This shade arbor, located in The Woodlands, TX north of Houston, spans the entire length of the back yard. It combines a number of elements with custom structures that were constructed to emulate specific aspects of a Zen garden. The homeowner wanted a low-maintenance garden whose beauty could withstand the tough seasonal weather that strikes the area at various times of the year. He also desired a mood-altering aesthetic that would relax the senses and calm the mind. Most importantly, he wanted this meditative environment completely shielded from the outside world so he could find serenity in total privacy. The most unique design element in this entire project is the roof of the shade arbor itself. It features a “negative space” leaf pattern that was designed in a software suite and cut out of the metal with a water jet cutter. Each form in the pattern is loosely suggestive of either a leaf, or a cluster of leaves. These small, negative spaces cut from the metal are the source of the structure’ powerful visual and emotional impact. During the day, sunlight shines down and highlights columns, furniture, plantings, and gravel with a blend of dappling and shade that make you feel like you are sitting under the branches of a tree. At night, the effects are even more brilliant. Skillfully concealed lights mounted on the trusses reflect off the steel in places, while in other places they penetrate the negative spaces, cascading brilliant patterns of ambient light down on vegetation, hardscape, and water alike. The shade arbor shelters two gravel patios that are almost identical in space. The patio closest to the living room features a mini outdoor dining room, replete with tables and chairs. The patio is ornamented with a blend of ornamental grass, a small human figurine sculpture, and mid-level impact ground cover. Gravel was chosen as the preferred hardscape material because of its Zen-like connotations. It is also remarkably soft to walk on, helping to set the mood for a relaxed afternoon in the dappled shade of gently filtered sunlight. The second patio, spaced 15 feet away from the first, resides adjacent to the home at the opposite end of the shade arbor. Like its twin, it is also ornamented with ground cover borders, ornamental grasses, and a large urn identical to the first. Seating here is even more private and contemplative. Instead of a table and chairs, there is a large decorative concrete bench cut in the shape of a giant four-leaf clover. Spanning the distance between these two patios, a bluestone walkway connects the two spaces. Along the way, its borders are punctuated in places by low-level ornamental grasses, a large flowering bush, another sculpture in the form of human faces, and foxtail ferns that spring up from a spread of river rock that punctuates the ends of the walkway. The meditative quality of the shade arbor is reinforced by two special features. The first of these is a disappearing fountain that flows from the top of a large vertical stone embedded like a monolith in the other edges of the river rock. The drains and pumps to this fountain are carefully concealed underneath the covering of smooth stones, and the sound of the water is only barely perceptible, as if it is trying to force you to let go of your thoughts to hear it. A large piece of core-10 steel, which is deliberately intended to rust quickly, rises up like an arced wall from behind the fountain stone. The dark color of the metal helps the casual viewer catch just a glimpse of light reflecting off the slow trickle of water that runs down the side of the stone into the river rock bed. To complete the quiet moment that the shade arbor is intended to invoke, a thick wall of cypress trees rises up on all sides of the yard, completely shutting out the disturbances of the world with a comforting wall of living greenery that comforts the thoughts and emotions.

John Colaneri Outdoor Kitchen

Coyote Outdoor Living

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard concrete paver patio remodel in Dallas with no cover

Abramson

KDL Architects

Patio - contemporary patio idea in Los Angeles with a fire pit

Find the right local pro for your project

Find top design and renovation professionals on Houzz

Patio and fire pit garden

Susan Els Garden & Landscape Design

Elegant gravel patio photo in Burlington with a fire pit and no cover

Outdoor Bar and Grill

DeGoey Designs

Example of a trendy backyard patio design in Other

Gas Fire Pits

Decorative Landscaping

Example of a trendy concrete patio design in Salt Lake City with a fire pit and no cover

Guest House Exterior

Paragon Custom Builders

The Guest House has pocketing lift and slide steel doors to provide an indoor/outdoor living space. The gravel patio connects the area to the rest of the landscape.

