Photo of a contemporary patio in Sydney.

Positioning the home as a conduit for family and togetherness, Gathering House is expanded to facilitate an open and engaging residential experience, melding both old and new within the one generous site. Taking references from the existing formal silhouette and materiality already in place, the focus became on extruding the original form while imbedding new principles of increased scale and openness throughout. Binding the interior to the larger landscape was also key, driving clear visual connections between inside and out and allowing the functions of the home to spill out into dedicated outdoor entertaining areas. The home celebrates coming together, dotted with moments of compression and release to align with varying levels of passive or active animation, retaining the familiar intimacy of home.

Fairfield Courtyard House

Taylor Knights

Outdoor dining area
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary courtyard patio in Melbourne with concrete slab and a roof extension.

Fitzroy

Doherty Building Group

This is an example of a contemporary patio.

Residential Resort

Turrell Building Pty Ltd

Design ideas for a contemporary patio in Sydney.

Project of the Month: September 2017

TCP Custom Outdoor Living

This freestanding covered patio with an outdoor kitchen and fireplace is the perfect retreat! Just a few steps away from the home, this covered patio is about 500 square feet. The homeowner had an existing structure they wanted replaced. This new one has a custom built wood burning fireplace with an outdoor kitchen and is a great area for entertaining. The flooring is a travertine tile in a Versailles pattern over a concrete patio. The outdoor kitchen has an L-shaped counter with plenty of space for prepping and serving meals as well as space for dining. The fascia is stone and the countertops are granite. The wood-burning fireplace is constructed of the same stone and has a ledgestone hearth and cedar mantle. What a perfect place to cozy up and enjoy a cool evening outside. The structure has cedar columns and beams. The vaulted ceiling is stained tongue and groove and really gives the space a very open feel. Special details include the cedar braces under the bar top counter, carriage lights on the columns and directional lights along the sides of the ceiling. Click Photography

Secret Garden in Boulder

Designs by Sundown

Photo of a traditional patio in Denver with natural stone pavers and a pergola.

Outdoor Fireplaces

Terra Verde

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary front yard patio in Providence with concrete pavers and no cover.

Backyard and Fire Pit

Keith Willig Landscape Architecture, Inc.

Gravel, La Paz stone, and lawn provide contrasting textures while the fire pit provides a focal point. (Photography by Paul Dyer)
Design ideas for a contemporary patio in San Francisco.

Fire pit and natural stone patio

Land Creations Landscaping Inc.

Jeff Rak
This is an example of a large country backyard patio in Cleveland with a fire feature, natural stone pavers and no cover.

Los Altos Covered Patio

Kikuchi + Kankel Design Group

The homeowners desired an outdoor space that felt more rustic than their refined interior spaces, but still related architecturally to their house. Cement plaster support arbor columns provide enough of visual tie to the existing house exterior. Oversized wood beams and rafter members provide a unique outdoor atmosphere. Structural bolts and hardware were minimized for a cleaner appearance. Structural connections and supports were engineered to meet California's stringent earthquake standards. Ali Atri Photography

Inside Out

Ketron Custom Builders

Design ideas for a large traditional backyard patio in Columbus with natural stone pavers and a fire feature.

San Roque Get-a-Way

Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Naturalist, hot tub with flagstone, Stone Fire Pit, adirondack chairs make a great outdoor living space. Holly Lepere
Photo of a country backyard patio in Santa Barbara with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Romantic Tarrytown Terrace

Westover Landscape Design

Often, less is more. Take this landscape design composed of climbing roses, hydrangeas, and lilies surrounding a bluestone terrace. This small, suburban garden feels both expansive and intimate. Japanese forest grass softens the edge of the terrace and adds just enough of a modern look to make the garden’s owners, urban transplants, happy. “My husband and I were looking for an outdoor space that had a secret-garden feeling,” says homeowner Anne Lillis-Ruth. “We’ve had fun adding furniture, antique planters, and a stone fountain to [landscape designer] Robert Welsch’s beautiful landscape. The white and green plantings provide the perfect backdrop to my collection of colorful table linens, glassware, and china. We love our garden!” Dean Fisher loved it, too. “The setting is so lovely and relaxed. It evokes the south of France, with its intimate scale and the integration of house and patio through the use of the vines and other plantings.”

