardens up to the waiting house

This garden was formed around a home designed as a sculpture in its own right – the planting palette even complements the interior colours 

Here, porcelain tile floors and custom-built timber bench seating beneath a mature Mango tree epitomise modern outdoor living

Your spa pool should take care of you not the other way round – Hot Springs Spas introduces a Fully Automated Water Testing System that does the work for you

Here, orange plants, libertia peregrinans, provide a border between lawn and path – creating a colourful, interesting contrast while softening the strong lines

This garden has been restored to its original Zen-like sensibility, merged with contemporary touches – its peaceful charm a selling point for the homeowners

It's fair to say summer is best enjoyed outdoors – but who wants to leave the comfort of indoors behind? Here are some different ways to achieve indoor-outdoor connections

This house has a Spanish influence which also provided the inspiration for the ornamental fencing and the landscape, the latter anchored by large established trees

A visually appealing and functional addition that seamlessly integrates with the existing space while making a bold statement of its own

This landscaping project draws the home's architecture into the mix – a square planter box on steroids is just one eye-catching example

Here, a rear garden is raised to pleasing effect with plantings variously celebrating and shielding aspects of the landscape as they're viewed from the home

There's nothing like drawing on your setting – designers infused soft curves into this rooftop harbour-view kitchen, achieving the desired nautical feel

Tall lancewoods are matched with base green plants – Myosotidium hortensia or The Chatham Island Forget-me-not – in this seaside lawn surround

This project employs colour, texture, natural materials, a plunge pool, barbecue, dining area and more to give the house an established, nestled feel

This clean-lined window/door exit makes even more sense when you know the bathroom forms part of a sophisticated pool house

Don't want to fight the traffic to the local pool? Sea too far or too cold? Swim Spas offer something better at home. Here, HotSpring Spas talks running costs

... or even a cloudy day, transparent pool balustrading keeps things safe and here allows for reflections from pool to circular skylight

This Beefeater Proline barbecue is living its best life – housed in a custom concrete BBQ bench with waterfall edges and hardwood batten facade

Like giant paw pads, these stepping stones contribute to a landscape design that's enjoyed from all areas of the home it surrounds

This project deftly addresses every aspect of a diverse garden, including how the areas impact views from within the home – more than one sense is celebrated

Replete with plantings, this sloping pool/garden space benefits from tiny step lights, ensuring you only take the plunge when you want to

An outdoor space is all about alfresco activity, but what about the weather? Orienting your home to provide shelter is a key mitigating strategy

Taking inspiration from surrounding woodlands, this garden house doubles as a holistic sanctuary with a sauna, bucket shower, and plunge pool

From relaxation to wellbeing to a social hotspot, spas from Hot Spring Spas offer a world of enjoyment – and their upkeep with our FreshWater™ Salt System is a breeze too

The front door of this home is subtly highlighted through use of hardwood decking, feature pots and vibrant planting

We all can't live out on sprawling lifestyle blocks – these tips from spatial designer Jennie Dunlop help you create relaxing outdoor escapes in the city

Increasingly innovation meets sustainability in our outdoor designs – here, Matt Leacy, of Landart, reflects on the way forward

Not all long driveways have to snake up to their home – for this landscape design, the way forward is impressive and direct

All that love and attention on your landscaping, then the sun goes down – here, strategic lighting turns horticultural night into day

This low-upkeep landscaping project reflects on the clean-lined home it extends from, stepping down to accommodate spa and then lawn

This pavilion roof is pierced with strategically placed skylights to maximise natural light while a Escea EF5000 fire is all set for cooler times

Your landscaping doesn't have to be all about extravagant gestures – here, feathered grasses complement weathered wood decking in quiet beauty

It's not just our indoors we can co-ordinate to the max – here an al fresco dining setting matches planter boxes, soft furnishings and even the barbecue

Okay maybe not the weather that this Greece-inspired outdoor setting evokes, but operable louvres do make the pergola a year-round proposition

