Ideabook 911: My Yard Needs Structure
From houzz member ebtehaj:
We are hoping to add a modern structure to the deck and make it more inviting. The house is from 1935, Mediterranean style but we are hoping to finish the deck w/ modern structure where we can entertain. Many thanks in advance...(after a bit of follow up)...I think I prefer a structure like an arbor. I would like to cover both the deck & and the lower patio. I am thinking to cover up to the French door (light fixture) both on top & bottom w/ a modern trellis or arbor. I understand that the room (where the windows are from the pic) will have less light but that's OK.
My issue is how to integrate modern structure w/ an old house and how would it look? Interior of the house is very eclectic and I have a very modern kitchen. Oh design challenges!!!! Thank you...
Wow, this one took me awhile, mostly because once I get started at seeking out images here I can't stop. Plus, this one a little tricky. What's great is that you have such good access to the space with two sets of French doors. I also like that the patio has a grade change from the rest of the yard. When covering the upper and lower patios, you want to make sure that the scale of the structure isn't out of whack - to me this means they should perhaps have some differentiation - perhaps the arbor height is lower when the patio is lower. One huge arbor that looks rivals the size of the rest of your house is not going to look right.
I see that you have a heat lamp (I think!) out there, which tells me you like to enjoy being outside as much of the year as possible. Thus, an outdoor fireplace is probably something you would love. This should likely be incorporated on the lower patio.
I don't think your classic thirties Mediterranean necessarily dictates a certain style of structure. I think something that looks like it's from that era is fine, but I also think the right modern design can work for you. This is why I've included a really wide array of styles below.
I have sort of a wacky idea of how to get jump-started. You spoke of entertaining. A lot of what you need is simply the right furnishings for your outdoor room. In fact, I'd start with that before even worrying about the structure - you're going to want weather-proof stuff anyway, so go for it! Here's an ideabook your dilemma inspired me to do last week:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/30451/list/Forty-DOs-for-Outdoor-Furniture
also, check out the Dining Al Fresco books we all seem to want to write a few times a year:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/query/dining%20al%20fresco
Grab a few hurricane globes for candles, roll out a table, chairs, a tablecloth and a bar table and you'll find you are already able to entertain without building a thing. Thus, you can have some groups of friends over for dinner and get their opinions. You'll love some, you'll hate some, you'll hear some things you never thought of before, and you'll probably find someone "has a guy" who is incredibly talented at designing and/or building. Pull out the laptop and show them your ideabooks and related ideabooks that you like. Exploit the space for advice! Then when you are all done, you can have everyone over for a party to show off!
Here is a huge smorgasboard of outdoor structure images to get you started. Use them to figure out what you like and what you don't like. Analyze their qualities to think which will work for you and which won't. If you see any that you are dying to have, or a particular architect's style appeals to you, CALL THEM! All of their information is available here. I think the scope of this project is so large that I cannot recommend hiring an architect or landscape architect whose work appeals to you enough.
Please keep us up to date on how the project goes!
Becky
P.S. Here are is another ideabook Kit posted today with a lot of yard structures in it:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/31747/list/Made-in-the-Shade--How-Should-I-Shade-My-Backyard-
We are hoping to add a modern structure to the deck and make it more inviting. The house is from 1935, Mediterranean style but we are hoping to finish the deck w/ modern structure where we can entertain. Many thanks in advance...(after a bit of follow up)...I think I prefer a structure like an arbor. I would like to cover both the deck & and the lower patio. I am thinking to cover up to the French door (light fixture) both on top & bottom w/ a modern trellis or arbor. I understand that the room (where the windows are from the pic) will have less light but that's OK.
My issue is how to integrate modern structure w/ an old house and how would it look? Interior of the house is very eclectic and I have a very modern kitchen. Oh design challenges!!!! Thank you...
Wow, this one took me awhile, mostly because once I get started at seeking out images here I can't stop. Plus, this one a little tricky. What's great is that you have such good access to the space with two sets of French doors. I also like that the patio has a grade change from the rest of the yard. When covering the upper and lower patios, you want to make sure that the scale of the structure isn't out of whack - to me this means they should perhaps have some differentiation - perhaps the arbor height is lower when the patio is lower. One huge arbor that looks rivals the size of the rest of your house is not going to look right.
I see that you have a heat lamp (I think!) out there, which tells me you like to enjoy being outside as much of the year as possible. Thus, an outdoor fireplace is probably something you would love. This should likely be incorporated on the lower patio.
I don't think your classic thirties Mediterranean necessarily dictates a certain style of structure. I think something that looks like it's from that era is fine, but I also think the right modern design can work for you. This is why I've included a really wide array of styles below.
I have sort of a wacky idea of how to get jump-started. You spoke of entertaining. A lot of what you need is simply the right furnishings for your outdoor room. In fact, I'd start with that before even worrying about the structure - you're going to want weather-proof stuff anyway, so go for it! Here's an ideabook your dilemma inspired me to do last week:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/30451/list/Forty-DOs-for-Outdoor-Furniture
also, check out the Dining Al Fresco books we all seem to want to write a few times a year:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/query/dining%20al%20fresco
Grab a few hurricane globes for candles, roll out a table, chairs, a tablecloth and a bar table and you'll find you are already able to entertain without building a thing. Thus, you can have some groups of friends over for dinner and get their opinions. You'll love some, you'll hate some, you'll hear some things you never thought of before, and you'll probably find someone "has a guy" who is incredibly talented at designing and/or building. Pull out the laptop and show them your ideabooks and related ideabooks that you like. Exploit the space for advice! Then when you are all done, you can have everyone over for a party to show off!
Here is a huge smorgasboard of outdoor structure images to get you started. Use them to figure out what you like and what you don't like. Analyze their qualities to think which will work for you and which won't. If you see any that you are dying to have, or a particular architect's style appeals to you, CALL THEM! All of their information is available here. I think the scope of this project is so large that I cannot recommend hiring an architect or landscape architect whose work appeals to you enough.
Please keep us up to date on how the project goes!
Becky
P.S. Here are is another ideabook Kit posted today with a lot of yard structures in it:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/31747/list/Made-in-the-Shade--How-Should-I-Shade-My-Backyard-