These homeowners wanted to organize their small backyard into a family friendly space for all to enjoy. Key elements included a covered deck, space for a patio, space for a trampoline, and privacy from neighbors that did not feel like a typical fence. We selected Azek Vintage decking in Coastline to create a clean, light modern look for the deck and built-in bench. The Lexan trellis allows light in, but keeps the space underneath dry. Integrated low voltage lights illuminate the space under the trellis as well as the deck steps. Raised planters create pockets of green within the composition. The design also accommodates a hot tub and large trampoline. The end result is a space that the entire family can enjoy!

These homeowners wanted to organize their small backyard into a family friendly space for all to enjoy. Key elements included a covered deck, space for a patio, space for a trampoline, and privacy from neighbors that did not feel like a typical fence. We selected Azek Vintage decking in Coastline to create a clean, light modern look for the deck and built-in bench. The Lexan trellis allows light in, but keeps the space underneath dry. Integrated low voltage lights illuminate the space under the trellis as well as the deck steps. Raised planters create pockets of green within the composition. The design also accommodates a hot tub and large trampoline. The end result is a space that the entire family can enjoy!

The client’s request was quite common - a typical 2800 sf builder home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living space, and den. However, their desire was for this to be “anything but common.” The result is an innovative update on the production home for the modern era, and serves as a direct counterpoint to the neighborhood and its more conventional suburban housing stock, which focus views to the backyard and seeks to nullify the unique qualities and challenges of topography and the natural environment. The Terraced House cautiously steps down the site’s steep topography, resulting in a more nuanced approach to site development than cutting and filling that is so common in the builder homes of the area. The compact house opens up in very focused views that capture the natural wooded setting, while masking the sounds and views of the directly adjacent roadway. The main living spaces face this major roadway, effectively flipping the typical orientation of a suburban home, and the main entrance pulls visitors up to the second floor and halfway through the site, providing a sense of procession and privacy absent in the typical suburban home. Clad in a custom rain screen that reflects the wood of the surrounding landscape - while providing a glimpse into the interior tones that are used. The stepping “wood boxes” rest on a series of concrete walls that organize the site, retain the earth, and - in conjunction with the wood veneer panels - provide a subtle organic texture to the composition. The interior spaces wrap around an interior knuckle that houses public zones and vertical circulation - allowing more private spaces to exist at the edges of the building. The windows get larger and more frequent as they ascend the building, culminating in the upstairs bedrooms that occupy the site like a tree house - giving views in all directions. The Terraced House imports urban qualities to the suburban neighborhood and seeks to elevate the typical approach to production home construction, while being more in tune with modern family living patterns. Overview: Elm Grove Size: 2,800 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Completion Date: September 2014 Services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture Interior Consultants: Amy Carman Design

The "Magnolia Retreat Lounge Deck" was transformed into a tranquil oasis by Chicago Roof Deck and Garden, who worked closely with the client to optimize the space behind a typical Chicago house and above the garage. The goal was to create a serene atmosphere while keeping maintenance to a minimum. The project included the installation of a shade structure, outdoor furniture on the deck, and a stunning barbecue area complete with faux green walls and synthetic grass. Chicago Roof Deck and Garden paid attention to every detail, ensuring that the end result was both functional and beautiful.

The "Magnolia Retreat Lounge Deck" was transformed into a tranquil oasis by Chicago Roof Deck and Garden, who worked closely with the client to optimize the space behind a typical Chicago house and above the garage. The goal was to create a serene atmosphere while keeping maintenance to a minimum. The project included the installation of a shade structure, outdoor furniture on the deck, and a stunning barbecue area complete with faux green walls and synthetic grass. Chicago Roof Deck and Garden paid attention to every detail, ensuring that the end result was both functional and beautiful.

The "Magnolia Retreat Lounge Deck" was transformed into a tranquil oasis by Chicago Roof Deck and Garden, who worked closely with the client to optimize the space behind a typical Chicago house and above the garage. The goal was to create a serene atmosphere while keeping maintenance to a minimum. The project included the installation of a shade structure, outdoor furniture on the deck, and a stunning barbecue area complete with faux green walls and synthetic grass. Chicago Roof Deck and Garden paid attention to every detail, ensuring that the end result was both functional and beautiful.

This home was a typical Toll Brothers contemporary from the early ‘90’s. The exterior had reached the end of its life, with decayed cedar siding and a deteriorated roof. Greg & Tamara decided to use this opportunity to radically remake their home - to update its modern appeal and set it apart from any other suburban tract house. Spring Creek Design created a new deck, new siding design, entryways and sculptural landscaping for the home. Design Criteria: - Replace siding and give the home a bold, modern look. - Update the home’s landscaping with a spare modernism. - Add a new deck with an outdoor kitchen. Special Features: - Bold new exterior features fiber-cement panels and siding. -Three different colors are used to clearly define the shapes of the home. - Cantilevered concrete entryways features “floating” concrete slab landings. - Azek deck with tempered glass railings. - Custom wine-bottle light fixtures adorn the outdoor kitchen. - Massive planting boxes of Cor-Ten steel form the basis of a low-maintenance, dramatic landscape. - Custom-fabricated square gutters and downspouts compliment the linearity of the home’s design.