Sponsored

Plain City, OH

Kuhns Contracting, Inc.26 Reviews

Central Ohio's Trusted Home Remodeler Specializing in Kitchens & Baths

Lansdowne Modern Swimming Pool + Outdoor Living

Randy Angell Designs

Photography by Jimi Smith / "Jimi Smith Photography"
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional backyard patio remodel in Dallas with a fire pit, decking and a pergola

Del Ida Seven

Marc Julien Homes

Island style patio photo in Miami

Project of the Month: September 2017

TCP Custom Outdoor Living

This freestanding covered patio with an outdoor kitchen and fireplace is the perfect retreat! Just a few steps away from the home, this covered patio is about 500 square feet. The homeowner had an existing structure they wanted replaced. This new one has a custom built wood burning fireplace with an outdoor kitchen and is a great area for entertaining. The flooring is a travertine tile in a Versailles pattern over a concrete patio. The outdoor kitchen has an L-shaped counter with plenty of space for prepping and serving meals as well as space for dining. The fascia is stone and the countertops are granite. The wood-burning fireplace is constructed of the same stone and has a ledgestone hearth and cedar mantle. What a perfect place to cozy up and enjoy a cool evening outside. The structure has cedar columns and beams. The vaulted ceiling is stained tongue and groove and really gives the space a very open feel. Special details include the cedar braces under the bar top counter, carriage lights on the columns and directional lights along the sides of the ceiling. Click Photography

Idyllic Modern

David Thorne Landscape Architect

Marion Brenner Photography
Example of a large trendy front yard tile patio design in San Francisco with no cover

Patio, porch, sod & plantings - a backyard transformation

Flores Artscape

West Los Angeles
Example of a trendy backyard concrete paver patio design in Los Angeles

Pool house

Exterior Worlds Landscaping & Design

We were contacted by a family named Pesek who lived near Memorial Drive on the West side of Houston. They lived in a stately home built in the late 1950’s. Many years back, they had contracted a local pool company to install an old lagoon-style pool, which they had since grown tired of. When they initially called us, they wanted to know if we could build them an outdoor room at the far end of the swimming pool. We scheduled a free consultation at a time convenient to them, and we drove out to their residence to take a look at the property. After a quick survey of the back yard, rear of the home, and the swimming pool, we determined that building an outdoor room as an addition to their existing landscaping design would not bring them the results they expected. The pool was visibly dated with an early “70’s” look, which not only clashed with the late 50’s style of home architecture, but guaranteed an even greater clash with any modern-style outdoor room we constructed. Luckily for the Peseks, we offered an even better landscaping plan than the one they had hoped for. We proposed the construction of a new outdoor room and an entirely new swimming pool. Both of these new structures would be built around the classical geometry of proportional right angles. This would allow a very modern design to compliment an older home, because basic geometric patterns are universal in many architectural designs used throughout history. In this case, both the swimming pool and the outdoor rooms were designed as interrelated quadrilateral forms with proportional right angles that created the illusion of lengthened distance and a sense of Classical elegance. This proved a perfect complement to a house that had originally been built as a symbolic emblem of a simpler, more rugged and absolute era. Though reminiscent of classical design and complimentary to the conservative design of the home, the interior of the outdoor room was ultra-modern in its array of comfort and convenience. The Peseks felt this would be a great place to hold birthday parties for their child. With this new outdoor room, the Peseks could take the party outside at any time of day or night, and at any time of year. We also built the structure to be fully functional as an outdoor kitchen as well as an outdoor entertainment area. There was a smoker, a refrigerator, an ice maker, and a water heater—all intended to eliminate any need to return to the house once the party began. Seating and entertainment systems were also added to provide state of the art fun for adults and children alike. We installed a flat-screen plasma TV, and we wired it for cable. The swimming pool was built between the outdoor room and the rear entrance to the house. We got rid of the old lagoon-pool design which geometrically clashed with the right angles of the house and outdoor room. We then had a completely new pool built, in the shape of a rectangle, with a rather innovative coping design. We showcased the pool with a coping that rose perpendicular to the ground out of the stone patio surface. This reinforced our blend of contemporary look with classical right angles. We saved the client an enormous amount of money on travertine by setting the coping so that it does not overhang with the tile. Because the ground between the house and the outdoor room gradually dropped in grade, we used the natural slope of the ground to create another perpendicular right angle at the end of the pool. Here, we installed a waterfall which spilled over into a heated spa. Although the spa was fed from within itself, it was built to look as though water was coming from within the pool. The ultimate result of all of this is a new sense of visual “ebb and flow,” so to speak. When Mr. Pesek sits in his couch facing his house, the earth appears to rise up first into an illuminated pool which leads the way up the steps to his home. When he sits in his spa facing the other direction, the earth rises up like a doorway to his outdoor room, where he can comfortably relax in the water while he watches TV. For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.

