Azek
Mid-sized trendy backyard deck photo in Cedar Rapids with no cover

Sublime Garden Design
Design ideas for a small eclectic backyard stone vegetable garden landscape in Seattle.

Clark Dugger Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary white two-story mixed siding flat roof remodel in Los Angeles

Request Free QuoteThe house already enjoyed a small rear sunken bluestone dining area. As the design process progressed it was decided that the new space should become an extension of the existing rear space with more seating area for entertainment.

Tommy Daspit is an Architectural, Commercial, Real Estate, and Google Maps Business View Trusted photographer in Birmingham, Alabama. Tommy provides the best in commercial photography in the southeastern United States (Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee). View more of his work on his homepage: http://tommmydaspit.com

Example of a mid-sized transitional front door design in New York with white walls and a dark wood front door

Lagoon-side property in the Bel Marin Keys, Novato, CA. Entertaining and enjoying the views were a primary design goal for this project. The project includes a large camaru deck with built-in seating. The concrete steps and pavers lead down to the water's edge. I included a sunken patio on one side and a beautiful Buddha statue on the other, surrounded by succulents and other low-water, contemporary plantings. I also used Dymondia ground cover to create a natural pathways within the garden. Photo: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design. Design Eileen Kelly

Features and Highlights From 2021
Patio kitchen - large backyard stone patio kitchen idea in Phoenix with a gazebo

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

Severine Photography
Example of a mid-sized trendy courtyard rectangular infinity pool design in Jacksonville with decking

Natural tropical resort on a small residential lot with some heavy plantings, palm trees and a 25' slide. The front entry and family room view centered on the beach entry and boulder cave. Raised planters and the spa flank the cave. The spa spillway was made wider to place larger, more natural stone work. Also, the spa bench has an armrest so one's back does not rest against the boulders. The cave has a "random" stair-stepped stacked stone crafted entry giving a more natural look. Planting pockets flank the beach entry, which the Travertine pavers completely cover. Every resort needs a swim up cabana, bartender and television. Across the pool we have a great firepit to gather around and enjoy each other all seasons of the year. Photography by Mike Farley.

Image by 'Ancient Surfaces' Product: 'Indoor Courtyard stone elements' Contacts: (212) 461-0245 Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com Central Mediterranean courtyards within homes of all major South European design styles, featuring antique stone pavers, fountains, columns and more...

Design ideas for a small modern drought-tolerant and shade backyard concrete paver and wood fence landscaping in Seattle with a fire pit.

This Arcadia residence embraces modern outdoor living with clean geometry, lush privacy, and balanced simplicity. In the front yard, a structured walkway flanked by soft plantings and architectural lighting creates a quiet, elegant welcome. Crisp lines and a refined plant palette align with the home’s fresh white façade, setting the tone for what’s beyond. The rear yard is centered on symmetry and serenity. A long lap pool with rhythmic water features is framed by bold turf bands and limestone pavers, offering both visual impact and practical flow. A recessed lounge pad, formal lawn, and olive tree planters add softness and scale, while a tucked-away play area blends seamlessly into the layout. This modern desert landscape was designed for beauty, balance, and everyday livability, rooted in restraint and built for how families really live outdoors.

This extraordinary backyard is designed to accommodate an active lifestyle, providing the ultimate gathering space for the entire family and guests. With an array of recreational features, including pickleball and bocce ball courts, a sunken seating fire pit, pool, soccer field, putting green, and sprawling turf lawns, this thrilling space offers endless opportunities for enjoyment. At its heart, a stunning shade structure matches the home's style while providing respite from the sun. With natural slate, a fireplace, and a stained wood structure, it creates a warm and inviting ambiance. Through creative solutions, this backyard paradise achieves a harmonious balance, becoming a central hub for sports, leisure activities, and cherished memories. It epitomizes an active and enjoyable lifestyle, offering a sanctuary for every family member to partake in their favorite activities and create extraordinary moments of fun and togetherness.

1 Acre in Gilbert that needed a complete transformation from bad grass and desert plants to this lush dream home in prime Gilbert! Raised planters and hedges surrounding existing trees, new pavers, fire features - fireplace and fire pits, flower beds, new shrubs, trees, landscape lighting, sunken pool dining cabana, swim up bar, tennis court, soccer field, edible garden, iron trellis, private garden, and stunning paver entryways.

This extraordinary backyard is designed to accommodate an active lifestyle, providing the ultimate gathering space for the entire family and guests. With an array of recreational features, including pickleball and bocce ball courts, a sunken seating fire pit, pool, soccer field, putting green, and sprawling turf lawns, this thrilling space offers endless opportunities for enjoyment. At its heart, a stunning shade structure matches the home's style while providing respite from the sun. With natural slate, a fireplace, and a stained wood structure, it creates a warm and inviting ambiance. Through creative solutions, this backyard paradise achieves a harmonious balance, becoming a central hub for sports, leisure activities, and cherished memories. It epitomizes an active and enjoyable lifestyle, offering a sanctuary for every family member to partake in their favorite activities and create extraordinary moments of fun and togetherness.

Newly constructed contemporary home on Lake Minnetonka in Orono, MN. This beautifully crafted home featured a custom pool with a travertine stone patio and walkway. The driveway is a combination of pavers in different materials, shapes, and colors.

This lovely landscape sports a poured in place concrete slab patio with drought tolerant sedum plants between the slabs. This sedum mix is sold in sheets then cut to fit but it’s actually grown for green-roof application. It works perfectly in this hot environment too as it is extremely drought tolerant and can go a month without water. Because the water runoff is absorbed between the slabs the patio drainage works perfectly and there are no need for drains.The swimming pool is of the fiberglass variety. Though the initial investment is greater than that of vinyl pools the ROI is greater over a 10 year period. Fiberglass pools retains more heat as the pool shell is all one piece and they don’t ever require a new liner.. This fiberglass pool has cool built-in benching and steps. And there is even a swim jet built into one side great for those cardio blasting swims. The pool interior colour is grey though it shows a soft blue/grey when water is added due to the reflection of the sky and other surroundings. The pool coping is natural stone with rock face edge. The steel arbour was custom made. Metal (steel) was chosen for it’s slim strength as wood placed here would have been too chunky. The best rooms (indoors or our) have a subtle layering of textural elements. To me this landscape needed a structure here to define the “rooms” It will look even better in a few years when the vines reach the top and the Miscanthus on either side reaches its 7′ height!The 12′ x 16′ pavilion is also made of steel and houses an alfresco dining table and sofa set. The pavilions built in cupola makes the warm breezes comfortably pass through with no need for a fan. It’s also sunken 2′ from the pool/patio height and nestled nicely in the corner. I must also mention the large slim planters with “Red Shades” Canna lily within. They are the perfect boldness/balance!Step through the arbor and a linear pond with “floating” natural stone step is revealed! Two smooth flow scuppers are responsible for the quiet waterfalls either side. A wood deck overhangs the pond adding softness to the setting. A modern retaining wall with natural stone cap runs the full width of the pond and pool adding interest and dimension. In the covered outdoor living area this wall is the perfect seat wall - adding lots of extra party seating! The lesson to be learned here is that good design can be applied to any space. This backyard is only 50′ x 45′ and look what can be achieved! Landscape design and photography by Melanie Rekola