Before and After: 4 Outdoor Makeovers With Standout Pergolas
Design and building professionals, including one found on Houzz, turn lackluster outdoor areas into eye-catching spaces
In addition to adding valuable shade, a pergola can transform a yard or other outdoor area. In the following four makeovers, landscape design and building pros created custom pergolas that frame space, add architectural interest, increase privacy and more. Not only are the yards now more appealing, but they’re also inviting and comfortable spaces where the owners can relax at home.
After: A new deck made of composite TimberTech anchors the outdoor dining and lounge area. “We knew we wanted an additional covered [deck], but determining exactly where and how big was where we started,” Prevost says.
The exterior upgrade was a big part of the renovation, with the team balancing the home’s age with a modern feel. “The house is a midcentury-style home, so we wanted to be sure we incorporated design elements that complemented the architecture,” Prevost says.
She worked with Skyline Sunrooms and Patio Covers to create a custom aluminum structure that covers the new deck, bringing shade and style to the sunny space. Its clean, sweeping lines and angular shape make a dramatic statement and nod to the architecture of the 1960s.
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The exterior upgrade was a big part of the renovation, with the team balancing the home’s age with a modern feel. “The house is a midcentury-style home, so we wanted to be sure we incorporated design elements that complemented the architecture,” Prevost says.
She worked with Skyline Sunrooms and Patio Covers to create a custom aluminum structure that covers the new deck, bringing shade and style to the sunny space. Its clean, sweeping lines and angular shape make a dramatic statement and nod to the architecture of the 1960s.
Find a deck builder near you
After debating a few options, the team opted for fixed slats for the roof cover. They had considered movable louvers, but decided against them due to budget considerations. “We spent a lot of time identifying the size of each beam and the width of the spacing between each beam,” Prevost says. The result is great shade but not a totally covered space, which is what the homeowners wanted.
Read more about this renovation
Read more about this renovation
2. Clean-Lined Contemporary Gathering Space
Deck at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two children
Location: Atlanta
Size: 950 square feet (88 square meters)
Landscape architect: Micah Rogers of Boyce Design and Contracting
Before: The deck and retaining walls surrounding this Atlanta home were in rough shape when the homeowners hired Boyce Design and Contracting to overhaul their outdoor space. “In fact, when we removed [the retaining walls], we discovered that they were hollow inside and the wood framework had rotted. [The deck] would have collapsed in the near future,” landscape architect Micah Rogers says.
As part of the renovation, the homeowners requested a new deck that would be able to accommodate dining, lounging and entertaining. They wanted a space that was big enough to host large groups of friends but wouldn’t feel oversize during smaller gatherings.
Find a local design-build firm on Houzz
Deck at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two children
Location: Atlanta
Size: 950 square feet (88 square meters)
Landscape architect: Micah Rogers of Boyce Design and Contracting
Before: The deck and retaining walls surrounding this Atlanta home were in rough shape when the homeowners hired Boyce Design and Contracting to overhaul their outdoor space. “In fact, when we removed [the retaining walls], we discovered that they were hollow inside and the wood framework had rotted. [The deck] would have collapsed in the near future,” landscape architect Micah Rogers says.
As part of the renovation, the homeowners requested a new deck that would be able to accommodate dining, lounging and entertaining. They wanted a space that was big enough to host large groups of friends but wouldn’t feel oversize during smaller gatherings.
Find a local design-build firm on Houzz
After: An expansive new Trex deck makes the most of the outdoor space and includes a built-in fire pit lounge and a dining area framed by a custom aluminum pergola. Cedar slats run across the top and down the back of the shade structure, adding interest to the blank stucco wall behind. Loosely draped string lights provide a cozy, inviting ambiance.
Rogers attached the 14-by-16-foot pergola directly to the house, which allowed him to place the support post on the left side in a less prominent spot. From this view, you can see the dramatic cantilevered effect. A cedar-and-cable railing along the pergola’s far edge keeps the views out to the trees open.
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Rogers attached the 14-by-16-foot pergola directly to the house, which allowed him to place the support post on the left side in a less prominent spot. From this view, you can see the dramatic cantilevered effect. A cedar-and-cable railing along the pergola’s far edge keeps the views out to the trees open.
Shop for a fire pit
The home’s clean-lined exterior and interior helped inspire the custom pergola and overall landscape design. “I played off the architecture of the house with the design,” Rogers says. “It’s very modern, with a contemporary open floor plan, and the interiors were minimalist.”
