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INSPIRE An Auckland Home Show Publication Winter 2026 Outdoor Living 365 Getting Set for Summer & Beyond Colour Drenching Soaking up the Latest Interior Trend To Tile or Not to Tile?– Why That is the Question Creating Your Year-round Outdoor Oasis Why Winter is the Perfect Time to Start + Welcome to the Winter 2026 edition of INSPIRE, our seasonal e-magazine created especially for Auckland Home Show subscribers There is something about winter that changes our relationship with home. As temperatures drop and evenings grow longer, we spend more time indoors, paying closer attention to the spaces around us and how they could work better, feel warmer, or simply bring us more enjoyment. In this edition we explore ideas, trends and conversations shaping Kiwi homes. From colour drenching and the latest tile trends to intergenerational living and more sustainable renovation choices, these stories are designed to inform, inspire and spark new possibilities. We also look at home energy choices, exam- ining solar power, gas and induction cooking, while our outdoor living feature shows why winter is the smartest season to start planning the backyard you’ll enjoy when warmer weather returns and extending its use year- round. You’ll also find ideas for creating a more comfortable bedroom retreat, along with a little winter indulgence from the kitchen. As always, the inspiration comes from the people who know Kiwi homes best, the exhibitors of the Auckland Home Show. Their expertise, practical advice and innovative products help New Zealanders create homes they love living in. We hope this issue gives you plenty to think about, plan for and enjoy this winter. The Auckland Home Show Team INSPIRE Contents Winter 2026 Cover Outdoor living all year round with this beautifully designed entertainment space featuring a log burning fire and atmospheric lighting by Love Kitchens. See more on following pages 04 07 08 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 26 30 Outdoor Living 365 Getting Set for Summer & Beyond The Kitchen Connection The Ultimate In Outdoor Living Winter Garden Wins What to Plant Now For Summer Beyond Summer Outdoor Spaces to Enjoy Year Round Colour Drenching Diving Into This Hot Interior Trend A Family Affair The Rise of Intergenerational Living To Tile or Not Weighing Up Bathroom Finishes Building Sustainably Smart Choices for House and Home Gas Or Electric Latest Innovations Spark the Debate Power to the People Generating Savings With Solar Winter Bedroom Creatinga Cosy Retreat Winter Warmer Slow Cooker Mulled Wine Pictured here Heat pumps like this Rinnai pro series 2 are dramatically more efficient to run than many other gas or electric options while also providing cooling See feature page 20 aucklandhomeshow.co.nzNow Get Inspired COVER FEATURE At Inspire, we’re passionate about outdoor living. That’s why we see winter not as the end of the outdoor season, but as the beginning of the next one, and the smartest time for creating or upgrading your outdoor environment for summer and beyond. With the shortest day fast approaching, the time to start planning is now! Then come the warmer months, you’ll already be relaxing outside enjoying the results. Outdoor Living 365 Getting Set for Summer & BeyondSpring Finalise Plans Winter Plan new developments/ im- provements repair/upgrade existing SummerWinter Autumn THE BEST OUTDOOR SPACES are almost never created in summer. They are done over winter, built through a series of good decisions rather than one dramatic transformation. The flow from indoors to outdoors. Shelter from prevailing wind. The way afternoon sun lands across the deck. Privacy from neighbours. The feeling of calm and connection that comes from a space that has been properly considered. Winter also happens to be one of the best times to tackle the practical work that pays off by summer. It’s the season for pruning hedges back hard before spring growth begins, reshaping overgrown gardens, improving drainage while the ground is wet enough to reveal problem areas, and repairing retaining walls, paving or tired decks before entertaining season returns. This is also the perfect season to address how the backyard actually functions in various conditions. Does the deck get enough sun? Is there shelter from wind or rain? Would a pergola extend the usability of the space? Could built-in seating create better flow for entertaining? Is outdoor lighting strong enough for winter evenings, or does the space disappear entirely after dark? Winter exposes these problems honestly. Cold southerlies reveal where shelter is needed. Shorter days show where lighting matters. Heavy rain highlights drainage issues that often go unnoticed in summer. Instead of seeing winter as the off-season, smart homeowners are increasingly using it as a testing ground for future improvements and potential use in the colder months. > Designed for year-round entertaining This outdoor living space by Love Kitchens brings together warmth, cooking and connection in one beautifully integrated setting. At its heart is a versatile Escea outdoor fireplace, paired with a Weber-centred kitchen that makes gathering with family and friends effortless. Built to withstand New Zealand’s ever-changing weather, this is an outdoor retreat that can be enjoyed in every season. This spread and cover photography by Jamie Cobel.Even smaller projects benefit from this approach. Refreshing outdoor furniture, re-staining timber decking, installing subtle garden lighting or improving irrigation