Landscape Architect: Douglas Hoerr, FASLA; Photos by Linda Oyama Bryan
Patio - huge traditional courtyard stone patio idea in Chicago with no cover

1700's entrance and 1500 square feet of this home was kept while remodeling. OnSite Studios
Inspiration for a timeless front door remodel in Boston with a blue front door

Jimmy White Photography
Patio kitchen - large transitional backyard concrete patio kitchen idea in Seattle with no cover

Linear plantings of Salvia nemerosa 'Wesuwe' and Molinia arundinacea 'Skyracer' mimic the bluestone walk. Westhauser Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary drought-tolerant and full sun front yard stone garden path in Milwaukee for summer.

Design: Eric Blanz of Blanzscape LLC Photo: Margot Hartford © 2015 Houzz
Island style patio photo in San Francisco

Example of a mid-sized trendy front yard concrete paver patio design in Providence with no cover

VHT
Trendy stone patio photo in Chicago

Elegant stone patio photo with no cover and a bbq area

A large and elegant outdoor dining and entertaining space houses ample seating. Large containers built into the patio step system offer dramatic color in seasonal arrangements.

A monstrous change from 1995, the landscape is now a riot of color with perennials and container plantings complementing the boxwood hedge. A bluestone entry and new limestone steps highlight the front makeover.

Stunning patio features Holland Stone pavers with an inset Mega Arbel circle. For added definition we designed a double soldiers course to surround the inset circle. The built-in grill surround adds definition to the space and the fire pit surrounded by seat walls creates an inviting space for entertaining. ~ Hoffman Estates, IL http://chicagoland.archadeck.com/

The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call "tweeners"; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area. This was done by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing portion of the patio, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished, limestone-colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into it's surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool with their bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge, Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls (which were overwhelming in the space) and also opened up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive Pecan tree at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited for proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks added, and once again expertly married into the existing decks, opening the area to house a large dining table and a newly built-in BBQ area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property. Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscape as possible. But, the surrounding decks, walls and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. However, upon closer inspection, one can see the subtle-yet-transformative changes that came together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, as well as to improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of this massive hardscape.

Example of a mountain style patio design in Philadelphia with a bbq area

A spacious front porch welcomes you home and offers a great spot to sit and relax in the evening while waving to neighbors walking by in this quiet, family friendly neighborhood of Cotswold. The porch is covered in bluestone which is a great material for a clean, simplistic look. Pike was able to vault part of the porch to make it feel grand. V-Groove was chosen for the ceiling trim, as it is stylish and durable. It is stained in Benjamin Moore Hidden Valley.

Ed Aiona
Trendy pool photo in San Francisco

Inspiration for a mid-sized farmhouse backyard stone patio remodel in Bridgeport with a fire pit and no cover

Linda McManus
Photo of a traditional full sun garden path in New York.

Design ideas for a mid-century modern landscaping in San Francisco.

This is an example of a large traditional shade backyard stone landscaping in Chicago with a fire pit for summer.