The distinct spaces can be seen from this overhead view. The dining space is separated from the social space by three large containers on one side and from the fire pit by a low profile planting bed on the other side. A small grill with counter is conveniently located near the three season room. Landscape design by John Algozzini. Photo courtesy of Mike Crews Photography.

Custom, in ground fire pit extends the season for this homeowner.
Large modern backyard patio in New York with a fire feature.

Like every property on the lake, this one had a steep slope immediately out of the back door. So we hugged the patio close to the house, building it up with a small retaining wall, and providing plenty of space to enjoy a summer night by the fire!

Design ideas for a mid-sized country backyard patio in Richmond with a fire feature and concrete pavers.

Jeri Koegel
Design ideas for a large contemporary backyard patio in Orange County with a fire feature, concrete pavers and a roof extension.

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

Completed in 2012, this property features an entirely renovated garden and pool area that includes a custom designed guilt iron pavilion. This pavilion features exquisite detailing in the columns and the roof. The pavilion features gas lanterns and subtle landscape lighting to make it come alive in the evenings. The pavilion sits above a completely renovated swimming pool with all new travertine decking and coping. New LED lighting has been added to the pool along with illuminated bubbler jets in the tanning ledge. The gardens along side the pool area are lined with a boxwood parterre and lush landscaping. An upper courtyard terrace features an outdoor cooking area and fireplace with seating area. A wonderful renovation project.

Photo of a large traditional backyard patio in Seattle with a fire feature, natural stone pavers and no cover.

Creation Builders Inc
Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard patio in Los Angeles with a fire feature, concrete pavers and no cover.

This project is located in the Turtle Ridge community near UCI in Irvine. With an existing pool, our goal was to create a Modern inviting space with multiple entertaining areas. The unique areas include a firepit and lounging area at one of the pool with Tuscan styled planting, at the other end is a Modern pass-through fireplace with fire balls and a custom water fountain spilling into the pool. The fireplace wraps around to include a barbecue and bar area with an Ipe wood deck seating lounge. Just off the bar area is a zen garden with custom water features spilling from the gabion walls, a pebble contemplation garden, and bamboo planting. As you pass through the Zen Garden you enter the Tuscan themed entertaining space with corten steel planters, citrus trees, and decomposed granite. A few of the materials included in this project are as follows: Limestone paving, concrete coping,gabion walls, limestone veneer,concrete countertops,custom stainless steel scuppers,1" glass tile veneer, large wood beams,glass rails,ipe wood,rolled pebble and succulent planting. Studio H Landscape Architecture, Inc.

Tatum Brown Custom Homes {Photo Credit: Danny Piassick} {Interior Design: Robyn Menter Design Associates} {Architectural credit: Mark Hoesterey of Stocker Hoesterey Montenegro Architects}

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.

Inspiration for a contemporary patio in Los Angeles with a fire feature.

Bamboo water feature, brick patio, fire pit, Japanese garden, Japanese Tea Hut, Japanese water feature, lattice, metal roof, outdoor bench, outdoor dining, fire pit, tree grows up through deck, firepit stools, paver patio, privacy screens, trellis, hardscape patio, Tigerwood Deck, wood beam, wood deck, privacy screens, bubbler water feature, paver walkway

Surrounds Inc.
Inspiration for a large traditional backyard patio in DC Metro with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

- Space has direct access from the kitchen/great room. - Boundaries of the existing patio area were expanded with paving stones - Lower level patio connected to the upper level with basalt steps. - New outdoor gas fireplace anchors the outdoor living area - Series of stone columns and wood rafters ‘frame’ the outdoor living room. - Fireplace provides a visual screen to the unsightly view of neighbour’s shed. - Raised hearth clad in slate provides additional seating at fireplace - Low voltage lighting mounted to a concrete cap, ‘grazes’ the face of the ledgestone fireplace.

Custom design and hand painted geometric mural on refurbished carport turned dining area, with recessed lighting, and a light wood outdoor dining table and chairs.

Photos by Tina Witherspoon.
This is an example of a small midcentury backyard patio in Seattle with concrete pavers, no cover and a fire feature.

Gathering Area. Sustainable Landscape Architecture design. Naturalistic design style, highlighting the architecture and situating the home in it's natural landscape within the first growing season. Large Private Ranch in Emigrant, Montana. Architecture by Formescent Architects | Photography by Jon Menezes