The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

Looking for stylish privacy that lasts for 20+ years? Aluminum fence installation is the solution you need! Homeowners and property owners in Pittsburgh, PA continue to choose aluminum fence installation because it’s low-maintenance, sleek, and affordable. The residential and commercial aluminum fencing that we install not only looks lovely but functions exceedingly well, too. The fence panels are powder coated with extreme attention to detail to help prevent chipping, scratching, and fading.

Photo: Ben Benschneider; Interior Design: Robin Chell
Bathroom - modern beige tile bathroom idea in Seattle with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets and light wood cabinets

Stamped Concrete
Large elegant backyard concrete paver and custom-shaped hot tub photo in Philadelphia

This cottage style architecture was created by adding a 2nd floor and garage to this small rambler. Photography: Sicora, Inc.
Inspiration for a timeless wood gable roof remodel in Minneapolis

WHAT: Contemporary & Victorian Style Fence WHERE: Around the Perimeter of Pool & Patio Area COLOR: Black Polyester Powder Coated Finish (Copyright 2011 - Kane Manufacturing Corporation)

Example of a classic backyard patio kitchen design in San Francisco with a pergola

Photography by Sean Gallagher
Example of a large country white two-story wood gable roof design in Dallas

This is an example of a contemporary retaining wall landscape in Austin.

Aluminum fence and gate with awning - designed & installed by Dakota Unlimited.
Design ideas for a mid-sized rustic full sun backyard stone landscaping in Minneapolis.

Photographer: Tom Crane Made of 300, 10-foot steel blades set upright 8 inches apart, the award winning Cor-Ten Cattails Sculptural fence was designed for a home in Berwyn, Pennsylvania as a yard sculpture that also keeps deer out. Made of COR-TEN, a steel alloy that eliminates the need for painting and maintains a rich, dark rust color without corroding, the fence stanchions were cut with a plasma cutter from sheets of the alloy. Each blade stands 8 feet above grade, set in concrete 3 feet below, weighs 80-90 pounds and is 5/8 inch thick. The profile of the blades is an irregular trapezoid with no horizontal connections or supports. Only the gate has two horizontal bars, and each leaf weighs 1200 pounds.

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design
Inspiration for a traditional backyard landscaping in Boston.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional full sun backyard brick garden path in Dallas.

Inspiration for a modern concrete paver landscaping in Los Angeles.

Small trendy backyard stone patio photo in New York with a pergola

Light brown custom cedar screen walls provide privacy along the landscaped terrace and compliment the warm hues of the decking and provide the perfect backdrop for the floating wooden bench.

Photography: © ShadesOfGreen
Inspiration for a contemporary backyard landscaping in San Francisco.

Architect: Brandon Architects Inc. Contractor/Interior Designer: Patterson Construction, Newport Beach, CA. Photos by: Jeri Keogel
Inspiration for a coastal wood exterior home remodel in Orange County with a hip roof

A classic upper east side terrace garden features horizontal slat ipe fencing, custom metal-clad planter boxes and formal plantings. Ceramic feature planters add a punch of color and interest to the neutral furniture selections.