A pool set high on the property set the landscape agenda for surrounding entertaining spaces complete with a pergola dripping in Boston ivy

This heating and day bed setting can all be locked away behind aluminium shutters when the owners are away – same goes for the rest of the home

This pool is slotted in beside the home – bamboo and timber fencing creates an in-touch-with-nature vibe while deck chairs add vibrancy

A sloping ground plane was a leading influence for this design – inspiring an unconventional, site-specific approach for the placement of elements

For this outdoor living project, the garden design included planting additional tiers to complement the approach taken with hardscape elements

This large country garden had lacked a true outdoor usable space – a new patio area brings year round indoor-outdoor living

These trees won't move towards the castle, like in the witches' prophesy for Macbeth, but they will move upwards, providing a verdant screen

Part of a home renovation, planted grasses create a soft divide between deck and pool, while clear fencing behind really keeps things safe

Inviting plunge pool over the hot summer months and a warming spa come winter, this pool is popular whatever the time of year

Car pooling can save time and money, and so off-set stress – here a tranquil pool parked in an undercroft offers another form of car-related stress reduction

Solar lighting is one good idea of many when it come to walking the green talk with our outdoor spaces – and not at the expense of beauty

This backyard oasis beside a generous pavilion home spells fun under the sun while an in-pool spa adds welcoming winter functionality 

A token garden at the back? Not at all – the landscaping here provides verdant relaxation from various vantages while actively enhancing the home's architecture

This sheltered outdoor room with integrated BBQ and black steel-formed fireplace can be enjoyed year round – it also has a slight indoor feel

This outdoor living space was inspired by sleek, low-lying American West-Coast Modernism – the pavilion's skylights allow natural light to inform the al fresco space

Plantation Bamboo offers a range of sustainable flooring options – including game-changing Bamboo X-treme Decking

For this al fresco project, elements include a 12m pool, a pool house, half basketball court and gym – along with low-upkeep lawns and seating/dining options 

This scenario sounds a little negative on paper but of course in reality is an idyllic feature for this coastal home – balancing shading with light

Tennis, swimming, outdoor dining – no need to pick and choose with this everything-included expansive al fresco environment

From the local beach sand used in the brickwork mortar, to the alfresco roof in foraged native eucalyptus gimlets, this home has a character all its own 

For this front garden the owners wanted the structure to hark back to a period when the property was first established and when the garden style worked hand in hand with the building

These outdoor kitchens are as varied as their alfresco settings – what they have in common is a level of function and good looks to rival their indoor counterparts

Specialist bamboo importer and distributor Plantation Bamboo offers high quality, sustainable bamboo products – including game-changing Bamboo X-treme Decking

This spiritual garden fits within Vedic principles of architecture that originate in a large body of religious texts from ancient India

Want a visually pleasing, magical pathway through your garden or across your lawn? In this garden, stepping stones have a relaxed, organic appeal

This linear, angular pool seems a natural pairing with its companion contemporary architectural home – plantings mitigate the pool's crisp lines

Visitors to the rear deck of this home worry not about the season – operable louvres and this sculptural fire have winter sorted

With clear balustrading in the foreground and mature trees providing a natural backdrop, this pool is presented in the best possible light

There's plenty to look at in this pool project including a ball sculpture/diving board, a tinkling waterfall and a rather lazy onlooker clinging to the fence

The brief for an upmarket pool and landscaping was standard enough but the teetering clifftop location and scale of the pool made it exceptional

This clean-lined architectural poolside pergola offers shade and a shower while contrasting and celebrating the natural treed backdrop

From planning to planting, landscaping projects don't have to be as overwhelmingly difficult as they might initially seem. Here we provide some great first steps for first timers

For this pool, the designer introduced an elevated wet edge pool as the main feature – this allowed the pool's wet edge to act as the safety barrier – eliminating the need for a pool fence in that area

