Overview: Located in Estero, Florida, Verdana Village is a new planned community that offers a wide range of amenities and outdoor activities for residents. With its proximity to beautiful beaches and the peaceful Estero River, the community is a popular choice for families seeking a vibrant and active lifestyle. Features: The centerpiece of the community is a spacious pool and pool deck area, which boasts a variety of high-quality facilities. These include both indoor and outdoor tennis and pickleball courts, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a versatile movement studio, and a convenient full-service café for residents to enjoy. Design Solution: To provide much-needed shade for pool deck users, Azenco was commissioned to design and install a series of durable and elegant 8’ x 8’ pool pergola structures. With no limitations on where the pergolas could be placed, the team focused on selecting the most robust and visually appealing options. The Azenco R-SHADE system was chosen for its insulated fixed roof panels, effectively blocking the sun's rays and providing respite from passing showers. Additionally, the hidden gutter system of the R-SHADE ensures that rainwater is efficiently channeled away from the pergola space, keeping guests dry and comfortable during their stay.

Overview: Located in Estero, Florida, Verdana Village is a new planned community that offers a wide range of amenities and outdoor activities for residents. With its proximity to beautiful beaches and the peaceful Estero River, the community is a popular choice for families seeking a vibrant and active lifestyle. Features: The centerpiece of the community is a spacious pool and pool deck area, which boasts a variety of high-quality facilities. These include both indoor and outdoor tennis and pickleball courts, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a versatile movement studio, and a convenient full-service café for residents to enjoy. Design Solution: To provide much-needed shade for pool deck users, Azenco was commissioned to design and install a series of durable and elegant 8’ x 8’ pool pergola structures. With no limitations on where the pergolas could be placed, the team focused on selecting the most robust and visually appealing options. The Azenco R-SHADE system was chosen for its insulated fixed roof panels, effectively blocking the sun's rays and providing respite from passing showers. Additionally, the hidden gutter system of the R-SHADE ensures that rainwater is efficiently channeled away from the pergola space, keeping guests dry and comfortable during their stay.

A breathtaking city, bay and mountain view over take the senses as one enters the regal estate of this Woodside California home. At apx 17,000 square feet the exterior of the home boasts beautiful hand selected stone quarry material, custom blended slate roofing with pre aged copper rain gutters and downspouts. Every inch of the exterior one finds intricate timeless details. As one enters the main foyer a grand marble staircase welcomes them, while an ornate metal with gold-leaf laced railing outlines the staircase. A high performance chef’s kitchen waits at one wing while separate living quarters are down the other. A private elevator in the heart of the home serves as a second means of arriving from floor to floor. The properties vanishing edge pool serves its viewer with breathtaking views while a pool house with separate guest quarters are just feet away. This regal estate boasts a new level of luxurious living built by Markay Johnson Construction. Builder: Markay Johnson Construction visit: www.mjconstruction.com Photographer: Scot Zimmerman

John & Kim contacted LU Design Build to help them design, create and build a custom workshop. They enjoy building, crafting and designing ornaments and furniture of all sorts. They wanted a nice customized workshop to expand their tools and their abilities to build different and larger type projects. They also wanted to enhance the area around their in-ground pool because this is a favorite part of their home. For this project, we met with John & Kim and went over their desires for their space and functionality for their workshop and pool area. LU Design Build pulled in a partner architect to help draft the workshop concept. In the custom workshop area, we added metal roofing, custom gutters, and custom awning brackets that John actually built. It had custom dormers to let in lots of natural light. The workshop was also designed with vaulted ceilings to allow adequate air space and circulation. We chose a white washed shiplap to keep the space bright and open. In the pool area, we relocated the stairs coming off the deck and a landing area to create a better flow. LU Design Build also partnered with Frisella Outdoor Lighting. Frisella helped source and install the pool deck hardscape, retaining walls & soft landscaping. Since these two spaces were a long time dream of John and Kim, LU Design Build wanted to fit their design style and functionality so that they can stay for a long time and truly love their backyard and workshop.

Inspiration for a large timeless backyard stone patio remodel in Philadelphia with a roof extension

This property came with a house which proved ill-matched to our clients’ needs but which nestled neatly amid beautiful live oaks. In choosing to commission a new home, they asked that it also tuck under the limbs of the oaks and maintain a subdued presence to the street. Extraordinary efforts such as cantilevered floors and even bridging over critical root zones allow the design to be truly fitted to the site and to co-exist with the trees, the grandest of which is the focal point of the entry courtyard. Of equal importance to the trees and view was to provide, conversely, for walls to display 35 paintings and numerous books. From form to smallest detail, the house is quiet and subtle.