Patio Ideas & Designs

Outdoor patios are frequently viewed as an extension of indoor living space. Whether it's comprised of stone, brick or concrete, this paved area is often used as a socializing location, especially when there’s a grill or fire pit present. Throw in an outdoor dining set and some patio decor, and it can also become your favorite eating spot! As you browse outdoor patio ideas, keep in mind the follows tips and tricks to get the most out of yours.

How do I plan a proper patio design?

Planning out your patio design before your remodel is crucial. When perusing patio ideas, keep in mind that people use patios for different things, but they primarily use it as a space for entertaining and relaxing. Because of this, figure out what you want this area’s overall functionality to be. Will you have large groups over or a few intimate gatherings? Will you be serving food or are you more of a cocktail hour type? Secondly, take time to figure out what materials will work best for your remodel — different patio designs call for different materials, some of which might not work for your budget and space limitations. Then, decide whether you want a covered or uncovered area; think about any weather (rain or sun) that you want to protect yourself from. Next, determine what amenities are important to you; is an outdoor fireplace essential, or would a smaller scale fire pit work just as well? Do you need a big grill or will a smaller barbecue work for you? Lastly, much like any other room in your home, decorate the space to ensure that it's welcoming, interesting and aligned with your home’s style.

What materials can patios be made from?

As with any outdoor space, materials dictate the overall style and feel, so make sure your choices accurately reflect the vibe of your home. Stone and terra-cotta tile are common with mediterranean houses, while brick is most often seen in traditional homes. Concrete works well with almost any space and style, so it's always a great option when you're choosing patio materials. After you figure out your foundation, decide whether you want a covered or uncovered area. You can always add a pergola, arbor, awning or trellis for some shade, or you can let the sun shine down on your patio. As you look through pictures and compile your favorite patio design ideas, note which materials you’re drawn to and try to incorporate those into your own design.

What should I incorporate in my patio design?

Even though patios can be nothing more than paved slabs outside your house, they can also be so much more if you add the right touches. Fire pits and fireplaces are great for cooler nights, while an outdoor kitchen and bar make it an ideal party mecca. Regardless of what you do, a spot to grill and eat is a must for al fresco dining, and you need good furniture to truly enjoy even the most basic outdoor space. Depending on your budget and maintenance threshold, you can even splurge on a few additional patio ideas, like a hot tub or pool to warm up or cool down all year round.

How should I incorporate patio decor?

You won’t have to look far for patio decorating ideas, since every little thing can double as decor outside, including plants and flowers. You should make sure that everything you do place outdoors, like furniture, is weatherproof. That doesn't mean your patio can't look as good as any indoor living room! Rugs, throw pillows and chair cushions all come in waterproof fabrics, while coffee tables, side tables, sofas, sectionals and armchairs often come together in sets. Rope or string lighting are popular patio decorating ideas (as well as mood setters), as are candles, which can also keep bugs away if you get the right kind. Put together some flower or succulent arrangements in pretty containers and place those around your space to liven it up. Fun little accessories, like a garden gnome, tiki torch, bird feeder or umbrella can add more personality where it's lacking — keep your eyes peeled when looking at patio pictures to see what decor you can draw inspiration from. Learn more about the cost to install pavers