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As the days grow longer and the weather warms up, our outdoor spaces naturally become an extension of the home. Whether it's enjoying a morning coffee in the sunshine, hosting family gatherings, or unwinding with a beverage in the evening, creating a comfortable and functional outdoor room allows you to make the most of summer living.

An effective way to enhance your outdoor area is through thoughtfully designed shade solutions. The right outdoor shading provides protection from harsh sunlight, shelter from light rain, and greater flexibility to enjoy your space throughout the day and across the seasons.

At McKenzie & Willis, we offer a range of premium outdoor shading solutions, including exterior awnings, exterior blinds, motorised systems, and outdoor umbrellas, helping you create an outdoor room that's as beautiful as it is functional.

Why Outdoor Shade Matters

New Zealand summers are made for outdoor living, but conditions can change quickly. Intense midday sun, cooling sea breezes, and the occasional light shower can all impact our enjoyment of outdoor spaces.

Outdoor shade solutions help create a more versatile environment by:

Providing protection from UV exposure
Reducing heat and glare
Extending the usability of outdoor entertaining areas
Offering shelter during light rain
Increasing privacy and comfort
Enhancing the overall aesthetic of your home

With the right combination of shade and shelter, your deck, patio, or courtyard can become a true outdoor room.

Exterior Awnings: Flexible Shade with Architectural Appeal

For homeowners looking to expand their living areas outdoors, exterior awnings offer an elegant and highly practical solution.

Luxaflex® Folding Arm Awnings provide flexible shade exactly where and when you need it. Retractable designs allow you to enjoy full sunlight during cooler parts of the day while creating generous shade during peak summer hours.

Beyond their functionality, exterior awnings contribute to the architectural character of your home, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Designed for long-term performance and backed by a five-year manufacturer's warranty, these adaptable systems offer a comfortable outdoor environment while enhancing the visual appeal of your property.

Exterior Blinds: Comfort and Protection All Year Round

Exterior blinds are an increasingly popular choice for homeowners seeking greater protection from wind, sun, and changing weather conditions.

McKenzie & Willis works with some of New Zealand's leading manufacturers to provide customised solutions tailored to individual homes and lifestyles.

Luxaflex® EVO Screens combine sleek architectural styling with impressive performance, helping create sheltered outdoor spaces that remain comfortable throughout the year. They offer excellent sun protection while maintaining views and airflow, making them ideal for patios, decks, and outdoor entertaining areas.

Durable and discreet, they are designed to integrate seamlessly into modern homes while delivering reliable protection from the elements.

The Strength of Luxaflex® EVO MagnaTrack

For larger outdoor spaces or more exposed locations, Luxaflex® EVO MagnaTrack offers an innovative solution engineered to perform in demanding conditions.

Featuring patented magnetic retention technology, MagnaTrack allows the screen to flex under pressure before automatically returning to its original position once conditions settle. This reduces wear on the system and helps prevent damage during strong winds.

Independently tested in winds of up to 185km/h on a 3.5m wide screen, EVO MagnaTrack delivers outstanding strength and stability while maintaining a clean, streamlined appearance.

Combined exclusively with the premium Spectra Sunscreen fabric range, it offers enhanced durability, UV protection, and light control for superior outdoor comfort.

Exterior Shutters: Stylish Outdoor Living

Architectural and durable, exterior shutters provide privacy, light control, and protection from the elements while enhancing the look of your outdoor space. Designed specifically for New Zealand conditions, Luxaflex® Exterior Shutters offer a refined solution for decks, patios, courtyards, and outdoor entertaining areas. Adjustable louvres allow you to easily manage airflow, sunlight, and privacy throughout the day, while a range of hinged, sliding, fixed panel, and multifold configurations ensures a tailored fit for your home. Built for long-term outdoor performance and requiring minimal maintenance, each system is backed by Luxaflex®'s five-year manufacturer's warranty.

Effortless Living with Motorisation

Modern outdoor living is all about convenience, and motorisation offers one of the simplest ways to elevate your home's comfort and functionality.

Motorised awnings, blinds, and screens can be operated via remote control, wall switch, smartphone, or voice control, allowing you to adjust shade and privacy with minimal effort.

Whether you're entertaining guests, moving between indoor and outdoor spaces, or simply responding to changing weather conditions, motorisation gives you precise control at the touch of a button.

It's a practical investment that makes everyday living easier while adding a sophisticated finish to your home.

Outdoor Umbrellas: Stylish Shade Wherever You Need It

When flexibility is key, a premium outdoor umbrella can provide the perfect solution.

The Jardinico Caractere range combines elegant design with thoughtful engineering, delivering adjustable shade that moves with the sun. Featuring 360-degree rotation, tilt functionality, and height adjustment, these cantilever umbrellas allow you to maintain comfortable shade throughout the day.

Constructed with a durable powder-coated aluminium frame and finished with premium Sunbrella® fabric, the Caractere umbrella is designed to withstand New Zealand conditions while maintaining its refined appearance.

The collection also incorporates solar-powered LED lighting discreetly integrated into the ribs, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for evening entertaining.

At 3m square, the Caractere 301 model provides generous coverage and can be easily adjusted as the sun moves, helping maximise comfort from morning through to night.

Create an Outdoor Space You'll Use More Often

A well-designed outdoor room is about more than furniture alone. By incorporating expertly selected shading solutions, you can transform your outdoor areas into versatile spaces that offer comfort, protection, and style throughout the seasons.

Whether you're looking for the flexibility of retractable awnings, the shelter of exterior blinds, the convenience of motorisation, or the elegance of a cantilever umbrella, McKenzie & Willis can help you find the right solution for your home and lifestyle.