Gardeners Emporium’s new showrooms are changing the way we experience outdoor design

The warmth of a fire feature, the sound of water moving, the textures of a planter. The experience of each of these can never be replicated by a photograph.

“You have to stand beside them,” says Rachel Cameron-Lee, founder of Gardeners Emporium. “I wanted to give people somewhere they could do exactly that, in two very different settings so they could picture the pieces in their own world, whether that’s an urban courtyard, rural garden or commercial building.”

With two immersive showrooms now open, one in Parnell inside the Residium Design + Building Centre and the other in Dairy Flat, Gardeners Emporium has become a destination for homeowners, landscape architects and designers to experience outdoor living the way the brand believes it should be.

Two destinations, one story

The decision to establish showrooms in both Parnell and Dairy Flat wasn’t about the level of the brand’s presence. It was about showcasing two different ways outdoor living can be experienced.

“It came down to contrast. I wanted a presence in central Auckland and one out in our country home. Two completely different environments that, placed side by side, tell the whole story of Gardeners Emporium,” shares Rachel. “Parnell brings the energy and accessibility of the city with a design-led flavour that inspires, while Dairy Flat gives people room to interact with a wider range of styles and view finished pieces in a landscaped setting. They’re worlds apart, and yet they complement one another beautifully.”

At Residium in Parnell, the space is bold with colour and custom-made and designed pieces, inviting visitors to think beyond the ordinary and really experience how colour can be used outdoors. “I call it my art gallery,” says Rachel.

Offering a completely different experience, the country showroom feels more like arriving at someone’s home. Pots are planted with beautiful topiaries, underplanted to add colour, texture and movement. Water features are running, fire pits are burning, and everything is lit up at night.

“When clients see it in person, they come alive and it always helps landscapers and designers picture exactly what they can create for their own clients.”

Products aren’t lined up on shelves; they’re standing in a finished space. Every display is styled the way you’d actually live with it.

Creating outdoor spaces with as much impact as interiors

The garden is no longer seen as the leftover space at the back of the house. Homeowners want it to be an extension of how they live, an outdoor room with the same character and comfort as inside.

Lighting has become one of the defining features, transforming landscapes after sunset and adding another dimension to water features, planting and architectural elements. Stronger colour palettes are also being embraced to create focal points in the garden.

“Today’s outdoor spaces deserve the same artistry and emotion as anything inside the home. If people walk out feeling inspired to be bolder, to treat their garden as something to be experienced, not just looked at, then I’ve done my job,” says Rachel.

Homeowners, designers, landscapers and architects can visit Gardeners Emporium in Parnell and Dairy Flat to see and feel the pieces at full scale and discuss custom options with the team. A personal design service is another important part of the showroom experience.

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