How Lidgard’s Custom Shade Solutions Create More Usable Outdoor Space for Your Café or Restaurant
Outdoor dining is an important part of hospitality in New Zealand. Customers want to enjoy fresh air, nice views, and a relaxed setting, but weather and exposure to the elements can quickly get in the way. Custom shade solutions give businesses more control over their outdoor areas, turning them into reliable and comfortable spaces that can be used all year.
A Custom Shade Solution Project with Giapo
Our long-standing client, Giapo, wanted to create a versatile and usable outdoor space for his customers. The challenge was to protect the space from the weather while still meeting compliance requirements in a central Auckland location.
Ziptrak® blinds were chosen as the best option, but securing approval for permanent posts proved difficult. To solve this, we designed a self-supporting top structure that could hold fixed panels. These panels were engineered to take removable posts, which Giapo and his team can install or remove each day.
Adding a creative touch, Giapo suggested sign-printed graphics on the panels. This turned them into a branding feature that gave the space colour, visibility, and character, while keeping it flexible and functional. The end result was a practical and visually engaging outdoor area that matched Giapo’s vision and provided more seating for customers.
Create a More Usable Space with Lidgard’s Custom Shade Solutions
Street awnings
Street awnings are a familiar feature in many towns and cities across New Zealand. They provide shelter over shopfronts, entrances, and footpaths, protecting both customers and staff from sun and rain. For cafés and restaurants, they also create welcoming outdoor dining spaces that stays usable in most weather conditions.
Our street awnings can be custom-designed to match your branding, with a choice of colours, signage, and finishes. They are engineered for strength, stability, and long-term durability, making them a reliable investment for any business.
Outdoor blinds
Outdoor blinds transform open spaces into flexible areas that can adapt to the weather. They can be opened to let in fresh air and views on fine days, or closed to create a warm, sheltered, and private space when conditions change.
Mesh blinds reduce glare and heat while allowing airflow, while clear PVC blinds create a fully weatherproof enclosure without blocking natural light. Both options are durable and built for New Zealand conditions. For cafés and restaurants, outdoor blinds often extend the usable floor space, creating more seating and a better customer experience.
Barrel canopies
Barrel canopies are a smart solution for Businesses looking to cover large outdoor areas like dining areas, retail precincts, and transport hubs. Our Barrel Canopies are designed to handle tough weather and they provide year-round protection from wind, rain, and harsh sun.
We can design barrel canopies to match your brand, with options for colours, materials, and signage. They are engineered for strength and built to last, delivering both practicality and a striking visual feature.
Shade sails
Shade sails are one of the most versatile and cost-effective custom shade solutions. They provide excellent UV protection while allowing air to circulate, which makes outdoor spaces cooler and more comfortable. Available in a wide range of colours, shade sails can be designed to suit your site and style.
Retractable roofs
Retractable roofs provide the ultimate in flexibility. They can be opened to let in light and air on fine days or closed to create a fully waterproof and sheltered area when the weather changes. This makes them ideal for restaurants and cafés that want to offer outdoor dining all year round without worrying about sudden downpours or strong sun.
Our retractable roof systems are engineered for strength and built to handle New Zealand’s changing weather. They can also be customised with extras such as integrated lighting, wind sensors, and automated controls for added convenience.
Creating Better Spaces with Custom Shade Solutions
Outdoor areas add value to any café or restaurant, but only when they are comfortable and practical in all conditions. Custom shade solutions let you use these spaces year-round, improving the experience for your customers and creating more opportunities for your business.
At Lidgard Shades, we have over 50 years of experience designing and building shade systems for New Zealand businesses. Our commercial range includes street awnings, outdoor blinds, barrel canopies, shade sails, and retractable roofs. Every product is custom-made to suit your space and built to last.
Our work with Giapo shows how a creative and collaborative approach can deliver both function and style. If you are looking to create a more usable outdoor space for your café or restaurant, our team can design a custom shade solution that works for you, your site, and your brand. Contact us today.