Transitional backyard deck photo with a fire pit, decking and no cover

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Watertight deck with arbor and flagstone patio. Features a custom kitchen with built in grill and green egg. Stone work on the bottom of the columns and kitchen.

A heavier looking outdoor rail detail using a teak color stained, clear wood cedar on edge with textured bronze aluminum balusters and a bronze pyramid decorative post cap. Second level deck using composite decking with decorative wood wrapped post. Photos by Doug Woodside, Decks and Patio Covers

Archadeck of Chicagoland An upper level deck and screen porch combination provides both open air and sheltered living spaces for this lakefront property. The custom design work for the porch allowed us to seamlessly integrate it with the home, making the porch look as though it has always belonged. A flagstone patio was built below the deck. The natural stone creates the perfect transition from the home to the backyard, then down to the lake. Every piece of this project comes together to create a truly stunning view.

Photos By: Rzonca Construction-The Deck & Patio Experts
Patio - modern patio idea in Cleveland

Project Located In Copley Township Ohio. Photo showing the Deck Lit up at Night by the LED Post Lighting. A Very Low Energy System Using 12Volts. The LED Lights themselves only draw about 4 watts each. There are 10 fixtures on this deck. Energy cost to power them up, $5.00 year.

Craig Westerman
Inspiration for a large timeless backyard deck remodel in Baltimore with no cover

Photography by Steve Knetig ©2013
Inspiration for a rustic deck remodel in Austin with decking

Photography by Laura Moss
Patio - coastal backyard stone patio idea in New York with no cover

Roof Deck
Beach style rooftop rooftop deck photo in Boston with a fire pit and decking

The original multiple decks and elevated patio blocked the pool and fractured the space. This design creates an elegant progression from the home’s interior to poolside. The wide stairs oriented towards the pool provide pool views from the entire deck. The interior level provides for relaxed seating and dining with the magnificence of nature. The descent of a short group of stairs leads to the outdoor kitchen level. The barbeque is bordered in stone topped with a countertop of granite. The outdoor kitchen level is positioned for easy access midway from either the pool or interior level. From the kitchen level an additional group of stairs flow down to the paver patio surrounding the pool. Also incorporated is a downstairs entry and ample space for storage beneath the deck sourced through an access panel. The design connects the interior to poolside by means of a rich and functional outdoor living design.

In this case, we designed and built this attractive raised deck, making room for a spa to be set against it. Initially a conceptual design -- be it of wood or stone -- consists of lines on paper or a vision in your head, but ultimately it is a unique balance and culmination of materials utilizing color, texture, scale and shape that is very personal. www.longislandhottub.com

On a flagstone patio/deck overlooking woodlands, a carefully placed Japanese maple provides a focal point. ©Melissa Clark Photography. All rights reserved.

Step out onto the rooftop garden for a view of the surrounding woods. Enjoy the firepit, the cedar soaking tub and the covered patio area
Example of a classic rooftop rooftop deck design in Portland with decking, a fire pit and no cover

Curved front Trex deck. Trex Transcends Spiced Rum decking with Trex Transcends Vintage Lantern double picture frame border. Trex Transcends railing in Vintage Lantern with black aluminum balusters. Trex LED Decklites.

The pool deck and patio step down to a grassy yard with beautiful concrete stepping stones running alongside the pool.
Example of a huge tuscan backyard water fountain deck design in San Francisco with a roof extension

This two level deck in Summit, NJ transitions to a pool and patio. The flooring is Ipe hardwood. The upper deck has a custom cedar bench.
Example of a mid-sized classic backyard deck design in New York