You can see how the deck could easily host large groups while offering smaller spaces for intimate gatherings. The pergola frames the dining area on the left, while the fire pit lounge area on the right is nestled into a nook formed by the new retaining wall.
Read more about this renovation
You can see how the deck could easily host large groups while offering smaller spaces for intimate gatherings. The pergola frames the dining area on the left, while the fire pit lounge area on the right is nestled into a nook formed by the new retaining wall.
Read more about this renovation
3. Colorful Rooftop Retreat
Patio at a Glance
Location: Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 925 square feet (86 square meters)
Designers: Paulina Cervantes and Andrea Fripp of Dual Concept Design (interior and exterior design) and Kemora Landscapes (planting design)
Roof deck specialist: Chicago Roof Deck & Garden
Before: The owner of this fifth-floor Chicago pied-à-terre lives in Baltimore most of the time. She needed a local designer she could work with remotely to transform the blank-slate space — both indoors and out — into an elegant, vibrant retreat.
She turned to Houzz, where she discovered Dual Concept Design. “We spoke many times on the phone and did several virtual meetings, but the first time we ever met her in person was at the first design presentation,” says designer Paulina Cervantes. “After the client left, we continued managing the project remotely.”
The team continued to use Houzz throughout the inspiration and design phases. “When we start a project, we always ask the client if they have an ideabook on Houzz,” designer Andrea Fripp says.
Patio at a Glance
Location: Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 925 square feet (86 square meters)
Designers: Paulina Cervantes and Andrea Fripp of Dual Concept Design (interior and exterior design) and Kemora Landscapes (planting design)
Roof deck specialist: Chicago Roof Deck & Garden
Before: The owner of this fifth-floor Chicago pied-à-terre lives in Baltimore most of the time. She needed a local designer she could work with remotely to transform the blank-slate space — both indoors and out — into an elegant, vibrant retreat.
She turned to Houzz, where she discovered Dual Concept Design. “We spoke many times on the phone and did several virtual meetings, but the first time we ever met her in person was at the first design presentation,” says designer Paulina Cervantes. “After the client left, we continued managing the project remotely.”
The team continued to use Houzz throughout the inspiration and design phases. “When we start a project, we always ask the client if they have an ideabook on Houzz,” designer Andrea Fripp says.
After: The renovated patio is centered around a colorful seating area and an existing fire feature. The latter “was our anchor,” Cervantes says. “We had to base our design on the location of the fireplace.” Then she and Fripp added a sectional sofa, rounding out the space with two woven accent chairs, a faux bois coffee table and side tables.
A covered dining space behind the lounge draws guests farther out onto the patio, with coordinating colors and materials tying the whole design together.
Shop for outdoor furniture on Houzz
A covered dining space behind the lounge draws guests farther out onto the patio, with coordinating colors and materials tying the whole design together.
Shop for outdoor furniture on Houzz
As for the pergola, “we knew we needed to incorporate a shaded area but couldn’t simply place umbrellas out there,” because of Chicago’s extreme seasons and weather changes, Cervantes says.
Working with Chicago Roof Deck & Garden, the designers created a custom steel pergola that spans the dining zone, adding shade and architectural interest but not visual clutter. “We didn’t want a giant post in the middle that would support the pergola,” Cervantes says. They introduced a cantilevered crossbeam (seen in the previous photo) connected to the side of the building. “It created an interesting architectural moment that’s very fitting with the architecture of Chicago,” Cervantes says. With engineering supervision, they had it lifted it to the roof via crane.
The black metal dining set complements the shade structure and contrasts the light-colored pavers. The designers enhanced the dining set with custom cushions and a table runner made of the same fabrics used in the seating area. They also added string lights and LED sconces to the pergola, so the homeowner can enjoy the space at night.
Read more about this renovation
Working with Chicago Roof Deck & Garden, the designers created a custom steel pergola that spans the dining zone, adding shade and architectural interest but not visual clutter. “We didn’t want a giant post in the middle that would support the pergola,” Cervantes says. They introduced a cantilevered crossbeam (seen in the previous photo) connected to the side of the building. “It created an interesting architectural moment that’s very fitting with the architecture of Chicago,” Cervantes says. With engineering supervision, they had it lifted it to the roof via crane.
The black metal dining set complements the shade structure and contrasts the light-colored pavers. The designers enhanced the dining set with custom cushions and a table runner made of the same fabrics used in the seating area. They also added string lights and LED sconces to the pergola, so the homeowner can enjoy the space at night.
