Photography: Dustin Peck http://www.dustinpeckphoto.com/ http://www.houzz.com/pro/dpphoto/dustinpeckphotographyinc Designer: Susan Tollefsen http://www.susantinteriors.com/ http://www.houzz.com/pro/susu5/susan-tollefsen-interiors June/July 2016

Beautifully crafted with ResinKast™ wood panels that simulate the look and texture of real cypress wood. Its distinctive style will compliment any outdoor setting. Offering an uncompromising blend of quality and durability, it’s weatherproof construction will withstand the most extreme elements for seasons to come. Enhance your outdoor living environment design with carefree elegance that is not only beautiful but functional. Combining proven all-weather ResinKast material, PVC polymer and stainless steel. ResinKast is engineered to resist damage from the sun, snow, rain, saltwater and extreme high and low temperatures. It is the ultimate choice for durability and style.

Example of a transitional light wood floor, beige floor, exposed beam and shiplap wall dining room design in Charleston with white walls

Beautifully crafted with ResinKast™ wood panels that simulate the look and texture of real cypress wood. Its distinctive style will compliment any outdoor setting. Offering an uncompromising blend of quality and durability, it’s weatherproof construction will withstand the most extreme elements for seasons to come. Enhance your outdoor living environment design with carefree elegance that is not only beautiful but functional. Combining proven all-weather ResinKast material, PVC polymer and stainless steel. ResinKast is engineered to resist damage from the sun, snow, rain, saltwater and extreme high and low temperatures. It is the ultimate choice for durability and style.

Beautifully crafted with ResinKast™ wood panels that simulate the look and texture of real cypress wood. Its distinctive style will compliment any outdoor setting. Offering an uncompromising blend of quality and durability, it’s weatherproof construction will withstand the most extreme elements for seasons to come. Enhance your outdoor living environment design with carefree elegance that is not only beautiful but functional. Combining proven all-weather ResinKast material, PVC polymer and stainless steel. ResinKast is engineered to resist damage from the sun, snow, rain, saltwater and extreme high and low temperatures. It is the ultimate choice for durability and style.

Fusion is an innovative new world-class spa series designed by renowned international designer Marc Saddler, manufactured by Gruppo Treesse in Italy and adapted to US electrical and plumbing standards by Aquatica Plumbing Group Inc. Aquatica is proud to be the exclusive US distributor of this innovative spa bath series. The Fusion series of spas from Aquatica take the spa experience to a whole new level; now you not only enjoy the ultimate spa pleasure with your friends or family in the comfort of your home. By purchasing the high-tech Fusion spa from Aquatica, you purchase the ultimate item of luxury and opulence that will be envy to anybody visiting your home. The incredible innovation behind the Fusion range has made possible a whole new system of invisible hydromassage, incorporated into spas that are absolutely seamless in design with no external outlets or jets. The Fusion Ovatus’s infinitely balanced full oval design means you can now luxuriate in the truly seamless comfort of a spa without edges, which incorporates all the beauty and clean lines of the Fusion pool. Beautiful to look at, but more importantly, superbly therapeutic in its delivery of revitalisating and soothing pleasure from the microjets and air bolsters concealed within the walls. New Standards in Pleasure This marriage of comfort, pleasure and rejuvenation are further added to by the colour therapy system which allows you to select from a range of colours to enhance your mood, the water temperature stabiliser and recirculation system for optimum water temperature and the concealed, handheld shower unit. Form and function are at one in this wonderful new spa from Aquatica. All you could ask for and much, much more. Among the unique characteristics of the Fusion hydromassage bathtub and spa series is the distinctive, overflowing Infinity style rim, creating a seemingly edgeless water surface, as well as the concealed therapy system, which is installed inside a thin cavity located in the inner perimeter of the tub.

