Outdoor Living

This design utilises outdoor spaces for degrees of separation while formal plantings close to the home give way to more natural forms further away

This serene white cabana continues the home's Grecian bleached white aesthetic – the tricky part was the precarious clifftop location

A private bedroom deck with loungers looks out on the rear yard complete with infinity pool, generous timber decking and ravine views beyond

A sculptural al fresco kitchen and matching moveable dining table complement this spectacular Princes Wharf penthouse setting

No, not a parent admonishing a child, rather an al fresco kitchen with operable louvres designed to shrug off whatever mother nature throws at it

This all weather al fresco setting tones in with the hard landscaping and the verdant flora that softens the lines of the new swimming pool

This grand, contemporary outdoor design brings the scale and sweep to balance the renovated, now barn-like family home on the stately rural property 

A new home by Fowler Homes offers outdoor living heaven in part due to this covered al fresco space with modern in wall fire and skylights

This pool's tilework ties with black accents on the home while the infinity edge seems to go on forever, requiring skilled craftsmanship to achieve

For this landscape design, the underfoot patio decking is sandstone while the bar leaner and other seating is in a timber decking material

Fitted with a fireplace, kitchen and woodfire pizza oven, this outdoor living space is in use all year round, rather than just during summer 

Decks come in all shapes, materials and aesthetics – a deck is not an afterthought, it's the cheapest way to add floorspace while facilitating that all-important indoor-outdoor flow

No, heart of the home. This landscaped space bites into the floor plan of this family residence and as such brings a verdant vibe indoors

This contemporary plunge-pool-meets-spa-pool is built for relaxation in more ways than one – large tiled steps make for ideal in-pool seating

The brief was for a design that accentuated the family’s love of swimming and spending time together in their garden – scale and balance were key

Landscaping for this home was designed to nestle into the surroundings – even the furniture in this al fresco setting celebrates curvaceous lines 

With an underwater ledge for both safety and sitting, an infinity edge, and glass fencing, this pool area is both safe and scenic

Continuity in finishes contributes to the cohesion of this pleasing landscape renovation which also complements the home, new pool included

Part of a Miami-look pool/landscape design, this cabana's versatility is greatly expanded with an Escea outdoor gas fire set into one of its substantial columns

One foot in sunlight, the other in the shade – part of a wider landscaping project, this poolside outdoor dining space is ideally situated

A crisp landscape design and adroit species selection provides colourful contrast and interest while softening the strong lines of the contemporary seaside home

Simple yet dramatic would be one way to describe this dynamic new family home and the poolside seating is more than in keeping

This family swimming pool achieves a relaxed, organic feel with substantial rocks helping delineate the diving area from the main pool area

This outdoor space merges pool, pool safety, vibrant full sun plantings and year-round al fresco living in a design that flows into its rural surround

This outdoor living space with pool is organised in tiers – the varying landscaping layers creating interest and deftly negotiating the terrain

This spiritual garden fits within ancient Indian principles of architecture – traditional statuary standing side-by-side with a contemporary cabana and outdoor kitchen

This outdoor design covers 2ha and includes everything from a large lawn and pool to gardens, al fresco entertaining and a track for kid racers 

Just in case you are outside in dark of night, this home's deck edge lighting lets you know when you're straying onto the damp lawn

Between copper ceiling, louvres and shade sail, this outdoor setting complete with al fresco kitchen has its all-weather options covered 

Landscaping is so much more than just ‘doing the garden’ – in your new home, it’s a fundamental aspect of the architecture; here a prominent house designer/builder points the way

This pool has competition in terms of drawing the eye – the backyard watering hole is surrounded by sculptures in tune with the natural setting

ConeHome pendants, by Laal, provide dining task lighting for this al fresco setting while natural light leaks on from all sides, skylight included

This pool-side retreat takes facilities next level – guest bedroom, office, yoga room, wet bar, bathroom and sheltered outdoor living all feature

The calmness, the colours, the elegant lines – we're not sure how the pool designers connected with the home's Grecian feel, but connect they did

For this landscaping project, the rotting timber deck was replaced with Biowood composite decking for its durability, water & termite resistance

Bringer of natural light, privacy, outdoor living, optimal views and even an outdoor kingdom for your pet – here are some home courtyards to brighten up your life

This sumptuous garden celebrates the natural world at every turn of its curvaceous flower bed – taking its cue from the saying 'there are no straight lines in nature'

Reinvented by Poolco, this now smooth-surfaced pool – with an Aqua Bright Eco Finish – requires almost no upkeep and will last for decades

Infinity edges add drama and avoid blocking views for this expansive and highly contemporary backyard oasis in step with its adjacent home

This well-known saying is reflected in this organic-look garden design – the soft curves of the garden bed are also soft on the eye

This pool would give its house a run for its money in the luxury stakes – check out these gold-winning pools as judged by the NZ Swimming Pool Industry Association

With as much to do as there is to look at, this multi-faceted backyard pool project includes a swim lane, child's pool beach, a diving board and two spas

This understated pool, on sunny Waiheke island, responds to its idyllic setting – making the most of solar power and with glass fencing that doesn't impede the spectacular outlooks

The setting is perfect, the existing in-ground pool nestles into its sandy location – but the pool itself is tired – enter Pool Co for an award-winning make over

This Gold award-winning pool by Acacia Pools dovetails with other needs on the property while making the most of its rural outlooks

With the joy of having a family pool comes the all important responsibility to keep it safe – another area where NZ Pool Industry Association makes life easy

The New Zealand Pool Industry Association is a one stop shop when sourcing reliable contacts to address all aspects of your pool – from install to upkeep – but there's warmth as well as professionalism

This brand new home looks out on an existing, if upgraded, pool – the greenest building is one already built, and that goes for backyard oases, too

Pools take forever to build and cost the earth – wrong and wrong! A budget Cascade is built in a few short weeks at an achievable cost

So you’re introducing a backyard pool for fun and a healthy family lifestyle – with Cascade Pools, that means the water you swim and play in is healthy too

Not all pools are created equally. The makeup of a pool by Cascade Pools addresses heating costs head on – trapping the sun's rays and utilising this free heat source to warm your pool.

Why create seperate hard landscaping when your house can come to the party? Here a blade wall connects architecture and courtyard

This deck features a pebbled rooftop area complete with sculpture. The ‘garden’ evokes the natural world without needing watering or weeding

We all want a great looking garden for the family to enjoy over summer – but often pay no attention to the lawn until it's too late. Here are the five most common lawn problems you can face and and how to remedy them before they get out of hand

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