Small Backyard & Front Yard Remodel

System Pavers

This outdoor remodel consists of a full front yard and backyard re-design. A Small, private paver patio was built off the master bedroom, boasting an elegant fire pit and exquisite views of those West Coast sunsets. In the front courtyard, a paver walkway and patio was built in - perfect for alfresco dining or lounging with loved ones. The front of the home features a new landscape design and LED lighting, creating an elegant look and adding plenty of curb appeal

Clonmel Road #1

Cheyne Construction

Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard patio in London with a container garden and no cover.

Oxford English Garden

SURROUNDS Landscape Architecture + Construction

Morgan Howarth Photography, Surrounds Inc.
This is an example of a traditional patio in DC Metro with natural stone pavers, no cover and a water feature.

Landscaping Ideas

Buechel Stone Corp

This beautiful lakeside scene is enhanced with Buechel Stone's Chilton Flagstone, Chilton Weatheredge Outcroppings, and Chilton Weatheredge Outcropping Steps. Click on the tags to see more at www.buechelstone.com/shoppingcart/products/Chilton-Flagst..., www.buechelstone.com/shoppingcart/products/Chilton-Weathe..., or www.buechelstone.com/shoppingcart/products/Chilton-Weathe...

Thigpen Residence

Chris Corbett Design

Neil Michael - Axiom Photography
This is an example of a small modern courtyard patio in Sacramento.

Pebble Beach Landscapes

Anthony Brancato Landscape Contractor

Courtyard Patio Sculpture by Richard McDonald
This is an example of a mediterranean courtyard patio in Other.

Green Patio Design Ideas

A patio is a paved outdoor area that adjoins a house, and is a popular addition to Australian and New Zealand homes. Not only is it yet another place to enjoy the great outdoors, but it can also save you time and money on landscaping. Often seen as an extension of the indoor living space, patios and courtyards can serve multiple functions. If you add outdoor furniture such as lounge chairs and a sofa, a barbecue or outdoor kitchen and a dining table and chairs, you can use them for entertaining, cooking, dining, and relaxing. Browse the Photos on Houzz for courtyard and patio designs to see how you can best utilise your existing outdoor area.

What materials should I use to construct my patio?

Stone pavers and bricks are the most common surface materials used for patios, while concrete, tiles and gravel are also popular. Stone paving is usually at the top end of the price bracket, but is highly durable and the most natural-looking of the surface materials available. Brick patios, on the other hand, are relatively easy to lay, and provide a warm, rich colour that can complement traditional homes. Concrete patios are one of the least expensive to build and are also very durable, while gravel is quick and easy to install. You will also need to decide whether you want your patio covered or left uncovered. You can add roofing if you plan on using the space regularly, or opt for a pergola, trellis or umbrella for shade instead. Patio enclosures, usually made from glass or mesh screens, can also transform your space into an outdoor room.

What outdoor patio furniture and decor should I include?

A patio can be so much more than just a paved slab, if you add the right additions. An outdoor kitchen and bar will help make the space the life of the party, while high-quality, low-slung chairs will make you want to stay outside for longer. If you have the budget, you may even consider adding a spa or pool. To make it the ideal al fresco area even when temperatures drop, a fire pit or fireplace will be able to keep you and your company toasty warm. To entice you and your guests into the space, make some room for greenery, even if you just a place a pot plant atop a table. It will help tie in the area to the surrounding garden. Fairy lights, garden torches and citronella candles will also help set the mood and keep the mozzies at bay, while soft furnishings such as waterproof rugs, pillows and chair cushions will add personality. For something striking, consider adding a water feature or wall garden. If you're ready to hire a landscape professional to help you with the job, browse our directory here!