If you’re building a two-storey home, which is often the case on today’s smaller sites, it makes sense to consider a cantilever, says Box Build

With a sparkling plaster finish, infinity edges on two sides, eye-catching water feature and decent proportions, this pool is a great match for its luxury residence

A rooftop pool in mosaic and glass is crossed by plays of light and reflections, echoing the colours of the sky and letting the occupant feel like they're almost flying

Providing natural light, airflow, and great sense of transparency across the interior, this internal courtyard becomes the heart of the house

It's not just charity that begins at home – so does the pursuit of a 'greener' world and that can start with your outdoor space

Summer's not the time to think about a pool – now is – and choosing someone in the Master Pool Builders Association makes the process seamless 

This vertical garden, or living wall, helps maximise verdant impact within a restricted outdoor space – as a double bonus the wall is outside the kitchen window splashback

For this outdoor living project, the timber stepped access leads onto the first wood platform of a split-level outdoor living space

Inspired by the sleek, low-lying modernist outdoor living spaces of American West-Coast Modernism, this space offers an all-weather invitation to linger 

Indoor-outdoor flow to this large entertaining area provides the opportunity for flexible living with the outdoor fireplace and teppanyaki proving a hit

Here, the pool and pool house spaces are in proportion with the sizeable home – just one aspect of marrying a new pool to an 1880s residence

This Silver-winning rectangular pool offers a welcoming backyard oasis for the owners and has more safety features than meet the eye 

This U-shaped design semi-encloses a sheltered outdoor space which is metaphorically and literally the heart of the light-filled home

Natural features in this backyard garden extend to a cane chair grouping – part of a pallet of low upkeep products & finishes

Not all outdoor living spaces are a huddle of trees and bench seats – however, this al fresco retreat gets its fair share of nature from the lake setting directly in front

This design celebrates a natural, undulating groundscape and native plantings at the front, while the rear garden softens forms and brings privacy

Barestone panels were selected for this garden wall for their lightweight durable properties and design aesthetic – hidden planter boxes will soften the look over time

This spectacular Gold-winning pool pulls out all the stops, with an infinity edge, safety/swim trough, spa, sculptures and a cabana

Material connection plays its part in this outdoor al fresco dining space with the timber decking echoed in the make-up of the table itself

Your swimming pool may need maintenance even over the winter months and Cascade Pools & Cascade Refurbishments can help with that

Outdoor living spaces are popular as an easy way of growing your social options – louvres or an outdoor fire make it snug year-round

For this contemporary urban oasis contrasting its Victorian heritage home, a starburst sculptural adds sparkle to the beautiful outdoor setting

Check out these gold-winning pools from Builder Members of the New Zealand Swimming Pool Industry Association

The architect built this seaside home with sustainability in mind – as part of this, rainwater is stored and then used to top up the accompanying pool

This family home comprises two buildings unified by an internal courtyard so, during the day, most interior spaces benefit from the northern sun

The flooring and ceiling of this outdoor room was designed to match the interior palette to create seamless indoor-outdoor flow. With the retraction of two substantial sets of stacker doors the space instantly doubles 

Pool construction today takes a few short weeks – but planning and design options are best looked at ahead – Cascade Pools makes this easy 

This landscape design optimises the home's indoor-outdoor flow and includes an outdoor fireplace and teppanyaki along with a modern garden

New lawn, ornamental features, planters, decorative edging and strategic lighting turn a small angular rear yard into a functional designer area

Not sure how that powder-coated outdoor furniture is going to stand up over the coming winter? Here, the homeowners went for a solid alternative

Making for pleasing architectural companions, this kitchen pavilion's cedar deck reaches out to the meditation pavilion further down the garden

Simple, low upkeep and in compliance – a complete transformation makes the most of outdoor living at the front and rear of this home

Cascade Pools delivers in terms of versatility, professionalism, friendliness – oh, and spectacular pools, as these client testimonials reflect