Exterior home photo in Salt Lake City

Richard P. Rauso, ASLA
Small elegant backyard custom-shaped pool fountain photo in Other with decking

Overthinking a situation isn’t always a bad thing, particularly when the home in question is one in which the past is suddenly meeting the present. Originally designed by Finnish architect Olav Hammarstrom in 1952 for fellow architect Eero Saarinen, this unique home recently received its first transformation in decades. Still in its 1950s skin, it was completely gutted, inside and out. It was a serious undertaking, as the homeowner wanted modern upgrades, while keeping an eye toward retaining the home’s 1950s charm. She had a vision for her home, and she stuck to it from beginning to end. Perched on a rise of land and overlooking the tranquil Wellfleet Herring Pond, the home initially appears split, with the guest house on the left, and the main house of the right, but both ends are connected with a breezeway. The original home’s bones were in good shape, but many upgrades and replacements were necessary to bring the house up to date. New siding, roofing, gutters, insulation and mechanical systems were all replaced. Doors and windows with metal frames were custom made by a company in Long Island that fabricates doors for office buildings. Modern heating and cooling systems were added, and the three bathrooms were all updated. The footprint of the home remained unchanged. Inside, the only expansion was more closet space. The attention to detail in retaining the 50s-style look took a lot of online searching, from handles and knobs to lighting fixtures, with bits and pieces arriving from all over the world, including a doorstop from New Zealand. The homeowner selected many of the fixtures herself, while a very detail-oriented foreman exhaustively researched as well, looking for just the right piece for each and every location. High-end appliances were purchased to modernize the kitchen and all of the old cabinetry was removed, replaced and refaced with NUVACOR, a versatile surfacing material that not only provided a sleek, modern look, but added convenience and ease of use. Bare, wood-beamed ceilings throughout give a nod to the home’s natural surroundings, while the main living area (formerly a fisherman’s cabin), with a brick fireplace, was completely trimmed in walnut, while multiple windows of varying sizes welcome sunlight to brighten the home. Here, the sheetrock ceiling with faux rafters provides an interesting and room-brightening feature. Behind the house sits the serene pond, which can now be enjoyed from the stunning new deck. Here, decking material was not laid out side by side, as it typically is but, instead, meticulously laid out on edge, creating an unusual and eye-catching effect. A railing of tempered glass panels allows unobstructed views of the surrounding natural beauty, and keeps consistent with the open, airy feel of the place. A new outdoor shower is accessible via the deck and left open to the wilderness and the pond below, completing the bold yet sophisticated feeling of this retro-modern home.

Jeri Koegel
Pool - large contemporary backyard rectangular pool idea in Orange County with decking

'Carmello' tomatoes growing in a large terra-cotta pot. Photo by Steve Masley
Photo of an eclectic landscaping in San Francisco.

This is the Dwell Home Venice designed by Sebastian Mariscal. the home was displayed in Dwell magazine and is one of the best designed homes using the "Shou Sugi Ban" tecnique.

These homeowners wanted to organize their small backyard into a family friendly space for all to enjoy. Key elements included a covered deck, space for a patio, space for a trampoline, and privacy from neighbors that did not feel like a typical fence. We selected Azek Vintage decking in Coastline to create a clean, light modern look for the deck and built-in bench. The Lexan trellis allows light in, but keeps the space underneath dry. Integrated low voltage lights illuminate the space under the trellis as well as the deck steps. Raised planters create pockets of green within the composition. The design also accommodates a hot tub and large trampoline. The end result is a space that the entire family can enjoy!

These homeowners wanted to organize their small backyard into a family friendly space for all to enjoy. Key elements included a covered deck, space for a patio, space for a trampoline, and privacy from neighbors that did not feel like a typical fence. We selected Azek Vintage decking in Coastline to create a clean, light modern look for the deck and built-in bench. The Lexan trellis allows light in, but keeps the space underneath dry. Integrated low voltage lights illuminate the space under the trellis as well as the deck steps. Raised planters create pockets of green within the composition. The design also accommodates a hot tub and large trampoline. The end result is a space that the entire family can enjoy!

These homeowners wanted to organize their small backyard into a family friendly space for all to enjoy. Key elements included a covered deck, space for a patio, space for a trampoline, and privacy from neighbors that did not feel like a typical fence. We selected Azek Vintage decking in Coastline to create a clean, light modern look for the deck and built-in bench. The Lexan trellis allows light in, but keeps the space underneath dry. Integrated low voltage lights illuminate the space under the trellis as well as the deck steps. Raised planters create pockets of green within the composition. The design also accommodates a hot tub and large trampoline. The end result is a space that the entire family can enjoy!

This view shows the play of the different wood tones throughout the space. The different woods keep the eye moving and draw you into the inviting space. We love the classic Cherner counter stools. The nostalgic pendants create some fun and add sculptural interest. All track lighting was replaced and expanded by cutting through beams to create good task lighting for all kitchen surfaces.

A new deck that adds more living space without disrupting the nice layout and flow of the interior. The deck’s no-railing design makes enjoying the deck feel more connected to the yard and the outdoors. This is typical of the deck work by Alloy; it looks finished and solid with the appearance of being a real part of the home.

The "Magnolia Retreat Lounge Deck" was transformed into a tranquil oasis by Chicago Roof Deck and Garden, who worked closely with the client to optimize the space behind a typical Chicago house and above the garage. The goal was to create a serene atmosphere while keeping maintenance to a minimum. The project included the installation of a shade structure, outdoor furniture on the deck, and a stunning barbecue area complete with faux green walls and synthetic grass. Chicago Roof Deck and Garden paid attention to every detail, ensuring that the end result was both functional and beautiful.