Aurae Blog

Do you need fresh inspiration for a medium-density housing project? 

It can be difficult to design a housing development that is distinctive and practical, while still visually appealing. To ensure your project stands out from the rest and supports modern living, you need the right exterior products.

Outdoor living is a central part of New Zealand life and what was once restricted to the summer months is now attainable all-year-round, with the right outdoor living space. Creating an outdoor room is one good way to make the most of your backyard, all while extending your living area. And if done well, it will add to the aesthetics of a home and provide a real design statement.

This blog will give you the tips you need to get started with an outdoor room so that you can design an outdoor living space you'll love. We’ll also showcase how louvres and louvre roof systems can enhance an outdoor room, and provide you with a practical space that can be used in any season.

With the ever-changing nature of the weather here in New Zealand we’ve all grown accustomed to four seasons in one day, and weather that can change in an instant. Weather conditions like strong winds can have a negative impact on our daily lives – ever tried walking along the waterfront on a windy day in Wellington? It’s by all means difficult, and incredibly noisy!

The noise that strong winds make has the ability to reverberate around us causing discomfort on a number of levels. Some residential buildings in fact are known to produce a noise similar to a whistle on windy days that if not fixed, can lead to severe occupant discomfort. And with many more people now working from home, the level of discomfort that can be caused by something like a whistling balcony will prove all too distracting during a work-from-home day.

With a new year underway, now’s the time when many of us are planning our next outdoor project. Or perhaps you’re picking up where you left off at the end of 2019 and continuing work on new builds and housing developments for clients? Whatever the reason, it’s always handy to have a bit of design guidance for your outdoor area!

We’ve put together a list of five outdoor design trends we expect to see during 2020 – many of which we’re already seeing! Make your outdoor living space the best it can be with these top tips and ideas.

Keeping yourself and your home cool over summer can be challenging. At the peak of summer, temperatures can reach over 30°C in some parts of New Zealand and with particularly strong UV rays, having a shaded area at home where you can get out of the sun is very important for a lot of Kiwis.

There are also many other benefits to adding a bit of shade to the outside of your home which include ventilation for added cooling as well as saving on power bills. In this blog we’ll cover the benefits of adding sun shade to your home and the Aurae products that can help you achieve this.

Many of us can agree that nothing beats enjoying the outdoors on a hot summer’s night. If you regularly have friends and family over for meals and get-togethers then you’ll know the importance of having a suitable outdoor entertaining space.

An outdoor patio is a great way to extend your living area outside and depending on how extravagant you want your set up to be, there are many things that you can even do yourself to create a memorable space.

In this blog we look at what makes a patio, and a few ideas as to what a basic patio should include.

Everybody enjoys good indoor-outdoor flow in their homes. A cool breeze and the harmonious sound of birds chirping in the background can add so much to the ambience of our homes. However, designing a property with good indoor-outdoor flow can also encounter some problems. What happens if the wind picks up or your privacy is compromised?

External shutters can be an excellent solution for these situations. Available with numerous screen options, the shutters can be fixed, sliding or bi folding. In this blog we delve into how you can use a range of different shutters to not only maximise the use of your space and create indoor-outdoor flow, but to also make a statement.

Whether your backyard consists of a few acres or perhaps you’ve only got a small patio to work with, there are now endless options for outdoor home design. From outdoor rooms to mixed materials we’ve covered five outdoor trends to keep an eye on for the rest of 2019. Maybe you’re considering a few already for your next project or home reno?

Get inspired and find out how you can make the most of your outdoor space with these top trends.

When it comes to enjoying the outdoors, many of us can agree that having a shaded area to relax and unwind in is a great addition to any home. We’re lucky that nowadays we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing an outdoor structure. Common structures include gazebos and pergolas.

Gazebos and pergolas both serve similar purposes in an outdoor area – to provide protection from the elements and a space for entertaining. Both can be constructed from various materials and come in numerous designs. Though they're similar, they do have their differences.

Outdoor living is an important part of Kiwi culture, with many people now preferring to use their backyards for entertaining rather than gardening or sports. Outdoor living areas can also improve or expand indoor living areas, which in turn adds value to a property.

But with so many options for creating your dream outdoor living space, how can you know which solution will work best in your environment? Here we've provided some unique examples of outdoor living spaces (and why they work well), to get your creative juices flowing for your own design at home.