A new landscape design makes use of the rear garden’s northerly aspect and allows for functional and comfortable outdoor spaces that seamlessly extend from the existing roomy interior

The timber deck on this home connects tonally with the indoor use of reclaimed red brick and the natural backyard lawn and garden

Part of a grand landscaping rethink, this front door approach is lined with plantings – the succulents are in pots to ensure survival in harsh conditions

Social, healthy, and no screen time involved – as well as being the best gift a family can have, these pools also add design weight to the homes they accompany

The two complementary finishes for this outdoor living area reflect the separate uses of the split-levels – the timber deck for lounging and the lower, concrete level for alfresco dining

Immersive – part of a lush outdoor project, this glasshouse was incorporated to provide an area to entertain as well as grow warm climate plants

A family friendly oasis with infinity pool was the goal, but how to reconcile the desire for a modern pool house when the home was built in the 1880s?

Shade, privacy, seamless indoor-outdoor flow and colour – all with low upkeep in mind – this outdoor living project offers more than one kind of cool

Tilt-panel shuttered concrete was used to form this front-yard pool as well as the house, which is built with a focus on semi-industrial materials

These lawn set pavers lead to the most magical semi-circular, harbour-front seating arrangement – it may not be all about the journey, but it helps

This elegant garden features curvaceous borders, bluestone pavers, seating by a Victorian fountain, showcased mature trees and visual connection to an adjacent park

Pool design has come a long way in recent years – and build versatility is a key part of that. Is your site, small, tricky, unusable? Cascade Pools has a solution

This award-winning home has not one but two outdoor entertaining spaces. The lower alfresco dining area is underlit to dramatic effect.

Two backyards are co-joined to create a multi-use outdoor escape complete with tennis court, pool, al fresco dining, children's area and garden

While your pool is a fresh joy every day, pool upkeep – through modern technologies – has gone from arduous to easy. Find companies offering the latest and best options on the NZ Pool Industry Association website 

We're not sure a garden seat and garden outlook could get any better – stepping stones lead to the tucked away semi-circular seating trained on the scenery

This minimalist design in a vineyard setting maximises the outdoor living spaces, with mass plantings and repetition two key factors 

A potted shrub brings a verdant touch to this pool-side cabana, part of a lush inner city oasis with infinity pool and intimate harbour views

Cascade Pools has been in business for 50 years – honed industry experience that translates into a short construction time for your pool and an enduring, much loved final result

Whether you have a sprawling space or just a cosy corner, these 12 landscaped gardens are packed with ideas for your own outdoor transformation

The versatility and functionality of louvres has come a long way – check out these architectural applications that take the indoors outside

With pool care and upkeep, it's great to have a range of options all sourced in one highly reputable place – and that place is the NZ Pool Industry Association website 

Summer is on its way and bringing your dormant pool up to scratch with Cascade Pools is easier and more economical than you think

This garden acts as a visual extension of the home's rear-facing rooms – sense of place and a Japanese aesthetic are also part of the plot

Well if you did, you certainly wouldn't be roughing it in this two-storey pool house, larger and grander than most people's homes

Are your backyard ideas red hot or are they sometimes met with a cool reception? This article shares some landscaping tips to warm up your thinking

So you've created the most lavish interior for an upmarket Padua, Italy residence – how exactly do you follow that up on the roof? 

