Outside patio and firepit photo credit: Steve Rawls
Example of a small farmhouse front yard gravel patio design in Austin with no cover and a fire pit

Linear slots in the roof plane reflected with linear slots of the masonry walls. Photo by Daniel Freidman
Inspiration for a contemporary drought-tolerant front yard gravel garden path in Phoenix.

Paul Barnaby
Mid-sized trendy backyard patio photo in Los Angeles with no cover

Example of a mountain style one-story mixed siding exterior home design

Example of a minimalist backyard concrete paver and rectangular lap pool design in DC Metro

Design ideas for a contemporary raised garden bed in Vancouver.

New bar area in the kitchen. Doorway leads to guest bedroom and bath. Photo by Lee Manning Photography
Large elegant l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, soapstone countertops, gray backsplash, paneled appliances, white walls and subway tile backsplash

Design ideas for a large contemporary partial sun side yard stone formal garden in Miami for spring.

Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal side yard outdoor patio shower remodel with no cover

David Burroughs
Large transitional backyard stone and rectangular lap pool photo in DC Metro

This is the home of an area pediatrician and her retired neurosurgeon husband near Augusta in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine. The home faces out on one of the largest lakes in the area. The 5,000 square foot house was built on the grounds of a former summer camp and features a soaring two-story great room, kitchen and dining area, a den with a panoramic view of the lake, four bedrooms and a second-floor “tower” office for the pediatrician. More than 8,000 square feet of Englert Series `1300 standing seam metal roof was used for the main house and adjacent garage. The color of the 24 gauge, 20 inch wide standing seam panel is patina green. The primary challenge during installation was the severe 16/12 pitch of the roof and the installation of metal around the dormers on the side of the house facing the lakefront. David Barker of Farmingdale, Maine was the general contractor. C.O. Beck & Sons of Waterville, Maine was the metal roofing company. Installed more than a decade ago, the color and finish of this 1 ½-inch mechanically seamed roof remains as fresh as the day it was installed, despite the harsh, cold winters of the region.

Inspiration for a rustic exterior home remodel in Denver

Growsgreen Landscape Design, photo by Caitlin Atkinson.
Example of a danish deck design in San Francisco

Lagoon-side property in the Bel Marin Keys, Novato, CA. Entertaining and enjoying the views were a primary design goal for this project along with replacing the lawn with CA native and low water plants and a total renovation. 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. Plants shown: Bush Germander (Teucrium fruticans 'Azureum'), Sea Lavender (Limonium perezii, and Blue Oat Grass. Photo: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design. Design Eileen Kelly

Large Remodel to an Existing single Family Home
Pool - large traditional backyard stone and custom-shaped natural pool idea in Orange County

ample seating allows for dining, gathering, and play at the versatile rear yard space, which can be directly accessed from the interior study/office
Example of a small backyard concrete patio design in Orange County with no cover

Piston Design
This is an example of a huge transitional outdoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court in Austin.

This lovely little modern farmhouse is located at the base of the foothills in one of Boulder’s most prized neighborhoods. Tucked onto a challenging narrow lot, this inviting and sustainably designed 2400 sf., 4 bedroom home lives much larger than its compact form. The open floor plan and vaulted ceilings of the Great room, kitchen and dining room lead to a beautiful covered back patio and lush, private back yard. These rooms are flooded with natural light and blend a warm Colorado material palette and heavy timber accents with a modern sensibility. A lyrical open-riser steel and wood stair floats above the baby grand in the center of the home and takes you to three bedrooms on the second floor. The Master has a covered balcony with exposed beamwork & warm Beetle-kill pine soffits, framing their million-dollar view of the Flatirons. Its simple and familiar style is a modern twist on a classic farmhouse vernacular. The stone, Hardie board siding and standing seam metal roofing create a resilient and low-maintenance shell. The alley-loaded home has a solar-panel covered garage that was custom designed for the family’s active & athletic lifestyle (aka “lots of toys”). The front yard is a local food & water-wise Master-class, with beautiful rain-chains delivering roof run-off straight to the family garden.

Christel Leung
Photo of a small modern full sun backyard concrete paver formal garden in San Francisco.