Pea gravel pathway.
Photo of a traditional landscaping in Los Angeles.

Balcony - modern balcony idea in Bengaluru

Among our Houston outdoor kitchens, this one is unique because of its concrete countertops, pergola with stucco wrapping and custom storage. "It's not one of our biggest covered outdoor kitchens in Houston," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. "But it's unique, and it looks really nice, too!" The client, a young family, wanted an outdoor kitchen with a more minimalistic, modern look, explains Outdoor Homescapes senior designer Lisha Maxey. "They're both doctors and very much attuned to detail," she says. "Their primary goal was to create a space where they could lounge while the children played as well as an area to entertain family and friends while cooking and dining outside." Like a growing number of people wanting small outdoor kitchens in Houston, this client expressed interest in using concrete as a surface material: "The look is contemporary and is easily paired with any type of outdoor furniture," says Maxey, "from wicker to teak to iron." Here's a closeup of the concrete countertops. You'll notice that they're glossy and smooth like glass, thanks to special sealers and a topcoat of UV-resistant resin that prevents the countertop from yellowing. Since these particular clients lean toward the minimalistic side of contemporary design, she continues, "the standard granite countertop of many Houston outdoor kitchens would not work, since it typically has a lot of movement and can be busy." Lisha sees the use of concrete as a growing outdoor design trend for Houston outdoor kitchens: "It's easy to maintain and again, leans towards a more modern look for outdoor." All the furniture and lighting is from Restoration Hardware, says Lisha, who's offering $500 in free outdoor furniture consultation services as a special promotion. (Interested? Just contact us!) The dining and lounge chairs are from the Antibes collection in cast aluminum with a bronze finish. The table is a Belgian Trestle made of weathered concrete and teak. Simple track lighting was used on the pergola in keeping with the minimalist look of the space. The pergola is a treated pine, stained a Minwax Jacobean, which appears almost black. "This client chose a pergola over a roof extension off the house because they wanted it to still seem light and airy in their outdoor space for their young children," explains Lisha. "They wanted a certain degree of sun and shade protection, which a pergola does provide, but they wanted it to seem a bit like a park for the kids to play in." "The seating/storage bin was not a part of the original design," says Lisha. "As the project progressed, the client expressed interest in some sort of chest for the new outdoor furniture cushions to be stored in." The design for the storage bin was developed to accommodate this request: "It eventually evolved into a seating area as well. And to keep the look consistent with the new kitchen, it was agreed that the stone be carried through the design. The wood top was necessary so we could design a hinged access for storage."

Newman Ironworks
Example of a classic entryway design in New York

Inspiration for a large timeless backyard concrete paver patio kitchen remodel in Denver with a roof extension

A palladium style window surround with keystone and a wide midline banding acting as a window sill.
Elegant stone exterior home photo in Dallas

Interior Design: Pamela Pennington Studios. Photo Credit: Eric Zepeda
Inspiration for a contemporary hallway remodel in San Francisco

View of low concrete retaining wall and steps.
Inspiration for a modern landscaping in Seattle.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional full sun backyard driveway in Milwaukee.

A peek down the rabbit hole

Photography: John Knowlton/Till Gardens, Julia Heine/McInturff Architects Project completed while working for Oehme, van Sweden Landscape Architects
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary partial sun backyard garden path in DC Metro.

A remarkable antique exterior door salvaged from Detroit, MI, and dating from the 1920’s. Perfect for either a Tudor or a Spanish Revival home, this 36” arched plank door is accompanied by its original strap hinges, as well as an opening for a mail slot; an offset window features a very unusual stained glass panel with a speakeasy. The stained glass window is made up of multicolored granite glass panes that surround the round speak-easy in the middle. The door is in very good antique condition with the expected scratches and chips typical of an old door; one of the stained glass panes has a small crack(as pictured,) which does not detract from the beauty of the door. It measures 35-7/8” wide, 79-1/2"tall, and 1-3/4” thick. NED324

Elegant dining room photo in Dallas

Design by Young Home These by-pass rings allow the panels to be opened and closed over the brackets on a large slider door. Provided by The Fabricsmith.

Large elegant beige two-story brick house exterior photo in New Orleans with a shingle roof

Scott Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees

Tiny Heirloom Inc.
Deck - modern deck idea in Portland

Traditional exterior home idea in DC Metro