John & Kim contacted LU Design Build to help them design, create and build a custom workshop. They enjoy building, crafting and designing ornaments and furniture of all sorts. They wanted a nice customized workshop to expand their tools and their abilities to build different and larger type projects. They also wanted to enhance the area around their in-ground pool because this is a favorite part of their home. For this project, we met with John & Kim and went over their desires for their space and functionality for their workshop and pool area. LU Design Build pulled in a partner architect to help draft the workshop concept. In the custom workshop area, we added metal roofing, custom gutters, and custom awning brackets that John actually built. It had custom dormers to let in lots of natural light. The workshop was also designed with vaulted ceilings to allow adequate air space and circulation. We chose a white washed shiplap to keep the space bright and open. In the pool area, we relocated the stairs coming off the deck and a landing area to create a better flow. LU Design Build also partnered with Frisella Outdoor Lighting. Frisella helped source and install the pool deck hardscape, retaining walls & soft landscaping. Since these two spaces were a long time dream of John and Kim, LU Design Build wanted to fit their design style and functionality so that they can stay for a long time and truly love their backyard and workshop.

This client lost their screen enclosure during Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 and the existing wood decking was beginning to rot. We replaced all of the decking and handrails and added three sets of stairs. A rotted wooden retaining wall was discovered during demolition, we replaced it with a Versa-Lok retaining wall and filter fabric to prevent soil erosion below the house. We added the same Versa-Lok blocks below the deck skirt. The screen enclosure was redesigned and features a 20/20 screen which blocks even the smallest flying insects. Three screen doors and a cat door were installed along with new gutters.

This elevated stone terrace at first floor level is the roof covering over the exercise pool below and provides wonderful views of the garden and beyond.. It serves the existing family room of the main house via glazed french doors. The curved steel stair provides direct outdoor access into the rear garden. The terrace perimeter overhangs the walls below to form an eave with recessed lighting. It also has a curved metal gutter which captures all the water runoff. Photo: Ron Freudenheim

A breathtaking city, bay and mountain view over take the senses as one enters the regal estate of this Woodside California home. At apx 17,000 square feet the exterior of the home boasts beautiful hand selected stone quarry material, custom blended slate roofing with pre aged copper rain gutters and downspouts. Every inch of the exterior one finds intricate timeless details. As one enters the main foyer a grand marble staircase welcomes them, while an ornate metal with gold-leaf laced railing outlines the staircase. A high performance chef’s kitchen waits at one wing while separate living quarters are down the other. A private elevator in the heart of the home serves as a second means of arriving from floor to floor. The properties vanishing edge pool serves its viewer with breathtaking views while a pool house with separate guest quarters are just feet away. This regal estate boasts a new level of luxurious living built by Markay Johnson Construction. Builder: Markay Johnson Construction visit: www.mjconstruction.com Photographer: Scot Zimmerman

Tradition Outdoor Living can create a refreshing oasis in your own backyard! This outdoor living space boasts a custom pool to maximize the backyard area, along with a bubbling spa and dazzling fire feature. The custom pool and spa, outlined by travertine coping, stack-stone walls, and non-slip spray deck surface, will keep you cool in the daytime heat and will glow in the evening with LED pool lighting. The water features that set this pool apart include Sheer Descent waterfalls and bubbling jets in the shallow portion of the pool, known as the Sun Deck. The exquisite, natural gas fire pit radiates with an adjustable flame height and matching stack stone walls and travertine capstone to give a flowing nature to this entertaining space. Needless to say, the shimmer of the decorative glass provides a view in itself! One of the biggest benefits to the Gas Burning Fire-Pit: no ashes, no hassle! With our client’s interests in mind, we created a covered patio built to look original to the home with matching paint, shingles and gutters, maintaining a traditional yet fresh appeal to the backyard space. The cedar wrapped posts and beams convey a natural feel to this patio cover addition. The vaulted ceiling, finished with pre-stained tongue and groove pine, gives the room an airy and spacious feel. Lighting the patio are the recessed can lights and flood lights, and to make the warmer days bearable, outdoor ceiling fans are a plus!