With your sparkling new backyard oasis there comes protecting the safety of your family, guests and others – the NZ Pool Industry Association has you covered (and fenced)

This comprehensive hard and soft landscaping project nestles the renovated home into its setting, creates engaging play spaces and merges the wider garden into its wooded backdrop

Not even the stair balustrade gets between you and the views in this contemporary coastal home where outdoor living is a way of life

This home's generous timber steps offer great flow but play down their presence on the landscape by blending with the slatwork behind

With summer on the hazy horizon, Box Build looks at how to create outdoor spaces with an accent on alfresco

A sparkling backyard pool spells family fun and Cascade Pools makes the process easy – right from choosing a design through to that first joyful splash 

It's always nice when your pool complements your home rather than fights it – this pool looks like it unfolded from the house it accompanies

Metal grids imbedded in the upper sun deck of this concrete-built lakeside home allow natural light to penetrate through to the lower level

A nature-themed, low upkeep landscaping design brings this internal courtyard to life – adroit lighting shifts the tone as dusk descends

So your family wants a backyard oasis, your next step is connecting with the NZ Pool Industry Association – here are some great reasons why

A Warmington Open Wood Fire ensures this outdoor room is welcoming year round – perhaps the more so after a winter dip in yonder pool

Indoor/outdoor connection is all important in modern homes – these examples, from bifold doors to stacker sliders, are sure to inspire

Pools are a thing of joy for any family but before embarking on one, it's good to know the NZ Pool Industry Association has your back

Immersive – hard to believe this lush environment is a few minutes' drive from Auckland's Queen Street. The glasshouse provides an area to entertain as well as to grow tropical plants. 

Relaxed, year-round al fresco dining and entertaining is the result of this private outdoor space complete with kitchen, dining and spa pool

Here are the five most common lawn problems you can face and and how to remedy them before they get out of hand

Alaskan yellow cedar (fir) slat cladding and decking lets these airy pavilions weather and become part of their green, natural surroundings

A pool is a major undertaking – one that your family will thank you for every day – so do it once, do it right and involve a Master Pool Builder right from the outset

This interior courtyard – complete with reflection pond – offers shade as well as reverie. Breezes flow over the water, further cooling the home

Outdoor cooking facilities are seamlessly integrated into this home, with the sheltered barbecue extending out from the indoor kitchen

Why say goodbye to the great outdoors over winter? These blazing examples show how al fresco warmth and al fresco style can come together

Large water feature, Lake Dunstan, meets domestic ball water feature – part of a diverse outdoor living project that adds a pool and private courtyard

A leading feature in a home awash with features, this expansive rear pool area glitters like diamonds thanks to its lining of tiny mosaics

A beautiful home with beautiful, verdant out looks – how to seamlessly connect the two? This adroit landscaping project achieves just that

Barbecued fish is certified fresh to table with this al fresco setting being just a step from the barbecue and drinks station alongside

Want gorgeous sea views from your pool but not the onshore winds that come with them? There's another way, as this high-end home reflects

The inspiration for this design was an inner city oasis. The owner wanted to enjoy the large grounds and be able to escape everyday life

Adding a pool to your new home or renovation project is a big commitment. While pools add a lot of value to your home, they generally require considerable maintenance. Until now

What clutter? A newly introduced white-painted timber screen shed in the backyard of this terrace home keeps equipment hidden from sight

There can be few more calming sounds than that of moving water. Here are some guidelines to creating your own backyard water feature

With a fireplace, infrared heaters, and operable louvres for walls and ceiling, this outdoor living space is made for year-round entertaining

This pavilion-style house by Wallflower Architecture + Design is cooled by strategically placed pools throughout the house 

So, every last pendant's sorted indoors, but what about your outdoor lighting? Security, alfresco dining and not falling in the flower bed are three of many reasons to get this sorted

One way to maximise your interior spaces is to make your landscaping part of your living spaces – indoors drift to outdoors in this airy home

Actually the addition of an inviting pool was only one aspect of this transformative renovation of a home with its own interesting history

The house is built, the hard landscaping nailed down. Now it’s time to pimp your patio/backyard/al fresco setting in an affordable yet eye-catching style

Like this clear glass balustrade, Intergrain UltraDeck Timber Oil and Intergrain UltraDeck Timber Stain provide protection for your wood surfaces

With pristine landscaping, a fully kitted out kitchen, and impressive pizza oven, this outdoor area is so luxurious you still feel like you're inside