Coastal contemporary home in Yarmouth Maine.
Large cottage exterior home photo in Portland Maine

Swimming pool and exterior.
Example of a tuscan backyard stone and rectangular pool design in Santa Barbara

Highland Custom Homes
Elegant medium tone wood floor indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court photo in Salt Lake City

When you open the back doors of the home of Nancy and Jeremy Campbell in Granville, you don’t just step out onto a patio. You enter an extension of a modern living space that just happens to be outdoors. Their patio’s unique design and setting provides the comfort and style of indoors while enjoying the natural beauty and fresh air of outdoors. It all started with a rather desolate back yard. “It was completely blank, there was nothing back there,” Nancy remembers of the patio space of this 1972 split-level house they bought five years ago. With a blank slate to work with, the Campbells knew the key elements of what they wanted for their new outdoor space when they sat down with Travis Ketron of Ketron Custom Builders to design it. “We knew we wanted something covered so we could use it in the rain, and in the winter, and we knew we wanted a stone fireplace,” Nancy recalls. Travis translated the Campbells’ vision into a design to satisfy outdoor entertaining and relaxing desires in all seasons. The new outdoor space is reminiscent of a vast, rustic great room complete with a stone fireplace, a vaulted ceiling, skylights, and ceiling fans, yet no walls. The space is completely open to the elements without any glass or doors on any of the sides, except from the house. Furnished like a great room, with a built-in music system as well, it’s truly an extension of indoor living and entertaining space, and one that is unaffected by rain. Jeremy comments, “We haven’t had to cover the furniture yet. It would have to be a pretty strong wind to get wet.” Just outside the covered patio is a quartet of outdoor chairs adorned with plush cushions and colorful pillows, positioned perfectly for users to bask in the sun. In the design process, the fireplace emerged as the anchor of the space and set the stage for the outdoor space both aesthetically and functionally. “We didn’t want it to block the view. Then designing the space with Travis, the fireplace became the center,” remembers Jeremy. Placed directly across from the two sets of French doors leading out from the house, a Rumford fireplace and extended hearth of stone in neutral earth tones is the focal point of this outdoor living room. Seating for entertaining and lounging falls easily into place around it providing optimal viewing of the private, wooded back yard. When temperatures cool off, the fireplace provides ample warmth and a cozy setting to experience the change of seasons. “It’s a great fireplace for the space,” Jeremy says of the unique design of a Rumford style fireplace. “The way you stack the wood in the fireplace is different so as to get more heat. It has a shallower box, burns hotter and puts off more heat. Wood is placed in it vertically, not stacked.” Just in case the fireplace doesn’t provide enough light for late-night soirees, there is additional outdoor lighting mounted from the ceiling to make sure the party always goes on. Travis brought the idea of the Rumford outdoor fireplace to the Campbells. “I learned about it a few years back from some masons, and I was intrigued by the idea then,” he says. “We like to do stuff that’s out of the norm, and this fireplace fits the space and function very well.” Travis adds, “People want unique things that are designed for them. That’s our style to do that for them.” The patio also extends out to an uncovered area set up with patio tables for grilling and dining. Gray pavers flow throughout from the covered space to the open-air area. Their continuous flow mimics the feel of flooring that extends from a living room into a dining room inside a home. Also, the earth tone colors throughout the space on the pavers, fireplace and furnishings help the entire space mesh nicely with its natural surroundings. A little ways off from both the covered and uncovered patio area is a stone fire pit ring. Removed by just the right distance, it provides a separate place for young adults to gather and enjoy the night. Adirondack chairs and matching tables surround the outdoor fire pit, offering seating for anyone who doesn’t wish to stand and a place to set down ingredients for yummy fireside treats like s’mores. Padded chairs outside the reach of the pavilion and the nearby umbrella the perfect place to kick back and relax in the sun. The colorful throw pillows and outdoor furniture cushions add some needed color and a touch of personality. Enjoying the comforts of indoors while being outdoors is exactly what the Campbells are doing now, particularly when lounging on the comfortable wicker furniture that dominate most of the area. “My favorite part of the whole thing is the fireplace,” Nancy says. Jeremy concludes, “There is no television, it would destroy the ambiance out there. We just enjoy listening to music and watching the fire.”

