Patios

Outdoor-friendly wine-bottle light fixture. This homeowner made an outdoor light fixture out of empty wine bottles and a steel bar. Edison bulbs alternate with tea lights for extra charm.

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Fire pit with plenty of seating.

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An arched trellis can provide privacy, even if you live in a city with tall buildings all around. Sitting beneath the trellis with the sunlight filtering down and green vines twining, you’ll hardly remember you have any neighbors.

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Whether large or small, an evergreen windbreak can help you make the most of your outdoor environment and — in time — help you save money and heating fuel.

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The bench seat and throw cushions bring this garden to life without impeding on the restrained colouring of the garden. If you’re not brave enough to change direction from your comfortable pastel planting, garden accessories are a good place to start.

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Your pizza oven can become the focal point of your outdoor kitchen. This cylindrical design is nicely tucked into the corner of this layout. Notice that the stone wraps the pizza oven and makes a nice contrast to the stuccoed base of the rest of the kitchen setup.

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Here is a good diagram of some of the components that make up a portable manufactured pizza oven.

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Pergolas can nicely frame an outdoor cooking area. Fixed lighting and other details combine to make this a highly functional and beautiful setup.

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This marvelous wooded setting has an equally marvelous configuration with its grill. There is even a cutting surface to the right and other surfaces to set trays and utensils on. (Notice the built-in shelving under this grill.)

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And don't forget your patio or garden! An old French metal chair like this one can live happily outside as a planter until you find just the right home for it indoors.

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Another type of sliding glass door is the telescoping patio door. This door consists of several — three or more — panels that slide past each other. The great advantage of a telescoping door is the ability to get a really wide opening that can eliminate the barrier between indoors and out.

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The sliding glass door has got to be the most ubiquitous patio door. Made up of two framed glass panels that slide past each other, this door can be seen on contemporary, traditional and every style in between.

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Bar-B-Que on patio with storage.

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Imagine this sitting area in the middle of an open lawn. “Cozy” is not an adjective that comes to mind. But enclose it within a simple vine trellis and a rich bed of greenery, and it takes on an intimate personality conducive to hours of conversation and relaxation. Tip: If your goal is to create privacy for your dining patio or reading room — or any space where you’ll be seated — a 5-foot-tall hedge or wall is all it will take to make you disappear. Any taller and the space could feel claustrophobic. And keeping the top within easy reach makes trimming less of an ordeal.

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Patio fire place.

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Screened outdoor room connected to the great room.

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Incorporate an outdoor fireplace on your patio.

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Stone seating on patio with foam seats and cushions covered in an all weather material.

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Cascading foliage such as 'red fountain grass' paired with 'blue fescue' would be great around a small seating area in full sun.

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'Grace Smoke Bush' grows 6-10 ft tall and wide with annual pruning. Great for patio

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Pergolas are always nice and could be covered with sail cloth loosely tacked down to catch the breeze.

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