Turf World Co. Parma. Ohio
Large traditional backyard patio in Cleveland with brick pavers and an awning.

Traditional patio in San Francisco with brick pavers.

Inspiration for a contemporary patio in Sussex with brick pavers and a fire feature.

This shade arbor, located in The Woodlands, TX north of Houston, spans the entire length of the back yard. It combines a number of elements with custom structures that were constructed to emulate specific aspects of a Zen garden. The homeowner wanted a low-maintenance garden whose beauty could withstand the tough seasonal weather that strikes the area at various times of the year. He also desired a mood-altering aesthetic that would relax the senses and calm the mind. Most importantly, he wanted this meditative environment completely shielded from the outside world so he could find serenity in total privacy. The most unique design element in this entire project is the roof of the shade arbor itself. It features a “negative space” leaf pattern that was designed in a software suite and cut out of the metal with a water jet cutter. Each form in the pattern is loosely suggestive of either a leaf, or a cluster of leaves. These small, negative spaces cut from the metal are the source of the structure’ powerful visual and emotional impact. During the day, sunlight shines down and highlights columns, furniture, plantings, and gravel with a blend of dappling and shade that make you feel like you are sitting under the branches of a tree. At night, the effects are even more brilliant. Skillfully concealed lights mounted on the trusses reflect off the steel in places, while in other places they penetrate the negative spaces, cascading brilliant patterns of ambient light down on vegetation, hardscape, and water alike. The shade arbor shelters two gravel patios that are almost identical in space. The patio closest to the living room features a mini outdoor dining room, replete with tables and chairs. The patio is ornamented with a blend of ornamental grass, a small human figurine sculpture, and mid-level impact ground cover. Gravel was chosen as the preferred hardscape material because of its Zen-like connotations. It is also remarkably soft to walk on, helping to set the mood for a relaxed afternoon in the dappled shade of gently filtered sunlight. The second patio, spaced 15 feet away from the first, resides adjacent to the home at the opposite end of the shade arbor. Like its twin, it is also ornamented with ground cover borders, ornamental grasses, and a large urn identical to the first. Seating here is even more private and contemplative. Instead of a table and chairs, there is a large decorative concrete bench cut in the shape of a giant four-leaf clover. Spanning the distance between these two patios, a bluestone walkway connects the two spaces. Along the way, its borders are punctuated in places by low-level ornamental grasses, a large flowering bush, another sculpture in the form of human faces, and foxtail ferns that spring up from a spread of river rock that punctuates the ends of the walkway. The meditative quality of the shade arbor is reinforced by two special features. The first of these is a disappearing fountain that flows from the top of a large vertical stone embedded like a monolith in the other edges of the river rock. The drains and pumps to this fountain are carefully concealed underneath the covering of smooth stones, and the sound of the water is only barely perceptible, as if it is trying to force you to let go of your thoughts to hear it. A large piece of core-10 steel, which is deliberately intended to rust quickly, rises up like an arced wall from behind the fountain stone. The dark color of the metal helps the casual viewer catch just a glimpse of light reflecting off the slow trickle of water that runs down the side of the stone into the river rock bed. To complete the quiet moment that the shade arbor is intended to invoke, a thick wall of cypress trees rises up on all sides of the yard, completely shutting out the disturbances of the world with a comforting wall of living greenery that comforts the thoughts and emotions.

This Farmhouse style home was designed around the separate spaces and wraps or hugs around the courtyard, it’s inviting, comfortable and timeless. A welcoming entry and sliding doors suggest indoor/ outdoor living through all of the private and public main spaces including the Entry, Kitchen, living, and master bedroom. Another major design element for the interior of this home called the “galley” hallway, features high clerestory windows and creative entrances to two of the spaces. Custom Double Sliding Barn Doors to the office and an oversized entrance with sidelights and a transom window, frame the main entry and draws guests right through to the rear courtyard. The owner’s one-of-a-kind creative craft room and laundry room allow for open projects to rest without cramping a social event in the public spaces. Lastly, the HUGE but unassuming 2,200 sq ft garage provides two tiers and space for a full sized RV, off road vehicles and two daily drivers. This home is an amazing example of balance between on-site toy storage, several entertaining space options and private/quiet time and spaces alike.

This is an example of a small contemporary backyard patio in Other with gravel and a pergola.

Design ideas for a modern front yard patio in Los Angeles with a water feature and brick pavers.

Transitional backyard patio in Orange County with a fire feature, gravel and no cover.

The new outdoor kitchen and living area provide welcomed additional space for the couple to entertain. A warm pine ceiling and brick floors keep the classic Louisiana look. Friend Darryl Hebert carved the “skull” wall hanging from wood felled at the couple’s country home in Bogalusa.

Archadeck of Columbus received the Archadeck Design Excellence Award for this project. The winning project is a combination hardscape, deck, pergola and fire pit project in the Ballantrae subdivision of Dublin, Ohio. Almost all of the hardscapes using in this project came from Oberfield’s. The patio field features pavers from Oberfields’ Grand Milestone Collection in a color named Timeless — which seems a fitting name for such a timeless outdoor living space design! We also used Unilock pavers along the soldier course and on the bullnose cap.

Sitting area at end of swimming pool outside primary suite Landscape design by Meg Rushing Coffee Photo by Dan Arnold
Mid-sized midcentury backyard patio in Los Angeles with gravel and no cover.

Design ideas for a mid-sized country patio in Other with an outdoor kitchen, gravel and no cover.

This is an example of a tropical backyard patio in Miami with an outdoor kitchen, brick pavers and no cover.

Landscape/exterior design - Molly Wood Garden Design Design - Mindy Gayer Design Photo - Lane Dittoe
Inspiration for a beach style backyard patio in Orange County with brick pavers and a gazebo/cabana.

The goal of this landscape design and build project was to create a simple patio using peastone with a granite cobble edging. The patio sits adjacent to the residence and is bordered by lawn, vegetable garden beds, and a cairn rock water feature. Designed and built by Skyline Landscapes, LLC.

This is an example of a contemporary backyard patio in Dallas with a fire feature, gravel and no cover.

Photography: Rett Peek
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard patio in Little Rock with gravel and a pergola.

Inspiration for a small industrial backyard patio in Other with an outdoor kitchen and brick pavers.

Inspiration for a country courtyard patio in Atlanta with brick pavers, no cover and with fireplace.