Winter's on the doorstep, is your garden ready? Here are steps you can take to prepare outdoor spaces for the wet weather that winter can bring

New spaces add to your home in so many ways. Create your outdoor room with a Louvretec opening roof

There's maximum flexibility from variable weather on this covered terrace, including concertina glass doors that can enclose the space 

How far would you go to assimilate with your surroundings? This building appears to grow out of adjoining parkland

Light, bright and open. Cantilevered ceilings and thoughtfully placed furniture define the outdoor living space of this bayside home

Faced with an incredibly narrow outdoor space, Craig Steere Architects designed an outdoor barbecue area which mirrors the indoor perimeter cabinetry. The cavity slider that doubles as a splashback can even be drawn aside to create a servery window between the indoor and outdoor kitchens.

Winter's coming but that doesn't mean stow the gardening tools. Plant spring bulbs now for a welcoming spring. Here are some suggestions.

Indoors meet outdoors. This interior really does go with the grain, with finishes and furniture that echo the sandy colour palette outside the window

A contemporary sensory-rich, biophilic home is a considered response to the owner’s desire for a sustainable residence inspired by nature, strongly connected to the outdoors and awash in daylight

This International Garden Festival unveils the names of the new designers and their gardens chosen for the 22nd edition of the Festival entitled Magic lies outside. Five ground-breaking new projects from Canada, the United States, France and Sweden are influenced by current times

Operable louvres turn a weatherproof roof into a window on the stars – all part of a thoughtfully designed home where the views and outdoor living spaces go on forever 

Don't let a lack of space hold you back - you can still have a thriving garden. Keep reading for some tips to make the best of your small outdoor space

The cold season is coming, is your property ready? These tips will help get things sorted before Jack Frost comes a-calling. Your family and your largest investment deserve it.

While this new home from Urbane Projects offers a private face to the street, the outdoor area is expansive, stylish and considered

Summer has come to an end which means it's time to make the most of autumn. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your outdoor spaces during the colder months 

The seasons are changing – but why wait until you’re cold before getting your heating options sorted – your outdoors included? Landscape designer and creative director of Landart Landscapes Matt Leacy shares some tips for a fire pit 

Windows that frame magnificent trees, extended canopy-like, cantilevered eaves, and fully pocketing glass exterior walls trained on wooded surrounds – this home lets you feel like you're in the great outdoors

Matt Leacy of Landart Landscapes shares his top landscaping, styling and construction tips for creating the perfect autumn outdoor space

Fancy going bush, er make that going deep jungle? This surprising tourist offering lets you get up close and personal with the Costa Rican jungle thanks in large part to the innovative architecture 

The owner of this property wanted a house that blends with nature and the outdoors. Suffice to say the architect delivered. 

How about adding space and versatility to your home? Plus improved connections to the outdoors and greater entertaining opportunities

Who says you need to trek all the way to the local park to spend time or entertain outdoors? Why not achieve the same vibes in your own home? It’s definitely possible, you just need to focus on putting together your own garden of Eden

This sprawling rooftop garden captures a sense of wild nature and natural relaxation while merging with the surroundings and celebrating the city outlooks

So, you haven’t been blessed with a large outdoor space. That’s okay! There are plenty of ways around this. Here are some landscaping ideas for small garden spaces

On one side, this coastal bathroom is completely open to the sounds and scents of the sea, while rustic limestone and irregular tilework bring a relaxed almost Mediterranean-feel

Stylist Justine Wilson provides some useful tips to transform your backyard into an outdoor room

Amantea Architects modernised a lush and casual urban residential landscape with a Mondrianesque composition of deftly planned spaces

This indoor-outdoor entertaining space meets pool house features a semi-industrial palette and a rooftop terrace, while the new pool alongside has an eye-catching feature of its own

In today's world, it's important to understand the differences within the landscape industry – and the advantages of using a landscape designer

This home was designed to be an oasis – the massive pool certainly helps

Your outdoor living doesn't have to be out the back. This major extension added pool, fire pit, alfresco dining and barbecue spaces to the front of the house.

