Inspiration for a craftsman patio remodel in San Luis Obispo

Small patio space with pergola, fire-pit and water feature. Constructed out of Unilock Thornberry pavers with Brussels Dimensional wall stone.
Patio - mid-sized traditional backyard brick patio idea in Columbus with a fire pit and a pergola

Landscape contracting by Avid Landscape. Carpentry by Contemporary Homestead. Photograph by Meghan Montgomery.
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional full sun backyard gravel landscaping in Seattle with a fire pit.

Nathan Kirkman
Mid-sized transitional backyard deck photo in Chicago with a fire pit and no cover

Tropical patio featuring waterfall, bench seat and fire pit with colored glass. This decorative concrete back patio features tropical colors and an island feel, imitating the style of Hawaii.

This Prism Hardscapes Moderno 4 Gas Fire Bowl is at the forefront of not only exceptional product design but also quality and value. Providing an outdoor retreat of warmth and ambiance, the Moderno I is just what you need to complete your outdoor living space. It is hand-crafted with a custom patina finishing process, making this fire pit a one-of-a-kind creation. Being constructed of glass fiber reinforced cement provides added durability for years of use. Available in six different colors, the Moderno I will be the perfect match for your outdoor decor. At 65,000 BTU's, this round concrete fire pit bowl provides both warm at ambiance and is compatible with both propane tanks or a natural gas line. For the propane option, the modern fire bowl will work with standard 20# propane tanks (same as most barbeque grills).

Outdoor gas fire pit with custom rock surround and electronic ignition fire pit insert by Fine's Gas.
This is an example of a large modern backyard landscaping in Other with a fire pit.

Rustic Style Fire Feature - Techo-Bloc's Valencia Fire Pit with custom caps.
Large transitional backyard stone patio photo in DC Metro with a fire pit

A gabled roof extension serves as the patio cover of this large, Houston outdoor entertaining space. This outdoor design is rustic and cozy, with the warm, earthy tones of the wood ceiling, tile floor and exposed brick. The scrollwork of the Mission style lanterns also adds a Spanish Mission flavor. brickwww.outdoorhomescapes.com

Ethan Tweedie Photography
Pool - tropical backyard custom-shaped infinity pool idea in Hawaii

The fire pit reveals a custom abstract metal sculpture and provides a cozy sunken seating area for starry night entertaining. David Burroughs Photography

Incorporating the elements of fire and water this patio arrangement makes use of Feng Shui principles for the client. (Photo by: High Res Photography)

Landscape contracting by Avid Landscape. Carpentry by Contemporary Homestead. Photograph by Meghan Montgomery.
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional full sun backyard gravel vegetable garden landscape in Seattle.

Our first fire! Designed by: ENVIRONMENTS Studio
Inspiration for a large scandinavian full sun backyard landscaping in Chicago with a fire pit.

Patio - farmhouse patio idea in Boston with no cover and a fire pit

This garden was designed to celebrate panoramic views of the San Gabriel mountains. Horizontal bands of slate tile from the interior of the mid-century home wrap around the house’s perimeter and extend to the rear pool area, inviting the family outdoors. With a pool framed by mature trees, a sunken seating area, fruit trees, and a modest lawn for a young family, the landscape provides a wide range of opportunities for play, entertaining and relaxation. Photos by Martin Cox Photography.

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.

Flagstone patio with seat wall, fire pit and flagstone steppers. ~Custom designed and built by Archadeck of Chicagoland
Inspiration for a timeless patio remodel in Chicago

Rock outcroppings make a striking background for new lounge areas in this compact Los Angeles hillside garden. Working with the attributes of the site, we added native plants to drape over the stone, and converted hollowed stone planters into a firepit and water feature. New built-in seating and a cozy hammock complete the relaxing space, and dramatic lighting makes it come alive at night. Photo by Martin Cox Photography.