Example of a large minimalist backyard brick exterior home design in Los Angeles with an awning

A breathtaking city, bay and mountain view over take the senses as one enters the regal estate of this Woodside California home. At apx 17,000 square feet the exterior of the home boasts beautiful hand selected stone quarry material, custom blended slate roofing with pre aged copper rain gutters and downspouts. Every inch of the exterior one finds intricate timeless details. As one enters the main foyer a grand marble staircase welcomes them, while an ornate metal with gold-leaf laced railing outlines the staircase. A high performance chef’s kitchen waits at one wing while separate living quarters are down the other. A private elevator in the heart of the home serves as a second means of arriving from floor to floor. The properties vanishing edge pool serves its viewer with breathtaking views while a pool house with separate guest quarters are just feet away. This regal estate boasts a new level of luxurious living built by Markay Johnson Construction. Builder: Markay Johnson Construction visit: www.mjconstruction.com Photographer: Scot Zimmerman

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Example of a minimalist exterior home design in Austin

A breathtaking city, bay and mountain view over take the senses as one enters the regal estate of this Woodside California home. At apx 17,000 square feet the exterior of the home boasts beautiful hand selected stone quarry material, custom blended slate roofing with pre aged copper rain gutters and downspouts. Every inch of the exterior one finds intricate timeless details. As one enters the main foyer a grand marble staircase welcomes them, while an ornate metal with gold-leaf laced railing outlines the staircase. A high performance chef’s kitchen waits at one wing while separate living quarters are down the other. A private elevator in the heart of the home serves as a second means of arriving from floor to floor. The properties vanishing edge pool serves its viewer with breathtaking views while a pool house with separate guest quarters are just feet away. This regal estate boasts a new level of luxurious living built by Markay Johnson Construction. Builder: Markay Johnson Construction visit: www.mjconstruction.com Photographer: Scot Zimmerman

The southern facade faces an extensive lawn sloping to the golf course and views of wooded piedmont hills beyond. Hillside nestles into the natural contours of the site stepping down from the living areas with "trays" comprised of the lounging deck, social patio, lap pool then lawn. Extensive eaves provide passive solar shading of living area and bedroom south-facing, view-oriented glazing. Rain chains direct roof runoff to stone filled collectors and an underground site drainage system. No gutters on this house! Phogography:Fredrik Brauer

A breathtaking city, bay and mountain view over take the senses as one enters the regal estate of this Woodside California home. At apx 17,000 square feet the exterior of the home boasts beautiful hand selected stone quarry material, custom blended slate roofing with pre aged copper rain gutters and downspouts. Every inch of the exterior one finds intricate timeless details. As one enters the main foyer a grand marble staircase welcomes them, while an ornate metal with gold-leaf laced railing outlines the staircase. A high performance chef’s kitchen waits at one wing while separate living quarters are down the other. A private elevator in the heart of the home serves as a second means of arriving from floor to floor. The properties vanishing edge pool serves its viewer with breathtaking views while a pool house with separate guest quarters are just feet away. This regal estate boasts a new level of luxurious living built by Markay Johnson Construction. Builder: Markay Johnson Construction visit: www.mjconstruction.com Photographer: Scot Zimmerman

Runnels in the concrete function to drain water out of the patio area but also add a subtle inlay detail. Here the runnel is filled with both beach pebbles and dry-laid bluestone. Renn Kuhnen Photography

Tradition Outdoor Living can create a refreshing oasis in your own backyard! This outdoor living space boasts a custom pool to maximize the backyard area, along with a bubbling spa and dazzling fire feature. The custom pool and spa, outlined by travertine coping, stack-stone walls, and non-slip spray deck surface, will keep you cool in the daytime heat and will glow in the evening with LED pool lighting. The water features that set this pool apart include Sheer Descent waterfalls and bubbling jets in the shallow portion of the pool, known as the Sun Deck. The exquisite, natural gas fire pit radiates with an adjustable flame height and matching stack stone walls and travertine capstone to give a flowing nature to this entertaining space. Needless to say, the shimmer of the decorative glass provides a view in itself! One of the biggest benefits to the Gas Burning Fire-Pit: no ashes, no hassle! With our client’s interests in mind, we created a covered patio built to look original to the home with matching paint, shingles and gutters, maintaining a traditional yet fresh appeal to the backyard space. The cedar wrapped posts and beams convey a natural feel to this patio cover addition. The vaulted ceiling, finished with pre-stained tongue and groove pine, gives the room an airy and spacious feel. Lighting the patio are the recessed can lights and flood lights, and to make the warmer days bearable, outdoor ceiling fans are a plus!