Read more about this renovation
4. Elegant Covered Terrace
Patio at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a young son, a baby on the way and two dogs
Location: Cleveland Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Size: Terrace: about 1,400 square feet (130 square meters); lot: 8,715 square feet (810 square meters)
Landscape architects: Joseph Richardson and Adam Sexton of Joseph Richardson Landscape Architecture
Landscape contractor: Black Pearl
Before: A couple bought this 1919 Georgian-style home in Washington, D.C., during the pandemic. As part of their plan to overhaul the property, they hired the team at Joseph Richardson Landscape Architecture to create a master plan that would improve the yard’s function and style, and also honor the home’s age and architecture.
Part of the project’s goal was to improve the flow between outdoor spaces, including the split-level patio seen here, add privacy to the exposed corner lot and enhance the outdoor living features. To get a sense of their style, landscape architects Joseph Richardson and Adam Sexton reviewed photos the homeowners shared from Houzz. The pair could see that the homeowners liked a traditional, classic look.
Patio at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a young son, a baby on the way and two dogs
Location: Cleveland Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Size: Terrace: about 1,400 square feet (130 square meters); lot: 8,715 square feet (810 square meters)
Landscape architects: Joseph Richardson and Adam Sexton of Joseph Richardson Landscape Architecture
Landscape contractor: Black Pearl
Before: A couple bought this 1919 Georgian-style home in Washington, D.C., during the pandemic. As part of their plan to overhaul the property, they hired the team at Joseph Richardson Landscape Architecture to create a master plan that would improve the yard’s function and style, and also honor the home’s age and architecture.
Part of the project’s goal was to improve the flow between outdoor spaces, including the split-level patio seen here, add privacy to the exposed corner lot and enhance the outdoor living features. To get a sense of their style, landscape architects Joseph Richardson and Adam Sexton reviewed photos the homeowners shared from Houzz. The pair could see that the homeowners liked a traditional, classic look.
After: The landscape architects raised the sunken bluestone patio seen in the previous photo to meet the upper terrace, forming a level outdoor space that wraps around the front and side of the house. Now there’s plenty of room for outdoor dining, cooking and lounging by the fire.
A new custom powder-coated-steel pergola anchors the space. Its clean lines and classic materials reflect the traditional style the homeowners were after while also giving the terrace a fresh, updated look.
Clear cedar slats run across the top of the shade structure. For those hot mid-Atlantic days, the pergola also features a ceiling fan. Overhead lights allow outdoor enjoyment to continue past sunset. “The four black boxes are lights that are perfectly spaced for a soft casting of light over the table,” Richardson says.
What to Know About Adding a Pergola
A new custom powder-coated-steel pergola anchors the space. Its clean lines and classic materials reflect the traditional style the homeowners were after while also giving the terrace a fresh, updated look.
Clear cedar slats run across the top of the shade structure. For those hot mid-Atlantic days, the pergola also features a ceiling fan. Overhead lights allow outdoor enjoyment to continue past sunset. “The four black boxes are lights that are perfectly spaced for a soft casting of light over the table,” Richardson says.
What to Know About Adding a Pergola
Other elements help define the outdoor areas, including cast-stone planters that edge the pergola. Though they currently contain boxwood shrubs, they also could be used for growing vines up the pergola’s sides.
Brick paving patterns mark the transition between spaces, with the herringbone pattern under the dining area transitioning to a running bond in the lounge area. “We played with pattern to denote the different spaces,” Sexton says.
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Brick paving patterns mark the transition between spaces, with the herringbone pattern under the dining area transitioning to a running bond in the lounge area. “We played with pattern to denote the different spaces,” Sexton says.
Read more about this renovation
More on Houzz
Browse landscape photos
Read more landscape stories
Hire a landscape contractor
Shop outdoor products
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two little boys
Location: San Diego
Designer: Melissa Prevost of M Prevost Design
Contractor: Green Room Design Build
Before: After living in their 1960s San Diego home for more than 10 years, this couple was ready to make some changes. “We wanted a home that was modernized and reflected our style, yet still fit in with the neighborhood and kept the original integrity of the 1967 house,” homeowner Debbie Terrell says.
They enlisted designer Melissa Prevost to help them renovate their space inside and out — starting with the exteriors. They hoped to address everything about the house that was about to break, wasn’t safe and didn’t suit their family’s needs and lifestyle. “Needless to say, my wish list was long,” Terrell says.
First, the homeowners wanted to comfortably enjoy their outdoor space. The backyard, seen here, faces east and gets a lot of sun. An existing deck overlooking the driveway and front yard was old and didn’t meet the family’s outdoor living and entertaining needs.