Summer’s not coming – it’s here! But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad time to review your personal outdoor paradise – after all, the sales are already in full swing. Here are 8 steps towards achieving an outdoor entertainment space to be proud of

This home blurs the line between indoors and out. The same concrete floor tiles are used in both areas – polished inside, matt outside. Meanwhile, the wood ceiling extends out to form the soffit on the canopy

Trying to sell your home but not having much luck? Your garden can be a huge asset. Here's how to update the landscaping to make your garden more appealing to buyers

Matt Leacy, Creative Director and co-founder of the award winning Landart Landscapes shares his top tips for keeping your garden alive while you’re away on holiday this summer

It's summer which means it's time to make the most of the outdoors. We've gathered some insta worthy images from recent projects that celebrate pools, plantings and the great outdoors generally. Enjoy!

Don't let lack of room stop you from getting the outdoor area that fits your needs. Here are some ways to make the most of your outdoor space

Are you doing your bit for our beautiful, beleaguered planet? One way to contribute is to take a sustainable approach to your garden design. Here are 7 tips that will keep your garden apace with the environment's needs (and the envy of your neighbours)

With today's awareness, the days of basking in the sun are behind us and while covering up with long sleeves and hats or splashing on the sun screen are options, another is to ensure your outdoor spaces offer a shady welcome. Here are 9 examples of how to achieve that

Surrounded by green space on a steep plot of land, this contemporary home opens up to the views

You might not expect to find a pool pavilion shaded with a rusting Corten steel tree canopy on your African safari. But at Cheetah Plains resort, Kruger National Park, not all surprises are waiting out in the bush

This modern desert home hugs nature, and is totally immersed in the surrounding canyon environment

Building up the land in front of the front deck avoided the need to have balustrades on this new home, thus keeping costs down and leaving views uninterrupted. Check out the home's other savvy architectural moves that optimise connections to the land

This unique space successfully merges indoor and outdoor areas seamlessly to great effect

The rear of this home has been completely transformed, with a thinking outside the box renovation resulting in a lofty, double-height lounge and kitchen area open to the rear garden. Steel bi-folding glazing blurs the boundary between indoors and out

Sheltered from on-shore wind by the home itself, this pool and entertainer's space still enjoys full, uninterrupted views of the sea via a generous vista right through the interior of the home

Indoor and outdoors are separated by glass sliders when required as the front of this house opens up to its outlooks. A change in flooring styles also helps delineate indoors from out

When you live in a beautiful mountain landscape, catching warmth where you can is a must. This internal courtyard keeps the owners close to nature but sheltered from winds off the lake and mountains

A lavish place with barriers between the lodge guests and the wild. No? Well, how about a strikingly modern, wide-open lodge that invites the outdoors in? This gorgeous lodge allows guests to truly immerse themselves in their surroundings. 

Floating rectangular soffits and edge lighting combine to quietly differentiate the various working and entertaining spaces in a home designed to make the most of the views

Outdoor living areas further extend the size of the living spaces in this home by Boon Team Architects

Are you a consummate entertainer? Entertaining outdoors comes with its share of difficulties, but with enough prep-work you can really wow your guests this spring and summer

With thousands of award winning garden designs under his belt, and a long list of some of the country’s best gardens under the care of his Landart Landscape’s business, creative director Matt Leacy shares his top tips for ensuring your garden thrives this spring and summer

A breeze block wall in the central courtyard area of this home allows glimpses of the outdoor zone right from the front door entry.