before dry weather returns are the quieter winter jobs that dramatically improve how a home feels once long evenings and warmer temperatures arrive again. Because ultimately, outdoor living is not really about summer itself. It’s about creating a home that works better year-round. > There is also a growing shift happening in how outdoor areas are designed. Backyards are no longer treated as separate from the home. Increasingly, they are extensions of everyday living. Outdoor dining zones connect directly to kitchens, decking materials continue visually from inside to out, and heating, lighting and shelter help outdoor spaces remain inviting well beyond the middle of summer. Importantly, winter planning usually means better timing and less pressure financially. Builders, landscapers and outdoor specialists are often easier to book before the spring rush begins. Materials can be ordered early, and decisions can be made carefully rather than rushed through under seasonal pressure. COVER FEATURE Outdoor spaces become an extension of indoor living areas for year-round use. Top to bottom Decking connects visually from inside to out with full-height sliders by NZ Windows. Bespoke Louvres provide the perfect shelter for extended outdoor living. A covered deck and a hot tub extend the enjoyment of this outdoor space by Licensed Renovations. This fire pit by Design Concepts and mood lighting create an inviting outdoor area in cooler temperatures.AN OUTDOOR KITCHEN can completely change the way a home connects to the garden. More than simply a place for the barbecue, it becomes a natural gathering point that brings cooking, entertaining and outdoor living together in one space. Done well, it creates a seamless transition between indoors and out, encouraging families and guests to spend more time outside throughout the year. We asked Rhys Mellor from Love Kitchens what separates a good outdoor kitchen from a great one. His answer was simple: “space”. “People often try to fit too much into a small area,” he says. “You need enough prep space to actually cook and serve comfortably. That’s one of the most important things.” Mellor says practicality is often overlooked in favour of appliances. Barbecues, pizza ovens, smokers and sinks all have their place, but without enough room to prepare food and gather around, the kitchen quickly becomes difficult to use. He recommends generous bench space on either side of the barbecue to make cooking and serving easier. The relationship between the outdoor kitchen and the main house is equally important. If the indoor kitchen is only a few steps away, homeowners may not need extensive outdoor storage or appliances. But when the outdoor area becomes more independent, features such as sinks, refrigeration and dishwashers can make the space far more functional for entertaining. For Mellor, the real success of an outdoor kitchen is not the appliances or finishes, but the way it changes how people use their home and garden. “You actually get to sit out there and enjoy it,” he says. “You create the garden, put all that work into it, and the outdoor kitchen gives you a reason to be outside in it.” Planting also plays a major role in softening the space and creating a stronger connection to the landscape. Layers of greenery help outdoor kitchens feel integrated into the garden rather than simply added beside it. Add heating or a fireplace, and the space becomes usable well beyond summer. The Kitchen Connection “If there’s nothing drawing you outside, you naturally stay indoors,” says Mellor. “But when you create a space that’s warm, practical and connected to the garden, people want to be out there. Families spend more time together, friends stay longer, and you actually get to enjoy the environment you’ve created.” Pictured all kitchens by Love Kitchens.What to Plant Now for a Result in Summer Winter might make gardens look dormant, but it is actually one of the best times of year to plant. Cooler temperatures and reliable rainfall allow roots to establish properly before the stress of summer heat arrives. For homeowners wanting more privacy and shelter by next summer, now is the ideal time to plant hedging such as griselinia, pittosporum, camellia and even feijoa. These hardy varieties establish well through winter and quickly soften fences and boundaries. Winter is also perfect for planting deciduous and fruit trees. Ornamental maples and flowering cherries establish well while dormant, rewarding homeowners with strong spring growth and summer shade. Fruit trees and citrus also benefit from winter planting and pruning before the growing season begins. Around decks and entertaining spaces, lavender, hydrangeas, salvias, rosemary and ornamental grasses all establish beautifully through winter, creating colour, softness and fragrance by summer. Daphne is another favourite for adding beautiful scent near entrances and outdoor seating areas during the cooler months. Climbing plants such as star jasmine are another smart investment, helping pergolas and fences green over naturally in time for outdoor entertaining season. The best summer gardens rarely happen by accident. More often, they begin quietly in winter, one thoughtful plant at a time. Winter Garden Wins COVER FEATURE Circular fire pit and setting by Design Concepts. Beautifully landscaped garden leads past the deck to the swimming pool by Luxe Outdoors. Heated plunge pool in a setting of ornamental grasses by Tiny Pools.10-13 SEPTEMBER 2026 AUCKLAND SHOWGROUNDS Tickets on sale from July Ideasfor everyspace aucklandhomeshow.co.nzNext >