Photo Credits-Schubat Contracting and Renovations Century Old reclaimed lumber, Chicago common brick and pavers, Bevolo Gas lights, unique concrete countertops, all combine with the slate flooring for a virtually maintenance free Outdoor Room.

Deck - tropical deck idea in New York

Blue Bruin Photography
Example of a tuscan pool design in Austin

The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

Polished concrete flooring carries out to the pool deck connecting the spaces, including a cozy sitting area flanked by a board form concrete fireplace, and appointed with comfortable couches for relaxation long after dark. Poolside chaises provide multiple options for lounging and sunbathing, and expansive Nano doors poolside open the entire structure to complete the indoor/outdoor objective. Photo credit: Ramona d'Viola

Redefining landscape products since 1989, Techo-Bloc recently launched www.techo-bloc.com, which is designed to inspire both homeowners and professionals.

Example of a mid-sized classic dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Detroit with beige walls and no fireplace

Example of a large classic backyard concrete paver patio design in Richmond with a fireplace and a gazebo

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern backyard concrete paver and custom-shaped patio remodel in Los Angeles with a fire pit and no cover

Photography by David Duncan Livingston
Farmhouse concrete porch idea in San Francisco with a roof extension

Mariko Reed
Large trendy backyard concrete and rectangular patio kitchen photo in Los Angeles with a pergola

Inspiration for a small coastal balcony deck remodel

Mid-sized elegant travertine floor sunroom photo in Minneapolis with a glass ceiling

Trent Teigen
Inspiration for a huge contemporary u-shaped porcelain tile and beige floor seated home bar remodel in Los Angeles with granite countertops

Cape Associates, Inc. completed this backyard bliss by covering an attached pergola with a 12’ x 16’ retractable shade. Rope driven, the homeowners can extend the Sunbrella Taupe fabric without knocking fresh lobster rolls off the table.

JLP Photography
Family room - transitional open concept vinyl floor family room idea in Sacramento with white walls, a wall-mounted tv and a standard fireplace

Audacious in its massive size, the look of this bold beauty is polished yet casual. With its elegant veining, Aberdeen makes a statement at once luxuriant and eminently livable.

Brantley Photography
Example of a trendy great room design in Miami

Beach style porch photo in Los Angeles