Hood House is a playful protector that respects the heritage character of Carlton North whilst celebrating purposeful change. It is a luxurious yet compact and hyper-functional home defined by an exploration of contrast: it is ornamental and restrained, subdued and lively, stately and casual, compartmental and open. For us, it is also a project with an unusual history. This dual-natured renovation evolved through the ownership of two separate clients. Originally intended to accommodate the needs of a young family of four, we shifted gears at the eleventh hour and adapted a thoroughly resolved design solution to the needs of only two. From a young, nuclear family to a blended adult one, our design solution was put to a test of flexibility. The result is a subtle renovation almost invisible from the street yet dramatic in its expressive qualities. An oblique view from the northwest reveals the playful zigzag of the new roof, the rippling metal hood. This is a form-making exercise that connects old to new as well as establishing spatial drama in what might otherwise have been utilitarian rooms upstairs. A simple palette of Australian hardwood timbers and white surfaces are complimented by tactile splashes of brass and rich moments of colour that reveal themselves from behind closed doors. Our internal joke is that Hood House is like Lazarus, risen from the ashes. We’re grateful that almost six years of hard work have culminated in this beautiful, protective and playful house, and so pleased that Glenda and Alistair get to call it home.

The outdoor shower was designed to integrate into the stone veneer wall and be accessible from the Lower Level.
Photo of a large traditional backyard patio in Bridgeport with an outdoor shower, natural stone pavers and a pergola.

Johan Roetz
Expansive contemporary backyard patio in Tampa with natural stone pavers and a roof extension.

Bertolami Interiors, Summit Landscape Development
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern backyard patio in San Francisco with an outdoor kitchen, tile and a pergola.

This project combines high end earthy elements with elegant, modern furnishings. We wanted to re invent the beach house concept and create an home which is not your typical coastal retreat. By combining stronger colors and textures, we gave the spaces a bolder and more permanent feel. Yet, as you travel through each room, you can't help but feel invited and at home.

A patterned Lannonstone wall creates a private backdrop for the heated spa, featuring a sheer water weir pouring from between the wall’s mortar joints. Generous planting beds provide seasonal texture and softening between paved areas. The paving is Bluestone.

This patio was part of a surprise patio makeover called Patio Flip. This patio is now fit to entertain any crowd and provide several areas to entertain. The unused side yard was turned into a beautiful dining space. This stunning outdoor kitchen also received a makeover as well and was repositioned to become more functional in the space. The outdoor lounge area provides a contemporary, casual seating area. Overall Design, Layout, Plants, Furniture and Accessories by Outdoor Space Designs and Kate Bowers Landscape Design

This is an example of a large traditional backyard patio in New York with a pergola.

Design ideas for a large contemporary backyard patio in Other with an outdoor kitchen, tile and a roof extension.

Outdoor kitchen with beautiful stone and stainless steel appliances. The pergola is perfect for additional shade.
Photo of a large transitional backyard patio in Richmond with an outdoor kitchen, concrete pavers and a pergola.

Patio
Mid-sized contemporary backyard patio in Miami with an outdoor kitchen, a roof extension and concrete pavers.

Designed to compliment the existing single story home in a densely wooded setting, this Pool Cabana serves as outdoor kitchen, dining, bar, bathroom/changing room, and storage. Photos by Ross Pushinaitus.

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

A complete contemporary backyard project was taken to another level of design. This amazing backyard was completed in the beginning of 2013 in Weston, Florida. The project included an Outdoor Kitchen with equipment by Lynx, and finished with Emperador Light Marble and a Spanish stone on walls. Also, a 32” X 16” wooden pergola attached to the house with a customized wooden wall for the TV on a structured bench with the same finishes matching the Outdoor Kitchen. The project also consist of outdoor furniture by The Patio District, pool deck with gold travertine material, and an ivy wall with LED lights and custom construction with Black Absolute granite finish and grey stone on walls. For more information regarding this or any other of our outdoor projects please visit our website at www.luxapatio.com where you may also shop online. You can also visit our showroom located in the Doral Design District (3305 NW 79 Ave Miami FL. 33122) or contact us at 305-477-5141. URL http://www.luxapatio.com

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.

This home is on several acres, and the homeowner wanted a freestanding outdoor living room with a large kitchen and fireplace that matched their home. The rustic/hill country vibe is just perfect. The rustic stone and dark stained columns and beams create this stunning outdoor space. A walkway from the home to the new outdoor space was poured for easy access to the 624 SF freestanding living room. Everything was built to look original to the home – matching the siding, metal roof, and gel-stained Hardie on the columns and beams. The flooring inside the space is hand-carved limecrete overlay in a travertine pattern. There are concrete pads on the outside for a smoker and plants. The 18’ kitchen along one side has a grill, sink, fridge, storage, and a ceramic smoker. The granite is Fantasy Brown 3cm leather finish from InStyle Granite and Marble. The raised bar top provides plenty of space for dining outdoors. All the stone on the project is Colonial Monte Vista from Apex Stone. The hearth and seat walls are topped with Ashton Moire ledge stone from Apex Stone. The custom-built fireplace is woodburning with storage on either side for wood storage. The ceiling is American Nut Brown pre-stained tongue and groove by Woodtone.

Design ideas for an expansive transitional side yard patio in Seattle with an outdoor kitchen, concrete slab and a roof extension.

This masterfully designed outdoor living space feels open, airy, and filled with light thanks to the lighter finishes and the fabric pergola shade. Clean, modern lines and a muted color palette add to the spa-like feel of this outdoor living space.

“I am so pleased with all that you did in terms of design and execution.” // Dr. Charles Dinarello • Our client, Charles, envisioned a festive space for everyday use as well as larger parties, and through our design and attention to detail, we brought his vision to life and exceeded his expectations. The Campiello is a continuation and reincarnation of last summer’s party pavilion which abarnai constructed to cover and compliment the custom built IL-1beta table, a personalized birthday gift and centerpiece for the big celebration. The fresh new design includes; cedar timbers, Roman shades and retractable vertical shades, a patio extension, exquisite lighting, and custom trellises.