Inspiration for a contemporary entryway remodel in San Francisco

Our Automated Lighting Control Systems Feature: Dimmers Occupancy Sensors Turn lights on before. Sleek, wall-mounted control panels Mobile app to control lighting anywhere, anytime All our products integrate fully with your Evergreen Home Automation System, creating your ideal setting in addition to energy efficiency Bernardo Grijalva Alta Vista Virtual Tours

Photo of a contemporary landscaping in Detroit.

Inspiration for a southwestern landscaping in Phoenix.

Patio kitchen plans these days require the ability to incorporate high-tech, modern appliances into rustic, timeless – even ancient-looking – outdoor design styles. You can see this juxtaposition pulled off perfectly in this outdoor kitchen by Outdoor Homescapes of Houston. “A smart patio kitchen plan requires not only a balance of the new and old,” says Outdoor Homescapes owner Wayne Franks, “but a blending of new elements – like an outdoor kitchen – with the existing home and outdoor living features like a pool, hardscaping or landscaping.” In this case, explains Franks, the existing 25-by-15-foot pool had a craggy edge of moss rock boulders, plus a spa and firepit faced with a rough Scabos splitface travertine. “The overall look was rustic and naturalistic,” says Franks, “so we of course wanted the new outdoor kitchen island to match.” Hence the 14-foot-long outdoor kitchen island with a raised bar, also faced in the Scabos splitface travertine and topped with a Normandy granite countertop. The hardscaping around it is Kool Deck® textured concrete. “People used to shy away from busy textures in outside patio kitchen plans, but now they’re embracing them,” notes Franks. “They’re increasingly attracted to the beautiful imperfections and irregularities of nature – there’s more of an authenticity and character to it.” Now, for the high-tech part: A Traeger wood pellet grill. Traeger grills are becoming increasingly popular for their ability to infuse amazing, rich flavor and for their versatility (they can grill, bake, smoke, slow cook, braise and barbecue). This premier model, the Memphis Pro 304, features 562 square inches of cooking space and a three-in-one cooking system (high-temperature grill, low-and-low smoker and true-convection-oven roasting and baking). It also has an intuitive Intelligent Temperature Control (see the display panel to the left of the grill) that can be set for cooking and internal temperature. A programmable food probe tells you when the internal temperature is reached and drops the grill down to a programmed lower temperature to keep the food warm till serving. The dual-fan convection system, with reliable metal blades, circulates heat evenly for tender, juicy results. Double-walled and sealed construction of 304 stainless steel allows for optimum heat retention and consistent temperatures in all weather conditions. A direct-flame “flavorizer” insert delivers the added flavor of a seared finish. Outdoor Homescapes also added a mount sink with a custom oil-rubbed bronze faucet by Moen and the following RCS stainless steel accessories: a pull-out trash door, a countertop trash chute, dual horizontal grill utensil drawers and a swing-out storage door. “At first, you’d think all this technology and the smooth, modern stainless steel would fight with the rustic look of the rough-faced stone in outdoor patio kitchen plans,” says Franks. “But it actually provides some visual rest from all the rugged textures and busyness.” Serving a similar function is the smooth, polished Scabos travertine tile used for the pool coping and firepit ledge. “It’s a perfect environment for the client to entertain business associates,” says Franks. “He’s very happy with the old-meets-new approach, and so are we.” More patio kitchen plans can be found at Outdoor Homescapes of Houston’s website, at www.outdoorhomescapes.com

'Jade' green beans growing in a window box. With the right organic soil mix and plenty of water, green beans can thrive in window boxes or other containers. Photo by Steve Masley

The Blu Homes Breezehouse. On the far end, the Nano Walls open to the outdoor deck. Photo by Michael Kelley
Inspiration for a huge contemporary open concept dark wood floor living room remodel in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Example of a minimalist rooftop deck design in Chicago with a pergola

Enjoy your deck or patio into the spring and fall just as comfortably as those balmy summer evenings. Using Rainier Screens to create a screened in porch will maintain the temperature within the room as heat outside rises and falls.