Outdoor living spaces in this property include a raised gazebo – a  perfect sheltered spot for watching all the beach and harbour action below

This grand holiday home sits comfortably on the levelled ground prepared for it. And given the extensive earthworks required to ready the site, it’s not surprising that not a square metre of flat land is wasted. Along with the cladding, the unstained timber decks are another way to connect the home to its environment

Transparent agenda – this contrasting extension to a traditional, low-ceiling cottage offers high ceilings, optimum glazing and a great connection the garden

This home takes in the breathtaking surrounding Remarkables mountain landscape at every turn, including from the teppanyaki rooftop dining setting. Even the arrival, by glass elevator, is spectacular

A soaring new timber extension complete with fan and built-in BBQ make this home's back garden the ultimate spot for living and entertaining. See more of this home's renovation ideas below

Building up the land in front of the deck avoided the need to have balustrades on this new home, thus keeping costs down and leaving views uninterrupted

This outdoor fire brings warmth in winter – but even in summer it is a focal point for alfresco gatherings. The sight of jumping flames at dusk is appealing whatever the season

Need more indoor space? The sprawling decks on this seaside home are all but indoors, thanks to automatically operated external louvres that bring precision control over the elements

Open sesame – part of a major renovation and extension, floor-to-ceiling sliders open the main living areas up to this rear deck and garden, while the deck is sheltered from the street by the carport. The feathered slats on the carport soften its form and admit natural light

Give your garden a refresh and get ready for the warmer months. Landscape expert Matt Leacy shares his new season colour trends for outdoor spaces

Soak the stress away in your very own outdoor bath tub! Here, we've rounded up five of our favourite designs from Pinterest to inspire your own secret outdoor sanctuary

By building up the land in front of this home the owners cleverly avoided the need to have balustrades, thus keeping costs down and leaving the impressive views uninterrupted 

Your garden might not get enough love over the cooler months. But with the right care, you can keep your landscape thriving throughout winter

In this article, you'll see different landscapes which incorporate artificial grass and a discussion of the benefits

This new hunting lodge by ARRCC architecture firm creates a more immersive experience for visitors - making them more than just disengaged spectators in the Kruger National Park setting

For this home that celebrates wood indoors and out, the central courtyard is sheltered by the bedroom wing on the left and living pavilion to the right

Transparency is a great word – at Cascade Pools integrity, straight-up communications and no hidden surprises are the backbone of their reliable pool building service

Bamboo X-Treme decking – the next generation in sustainable decking; this durable, stable, eco-friendly decking, with 'invisible' clips/screws for quick installation, is now available throughout New Zealand

Amongst an array of finishes, Intergrain offers two great products designed to protect the natural appeal of your exterior timber surfaces – Intergrain UltraDeck Timber Oil and Intergrain UltraDeck Timber Stain for decking, cladding, screening & fences

All around the world we can’t get enough of houseplants – with more than 4 million posts on Instagram a fair indication! So what plant tops picture popularity? The clickable cactus scooped the polls with 23 million posts. See how your favourite flora rated.

Set on high with stunning beach views, this home reflects a minimal, raw material palette which is echoed in the interior design. Italian and New Zealand signature pieces contribute to the elegant, relaxed ambience

Opening up at the back to connect with an existing pool area, this home's open-plan interior has plenty of warm natural wood accents, the floors included

Opening up to its environment with seamless indoor-outdoor connections, this transparent, sustainability-focused family home by Borrmeister Architects achieves privacy where it needs it

The renovation of this classic Victorian home celebrates heritage style and modern living with a beautifully refined palette and expansive extension out the back

This grand entertainer’s kitchen spans the full depth of its mountain home – connecting to alpine views at the front and a large outdoor kitchen at rear

With the city at your feet, why not introduce nature and well being above? Landscaping and building envelope combine in the mixed-use residential and retail development that is Sky Green Taichung, Taiwan

Tilt-slab construction and 3m-high floor-to-ceiling glass come together to shape a spectacular home, where the views and interiors jostle for attention

Surrounded by a mix of contemporary and heritage buildings on a tree-lined street, Elwood House certainly stands out