Photo: Nanette Wong © 2014 Houzz
Small elegant concrete patio photo in San Francisco with no cover

Nader Essa Photography
Large minimalist master gray tile slate floor bathroom photo in San Diego with white walls

This Coastal Inspired Farmhouse with bay views puts a casual and sophisticated twist on beach living. Interior Design by Blackband Design and Home Build by Arbor Real Estate.

This is an example of a coastal landscaping in Boston.

The entrance to this lovely home is inviting with this wide paver patio/walkway leading the way. The sweeping garden beds on either side of the walk say "Come On In".

Photos by John Costill: www.costill.com Contractor: Earthtone Construction, Sebastopol, CA
Hallway - cottage light wood floor hallway idea in San Francisco with green walls

When you open the back doors of the home of Nancy and Jeremy Campbell in Granville, you don’t just step out onto a patio. You enter an extension of a modern living space that just happens to be outdoors. Their patio’s unique design and setting provides the comfort and style of indoors while enjoying the natural beauty and fresh air of outdoors. It all started with a rather desolate back yard. “It was completely blank, there was nothing back there,” Nancy remembers of the patio space of this 1972 split-level house they bought five years ago. With a blank slate to work with, the Campbells knew the key elements of what they wanted for their new outdoor space when they sat down with Travis Ketron of Ketron Custom Builders to design it. “We knew we wanted something covered so we could use it in the rain, and in the winter, and we knew we wanted a stone fireplace,” Nancy recalls. Travis translated the Campbells’ vision into a design to satisfy outdoor entertaining and relaxing desires in all seasons. The new outdoor space is reminiscent of a vast, rustic great room complete with a stone fireplace, a vaulted ceiling, skylights, and ceiling fans, yet no walls. The space is completely open to the elements without any glass or doors on any of the sides, except from the house. Furnished like a great room, with a built-in music system as well, it’s truly an extension of indoor living and entertaining space, and one that is unaffected by rain. Jeremy comments, “We haven’t had to cover the furniture yet. It would have to be a pretty strong wind to get wet.” Just outside the covered patio is a quartet of outdoor chairs adorned with plush cushions and colorful pillows, positioned perfectly for users to bask in the sun. In the design process, the fireplace emerged as the anchor of the space and set the stage for the outdoor space both aesthetically and functionally. “We didn’t want it to block the view. Then designing the space with Travis, the fireplace became the center,” remembers Jeremy. Placed directly across from the two sets of French doors leading out from the house, a Rumford fireplace and extended hearth of stone in neutral earth tones is the focal point of this outdoor living room. Seating for entertaining and lounging falls easily into place around it providing optimal viewing of the private, wooded back yard. When temperatures cool off, the fireplace provides ample warmth and a cozy setting to experience the change of seasons. “It’s a great fireplace for the space,” Jeremy says of the unique design of a Rumford style fireplace. “The way you stack the wood in the fireplace is different so as to get more heat. It has a shallower box, burns hotter and puts off more heat. Wood is placed in it vertically, not stacked.” Just in case the fireplace doesn’t provide enough light for late-night soirees, there is additional outdoor lighting mounted from the ceiling to make sure the party always goes on. Travis brought the idea of the Rumford outdoor fireplace to the Campbells. “I learned about it a few years back from some masons, and I was intrigued by the idea then,” he says. “We like to do stuff that’s out of the norm, and this fireplace fits the space and function very well.” Travis adds, “People want unique things that are designed for them. That’s our style to do that for them.” The patio also extends out to an uncovered area set up with patio tables for grilling and dining. Gray pavers flow throughout from the covered space to the open-air area. Their continuous flow mimics the feel of flooring that extends from a living room into a dining room inside a home. Also, the earth tone colors throughout the space on the pavers, fireplace and furnishings help the entire space mesh nicely with its natural surroundings. A little ways off from both the covered and uncovered patio area is a stone fire pit ring. Removed by just the right distance, it provides a separate place for young adults to gather and enjoy the night. Adirondack chairs and matching tables surround the outdoor fire pit, offering seating for anyone who doesn’t wish to stand and a place to set down ingredients for yummy fireside treats like s’mores. Padded chairs outside the reach of the pavilion and the nearby umbrella the perfect place to kick back and relax in the sun. The colorful throw pillows and outdoor furniture cushions add some needed color and a touch of personality. Enjoying the comforts of indoors while being outdoors is exactly what the Campbells are doing now, particularly when lounging on the comfortable wicker furniture that dominate most of the area. “My favorite part of the whole thing is the fireplace,” Nancy says. Jeremy concludes, “There is no television, it would destroy the ambiance out there. We just enjoy listening to music and watching the fire.”

Living room - coastal formal living room idea in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace and no tv

Photo by KuDa Photography
Example of a farmhouse l-shaped gray floor laundry room design in Portland with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, a side-by-side washer/dryer and brown countertops

Angle Eye Photography
Large cottage medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed dining room photo in Philadelphia with white walls and no fireplace

Photography by Corey Gaff
Example of a mid-sized classic limestone floor entryway design in Minneapolis with white walls

Example of a huge transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Salt Lake City with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, two islands, a farmhouse sink, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances and quartzite countertops

Kitchen/dining room combo - mid-sized contemporary dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

Mike Schwartz
Example of a trendy backyard deck design in Chicago with no cover

Photo Credit: Amy Barkow | Barkow Photo, Lighting Design: LOOP Lighting, Interior Design: Blankenship Design, General Contractor: Constructomics LLC

Victoria Spinnler
Example of a classic entryway design in Atlanta with a black front door

Neil Michael - Axiom Photography
Inspiration for a small modern shade courtyard outdoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court in Sacramento with decking.

This warm and rustic home, set in the spacious Lakeview neighborhood, features incredible reclaimed wood accents from the vaulted ceiling beams connecting the great room and dining room to the wood mantel and other accents throughout.

Inspiration for a traditional partial sun side yard stone garden path in Portland for spring.