Midcentury Patio Design Ideas

Modern Alfresco Seating Area Design Ideas for a young family
This is an example of a midcentury patio in Perth with no cover.

This is an example of a midcentury patio in Sydney.

This main courtyard serves as the families outdoor dining area. The custom designed outdoor table is provided with the dapples light of summer shade by the courtyards deciduous tree and is provided by the warmth of the winter sun. The external stair provides access to the roof garden.

Summer entertaining space on the Alfresco.
Mid-sized midcentury backyard patio in Canberra - Queanbeyan with an outdoor kitchen, concrete pavers and a roof extension.

Photo by Cathy Schusler
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury patio in Brisbane.

The home's original pool was in great condition. The team cleaned up the overgrown brush in the back yard and installed new landscaping and a new cedar fence. The large patio provided the perfect spot for the team to incorporate a custom designed mid century wood and steel pergola.

Mick Hales
Design ideas for a midcentury patio in New York.

Photo of a midcentury backyard patio in San Francisco with a fire feature, concrete slab and no cover.

Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects, and Flegels Construction updated a classic Eichler open, indoor-outdoor home. Expanding on the original walls of glass and connection to nature that is common in mid-century modern homes. The completely openable walls allow the homeowners to truly open up the living space of the house, transforming it into an open air pavilion, extending the living area outdoors to the private side yards, and taking maximum advantage of indoor-outdoor living opportunities. Taking the concept of borrowed landscape from traditional Japanese architecture, the fountain, concrete bench wall, and natural landscaping bound the indoor-outdoor space. The Truly Open Eichler is a remodeled single-family house in Palo Alto. This 1,712 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom is located in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Geoff Campen, and Angela Todorova Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects Structural Engineer: Brian Dotson Consulting Engineers Contractor: Flegels Construction Photography ©2014 Mariko Reed Location: Palo Alto, CA Year completed: 2014

Snitko modern take
Inspiration for a midcentury patio in Los Angeles.

Reverse Shed Eichler This project is part tear-down, part remodel. The original L-shaped plan allowed the living/ dining/ kitchen wing to be completely re-built while retaining the shell of the bedroom wing virtually intact. The rebuilt entertainment wing was enlarged 50% and covered with a low-slope reverse-shed roof sloping from eleven to thirteen feet. The shed roof floats on a continuous glass clerestory with eight foot transom. Cantilevered steel frames support wood roof beams with eaves of up to ten feet. An interior glass clerestory separates the kitchen and livingroom for sound control. A wall-to-wall skylight illuminates the north wall of the kitchen/family room. New additions at the back of the house add several “sliding” wall planes, where interior walls continue past full-height windows to the exterior, complimenting the typical Eichler indoor-outdoor ceiling and floor planes. The existing bedroom wing has been re-configured on the interior, changing three small bedrooms into two larger ones, and adding a guest suite in part of the original garage. A previous den addition provided the perfect spot for a large master ensuite bath and walk-in closet. Natural materials predominate, with fir ceilings, limestone veneer fireplace walls, anigre veneer cabinets, fir sliding windows and interior doors, bamboo floors, and concrete patios and walks. Landscape design by Bernard Trainor: www.bernardtrainor.com (see “Concrete Jungle” in April 2014 edition of Dwell magazine). Microsoft Media Center installation of the Year, 2008: www.cybermanor.com/ultimate_install.html (automated shades, radiant heating system, and lights, as well as security & sound).

This is an example of a midcentury backyard patio in Denver with concrete slab and a pergola.

Dutton Architects did an extensive renovation of a post and beam mid-century modern house in the canyons of Beverly Hills. The house was brought down to the studs, with new interior and exterior finishes, windows and doors, lighting, etc. A secure exterior door allows the visitor to enter into a garden before arriving at a glass wall and door that leads inside, allowing the house to feel as if the front garden is part of the interior space. Similarly, large glass walls opening to a new rear gardena and pool emphasizes the indoor-outdoor qualities of this house. photos by Undine Prohl

Midcentury patio in Minneapolis.

Photo of a midcentury patio in Los Angeles with a pergola.

A newly renovated terrace in St Peters needed the final touches to really make this house a home, and one that was representative of it’s colourful owner. This very energetic and enthusiastic client definitely made the project one to remember. With a big brief to highlight the clients love for fashion, a key feature throughout was her personal ‘rock’ style. Pops of ‘rock' are found throughout and feature heavily in the luxe living areas with an entire wall designated to the clients icons including a lovely photograph of the her parents. The clients love for original vintage elements made it easy to style the home incorporating many of her own pieces. A custom vinyl storage unit finished with a Carrara marble top to match the new coffee tables, side tables and feature Tom Dixon bedside sconces, specifically designed to suit an ongoing vinyl collection. Along with clever storage solutions, making sure the small terrace house could accommodate her large family gatherings was high on the agenda. We created beautifully luxe details to sit amongst her items inherited which held strong sentimental value, all whilst providing smart storage solutions to house her curated collections of clothes, shoes and jewellery. Custom joinery was introduced throughout the home including bespoke bed heads finished in luxurious velvet and an excessive banquette wrapped in white Italian leather. Hidden shoe compartments are found in all joinery elements even below the banquette seating designed to accommodate the clients extended family gatherings. Photographer: Simon Whitbread

Ciro Coelho Photography
Photo of a midcentury patio in Santa Barbara with no cover.

Already partially enclosed by an ipe fence and concrete wall, our client had a vision of an outdoor courtyard for entertaining on warm summer evenings since the space would be shaded by the house in the afternoon. He imagined the space with a water feature, lighting and paving surrounded by plants. With our marching orders in place, we drew up a schematic plan quickly and met to review two options for the space. These options quickly coalesced and combined into a single vision for the space. A thick, 60” tall concrete wall would enclose the opening to the street – creating privacy and security, and making a bold statement. We knew the gate had to be interesting enough to stand up to the large concrete walls on either side, so we designed and had custom fabricated by Dennis Schleder (www.dennisschleder.com) a beautiful, visually dynamic metal gate. The gate has become the icing on the cake, all 300 pounds of it! Other touches include drought tolerant planting, bluestone paving with pebble accents, crushed granite paving, LED accent lighting, and outdoor furniture. Both existing trees were retained and are thriving with their new soil. The garden was installed in December and our client is extremely happy with the results – so are we! Photo credits, Coreen Schmidt

This is an example of a midcentury patio in Denver.

Richard Bloom
Design ideas for a midcentury backyard patio in San Diego with a fire feature, gravel and no cover.