Our much anticipated 2018/19 outdoor living collection has arrived! This world-class collection has been hand-picked by our talented furniture buying team and features the very best outdoor furniture from around the world and right here in New Zealand. Each and every piece has been selected with our customer’s needs in mind and with a particular focus on durability, design and comfortable living.
We caught up with McKenzie & Willis Furniture Category Manager – Jayne Cross-Hunter who heads the furniture buying team to talk all things outdoor and what goes into sourcing this world-class collection.
How would you describe the 2018/19 Outdoor Living Collection?
The 2018/19 Outdoor Living Collection at McKenzie & Willis has been curated specifically for our customers and ensures their summer will be enjoyed by all they share it with. We have spent a long time listening to what the NZ market wants and have been able to really hone in to deliver what is possibly our best collection yet.
What’s new this year?
Lounging styles are leading the way this year. Sofa settings are far lower than previous years and comfort is a top priority. All our top outdoor furniture brands are taking cues from indoors with the use of softer fabrics, plusher cushions and natural textures. There is no longer a clear divide between indoor and outdoor but rather an organic flow through the different areas of entertaining.
The trend continues for summer to mix materials (a trend we saw from the Milan Furniture fair earlier this year). This first appeared with indoor and is definitely being repeated in the outdoor setting. The mix of teak and aluminium finishes gives a softer more organic feel to outdoor furniture and allows you to blend with the exterior materials of your home.
We are also seeing a lot of outdoor furniture designers emerging who have backgrounds in architecture and design. I think you can clearly see this in the sophisticated designs of many of the brands we have brought in. Where outdoor furniture was once thought of as the poor cousin to indoor furniture, we are now seeing beautiful sofas and dining furniture for the outdoors that look just as good as their indoor counterparts.
What sets the McKenzie & Willis Outdoor Living Collection apart?
Having been in the Outdoor Furniture industry for over 10 years we have built relationships with key international brands and suppliers. We know these suppliers are the best in their field. Each year we see new product development from these brands ensuring we are sourcing the very best the outdoor world has to offer. Teamed with the knowledge of what our customers are telling us, we are able to offer a great selection, carefully curated to our customers’ needs.
McKenzie & Willis believe that our customers seek knowledge on the products that they buy and they want to be armed with all the information to make the best choice, therefore we make a heavy investment into training for all our staff. This will be evident to our customers when they visit any of our showrooms – ask our staff any question about our furniture range and you will always receive expert knowledge.
The quality of our outdoor furniture is also a big point of difference. When sourcing our collection we select high-quality pieces that are backed by proven technology. This gives our range a unique advantage and means we can offer a 5 year warranty on all of our outdoor products under the McKenzie & Willis Promise.
Can you elaborate on the materials used? How do you ensure the range will last?
Durability is certainly an important factor for outdoor furniture, especially in the harsh climate of New Zealand. Our outdoor collection can be left outside year round because we use materials specifically designed for the outdoors. Some examples of materials used are high grade teak, powder-coated aluminium that is then painted and baked for durability and woven polyurethane fabrics, teamed with quick dry foams for sofas and chairs.
Do you have a favourite piece?
I love the entire range! But if I had to pick it would be the Natal Alu sofa from Tribu. Tribu is one of the top 3 brands in the world and has been shown at all the top furniture fairs. We first introduced Tribu into our range in 2015 and with the success of the Pure and Mood collections the Natal Alu was introduced. We like to think of it as the “Armani” of outdoor furniture – a truly unique outdoor sofa giving all the practical benefits of outdoor with the style and comfort of indoor.
Tell us your number one tip for outdoor styling this summer?
Style your outdoor space like you would your interior. Choose furniture pieces that suit the way you live and then add cushions, rugs and accessories to really personalise the space. If you would like some help achieving your dreams for your outdoor space then get in touch with one of our experienced furniture consultants for a personalised in-home consultation.
Did you know?
For a limited time only you can now purchase all the pieces in our outdoor living collection online with FREE shipping! (Some items are still on their way so send us an enquiry to secure yours today) But be quick, free shipping ends 23rd of October 2018. *
*Free shipping applies NZ wide by road. Applies only to pieces purchased via the online store.