We were contacted by a family named Pesek who lived near Memorial Drive on the West side of Houston. They lived in a stately home built in the late 1950’s. Many years back, they had contracted a local pool company to install an old lagoon-style pool, which they had since grown tired of. When they initially called us, they wanted to know if we could build them an outdoor room at the far end of the swimming pool. We scheduled a free consultation at a time convenient to them, and we drove out to their residence to take a look at the property. After a quick survey of the back yard, rear of the home, and the swimming pool, we determined that building an outdoor room as an addition to their existing landscaping design would not bring them the results they expected. The pool was visibly dated with an early “70’s” look, which not only clashed with the late 50’s style of home architecture, but guaranteed an even greater clash with any modern-style outdoor room we constructed. Luckily for the Peseks, we offered an even better landscaping plan than the one they had hoped for. We proposed the construction of a new outdoor room and an entirely new swimming pool. Both of these new structures would be built around the classical geometry of proportional right angles. This would allow a very modern design to compliment an older home, because basic geometric patterns are universal in many architectural designs used throughout history. In this case, both the swimming pool and the outdoor rooms were designed as interrelated quadrilateral forms with proportional right angles that created the illusion of lengthened distance and a sense of Classical elegance. This proved a perfect complement to a house that had originally been built as a symbolic emblem of a simpler, more rugged and absolute era. Though reminiscent of classical design and complimentary to the conservative design of the home, the interior of the outdoor room was ultra-modern in its array of comfort and convenience. The Peseks felt this would be a great place to hold birthday parties for their child. With this new outdoor room, the Peseks could take the party outside at any time of day or night, and at any time of year. We also built the structure to be fully functional as an outdoor kitchen as well as an outdoor entertainment area. There was a smoker, a refrigerator, an ice maker, and a water heater—all intended to eliminate any need to return to the house once the party began. Seating and entertainment systems were also added to provide state of the art fun for adults and children alike. We installed a flat-screen plasma TV, and we wired it for cable. The swimming pool was built between the outdoor room and the rear entrance to the house. We got rid of the old lagoon-pool design which geometrically clashed with the right angles of the house and outdoor room. We then had a completely new pool built, in the shape of a rectangle, with a rather innovative coping design. We showcased the pool with a coping that rose perpendicular to the ground out of the stone patio surface. This reinforced our blend of contemporary look with classical right angles. We saved the client an enormous amount of money on travertine by setting the coping so that it does not overhang with the tile. Because the ground between the house and the outdoor room gradually dropped in grade, we used the natural slope of the ground to create another perpendicular right angle at the end of the pool. Here, we installed a waterfall which spilled over into a heated spa. Although the spa was fed from within itself, it was built to look as though water was coming from within the pool. The ultimate result of all of this is a new sense of visual “ebb and flow,” so to speak. When Mr. Pesek sits in his couch facing his house, the earth appears to rise up first into an illuminated pool which leads the way up the steps to his home. When he sits in his spa facing the other direction, the earth rises up like a doorway to his outdoor room, where he can comfortably relax in the water while he watches TV. For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.

Blue Max & Belgard
Traditional patio in Charlotte with a fire feature and a gazebo/cabana.

This custom backyard cabana is one part of a multi-faceted outdoor design that features a stain and stamp patio and walkways, a fire pit and custom shade pergola.

Our client wanted to create a fresh outdoor living space within their outdated backyard and to give a makeover to their entire property. The overall setting was a tremendous asset to the spaces - a large wetland area just behind their home, full of interesting birds and wildlife that the homeowner values. We designed and built a spacious covered outdoor living space as the backyard focal point. The kitchen and bar area feature a Hestan grill, kegerator and refrigerator along with ample counter space. This structure is heated by Infratech heaters for maximum all-season use. An array of six skylights allows light into the space and the adjacent windows. While the covered space is the focal point of the backyard, the entire property was redesigned to include a bluestone patio and pathway, dry creek bed, new planting, extensive low voltage outdoor lighting and a new entry monument. The design fits seamlessly among the existing mature trees and the backdrop of a beautiful wetland area beyond. The structure feels as if it has always been a part of the home. William Wright Photography

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional backyard patio in Orlando with natural stone pavers, a fire feature and a gazebo/cabana.

Photo of a large modern backyard patio in Orange County with a fire feature, concrete slab and a gazebo/cabana.

Felix Sanchez
Large transitional backyard patio in Houston with a fire feature, concrete pavers and a gazebo/cabana.

Stone and brick varieties, wood finishes, appliances and fixtures were selected to coordinate with the home’s interior and exterior architecture, reflecting a refined style that the homeowners prefer. The gas-only fireplace is clean and maintenance-free with a sparkling stainless steel surround.

The bluestone stairs for this project were built using stone veneer risers and bluestone treads. Full color bluestone pieces complete the landing. Low voltage lighting is built-in to the stairs for a seamless look.

Patrick Redmond
This is an example of a contemporary backyard patio in Melbourne with a fire feature, decking and a gazebo/cabana.

James Barney
Country patio in Denver with a fire feature and a gazebo/cabana.

Traditional patio in Other with a fire feature and a gazebo/cabana.

Inspiration for a mediterranean patio in Los Angeles with a gazebo/cabana and a fire feature.

This stunning pool has an Antigua Pebble finish, tanning ledge and 5 bar seats. The L-shaped, open-air cabana houses an outdoor living room with a custom fire table, a large kitchen with stainless steel appliances including a sink, refrigerator, wine cooler and grill, a spacious dining and bar area with leathered granite counter tops and a spa like bathroom with an outdoor shower making it perfect for entertaining both small family cookouts and large parties.

Design ideas for a large modern backyard patio in Phoenix with a fire feature, tile and a gazebo/cabana.

Bruce Saunders, Connectivity Group, LLC
This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts backyard patio in Charlotte with a fire feature, concrete pavers and a gazebo/cabana.

A new Infinity Pool, Hot Tub, Kitchen Pavilion and grass terrace were added to this Maine retreat, connecting to the spectacular view of the Maine Coast. Photo Credit: John Benford Architect: Fiorentino Group Architects General Contractor: Bob Reed Landscape Contractor: Stoney Brook Landscape and Masonry Pool and Hot Tub: Jackson Pools

Fifth Season Landscape Design
Design ideas for a large arts and crafts backyard patio in Other with a fire feature, concrete slab and a gazebo/cabana.

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style backyard patio in San Diego with a fire feature, tile and a gazebo/cabana.