Inspiration for a transitional backyard patio remodel in Orange County with a fireplace and a pergola

Traditional Style Fire Feature - Techo-Bloc's Valencia Fire Pit.
Patio - large traditional backyard stone patio idea in Boston with a fire pit and no cover

©StevenPaulWhitsitt
Island style patio photo in Orange County

Example of a country patio design in San Francisco

Marion Brenner Photography
Example of a large minimalist front yard stone full sun patio design in San Francisco with a fire pit

This cozy outdoor space was made to feel more like a living room, complete with a custom fireplace. The mortared walls and columns give the sense of enclosure while still leaving access to the rest of the yard. Photo by Linda Oyama Bryan

In Seattle's Fremont neighborhood SCJ Studio designed a new landscape to surround and set off a contemporary home by Coates Design Architects. The narrow spaces around the tall home needed structure and organization, and a thoughtful approach to layout and space programming. A concrete patio was installed with a Paloform Bento gas fire feature surrounded by lush, northwest planting. A horizontal board cedar fence provides privacy from the street and creates the cozy feeling of an outdoor room among the trees. LED low-voltage lighting by Kichler Lighting adds night-time warmth . Photography by: Miranda Estes Photography

Photography by Morgan Howarth
Inspiration for a large timeless backyard deck remodel in DC Metro with a pergola, decking and a bbq area

Michael Prokopchak, ASLA Jay Stearns
Example of a classic patio design in DC Metro with a fire pit and no cover

Gazebo, Covered Wood Structure, Ambient Landscape Lighting, Outdoor Lighting, Exterior Design, Custom Wood Decking, Custom Wood Structures, Outdoor Cook Station, Outdoor Kitchen, Outdoor Fireplace, Outdoor Electronics

Jimmy White Photography
Large transitional backyard concrete patio photo in Seattle with a fire pit and no cover

Fire Garden’s Linear Stainless Steel Complete Fire Pits come fully-assembled and ready to enjoy! They feature a sleek Graphite Powder Coat finish that complement any outdoor setting. Fire Garden’s Linear Stainless Steel Fire Pit Burners are customizable and ready-to-finish with the materials of your choice (i.e. stone, cement, brick, metal, and more) These fire pits and burners feature the most incredible, alluring presentations of fire you’ve ever seen and create the ultimate outdoor gathering space. • Heavy-duty stainless steel burner • High quality tempered glass wind guard • All-Weather 24V AC Hot Shot™ Electronic Ignition System • No protective cover required • Designed to be enjoyed in all weather conditions, year round • LP Conversion Kit • Key Valve Kit

Chicago Home Photos
Deck - large contemporary rooftop rooftop deck idea in Chicago with a fire pit and no cover

Steven Marshall
Photo of a small coastal backyard landscaping in Boston with a fire pit.

ErIc Rorer
Example of a trendy backyard brick deck design in San Francisco with a fire pit and a pergola

Fire pit with raised dining deck beyond. Photo by Clark Dugger
Example of a mid-sized trendy backyard stone patio design in Los Angeles with a fire pit and no cover

project type: new construction architect: lake + flato architects location: scottsdale, az date: winter 2009 area: 4,500 sf
Inspiration for a southwestern patio remodel in Phoenix with a fire pit

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Photo by Mary Muszynski
Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard concrete patio remodel in San Francisco with no cover and a fire pit