The 10 Most Popular Patio and Deck Tours of 2020
The most-read stories from our Patio of the Week series show clever ways outdoor areas can create more living space
In search of more living space, many homeowners turn to their outdoor areas. Outdoor dining rooms, fire pit lounges and extensive cooking setups are just a few ways to create an inviting yard. You’ll find those ideas, and plenty others, in the following countdown of the most-read patio and deck tours from our Patio of the Week series.
9. San Francisco Yard Plays With Light and Shadow
Location: San Francisco
Size: 3,000-square-foot (279-square-meter) backyard; lot is one-tenth of an acre
Designer and project manager: Beth Mullins, principal of Growsgreen Landscape Design
Contractor: John Rigney of SEED Landscaping
Landscape designer Beth Mullins helped interior stylist Erin Hiemstra and her husband, Christopher Wick, bring to life their vision of having an outdoor oasis at their San Francisco home. “I’d made a point to create a traditional and modern mix in our home’s interior, and I wanted someone who could help me achieve the same effect for the exterior,” Hiemstra says.
Mullins and the homeowners turned to Houzz for inspiration and ended up creating a clean, modern aesthetic mixed with traditional principles.
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Location: San Francisco
Size: 3,000-square-foot (279-square-meter) backyard; lot is one-tenth of an acre
Designer and project manager: Beth Mullins, principal of Growsgreen Landscape Design
Contractor: John Rigney of SEED Landscaping
Landscape designer Beth Mullins helped interior stylist Erin Hiemstra and her husband, Christopher Wick, bring to life their vision of having an outdoor oasis at their San Francisco home. “I’d made a point to create a traditional and modern mix in our home’s interior, and I wanted someone who could help me achieve the same effect for the exterior,” Hiemstra says.
Mullins and the homeowners turned to Houzz for inspiration and ended up creating a clean, modern aesthetic mixed with traditional principles.
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Find a landscape designer near you
8. Cottage Garden-Inspired Style for a Farmhouse
Location: Hawthorn Woods, Illinois
Size: 750 square feet (70 square meters)
Designer: James M. Drzewiecki of Ginkgo Leaf Studio
After 20 years in their home, a couple finally got around to installing a patio in their backyard. Ginkgo Leaf Studio, a landscape design firm whose work the homeowners had admired on Houzz, designed a master plan for the entire property inspired by the home’s farmhouse architecture and interiors that are traditional, yet casual. A colorful cottage garden fills the edges of the property, while a patio of bluestone and brick with areas for dining and lounging anchors the center of the space.
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Location: Hawthorn Woods, Illinois
Size: 750 square feet (70 square meters)
Designer: James M. Drzewiecki of Ginkgo Leaf Studio
After 20 years in their home, a couple finally got around to installing a patio in their backyard. Ginkgo Leaf Studio, a landscape design firm whose work the homeowners had admired on Houzz, designed a master plan for the entire property inspired by the home’s farmhouse architecture and interiors that are traditional, yet casual. A colorful cottage garden fills the edges of the property, while a patio of bluestone and brick with areas for dining and lounging anchors the center of the space.
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7. Easy Flow Between Casual Gathering Spaces
Location: Piedmont, California
Size: Lawn is 360 square feet (33 square meters); deck is 308 square feet (29 square meters); patio is 192 square feet (18 square meters); gravel area is 120 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer and builder: Barry Sacher of Rock Paper Scissors Landscape Design Build
A family had recently relocated from Buffalo, New York, when they hired Barry Sacher’s firm to reimagine their outdoor space. The redesigned yard features a new deck, a patio and an area for sports play. “Moving from a place where you cannot be outside for six months of the year, they wanted to take advantage of having a yard and being out there for much of the year,” Sacher says.
The lower patio, shown here, features bluestone pavers, a free-standing gas fire pit and overhead string lights.
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Location: Piedmont, California
Size: Lawn is 360 square feet (33 square meters); deck is 308 square feet (29 square meters); patio is 192 square feet (18 square meters); gravel area is 120 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer and builder: Barry Sacher of Rock Paper Scissors Landscape Design Build
A family had recently relocated from Buffalo, New York, when they hired Barry Sacher’s firm to reimagine their outdoor space. The redesigned yard features a new deck, a patio and an area for sports play. “Moving from a place where you cannot be outside for six months of the year, they wanted to take advantage of having a yard and being out there for much of the year,” Sacher says.
The lower patio, shown here, features bluestone pavers, a free-standing gas fire pit and overhead string lights.
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6. Mature Trees and Shade Drive the Design
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Size: Dining space is 224 square feet (21 square meters); social space is 336 square feet (31 square meters)
Designers: John Algozzini and Kevin Manning of K&D Landscape Management
Mature trees on Kevin Manning’s property had resulted in a patchy lawn and a dilapidated patio in the backyard. The horticulturist and owner of K&D Landscape Management worked with designer John Algozzini to embrace the conditions of the backyard and create a space for outdoor cooking, dining and sitting. Now new plantings thrive in the yard’s shady conditions and meandering stone paths weave between the tree trunks to fun swings and secluded seating areas.
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Location: Naperville, Illinois
Size: Dining space is 224 square feet (21 square meters); social space is 336 square feet (31 square meters)
Designers: John Algozzini and Kevin Manning of K&D Landscape Management
Mature trees on Kevin Manning’s property had resulted in a patchy lawn and a dilapidated patio in the backyard. The horticulturist and owner of K&D Landscape Management worked with designer John Algozzini to embrace the conditions of the backyard and create a space for outdoor cooking, dining and sitting. Now new plantings thrive in the yard’s shady conditions and meandering stone paths weave between the tree trunks to fun swings and secluded seating areas.
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5. Family Yard for Relaxing and Entertaining
Location: Toronto
Designer and builder: Shelby Hallman Mailloux and Adrian Mailloux of Earth and Sole
After rebuilding their home, which had been destroyed in a fire, homeowners Lou Biasin and Louise Smith turned to the design-build firm Earth and Sole to help them get the outdoor spaces they wanted, including a place for growing veggies and an area where their dog could play.
The backyard, seen here from the house, features a new deck for lounging and dining. Using cost-effective materials and elements salvaged from the original yard made for a budget-friendly, personalized space.
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Location: Toronto
Designer and builder: Shelby Hallman Mailloux and Adrian Mailloux of Earth and Sole
After rebuilding their home, which had been destroyed in a fire, homeowners Lou Biasin and Louise Smith turned to the design-build firm Earth and Sole to help them get the outdoor spaces they wanted, including a place for growing veggies and an area where their dog could play.
The backyard, seen here from the house, features a new deck for lounging and dining. Using cost-effective materials and elements salvaged from the original yard made for a budget-friendly, personalized space.
See more of this patio
4. Petite Pool Enhances a Toronto Backyard
Location: Toronto
Size: 1,450 square feet (135 square meters); 58 by 25 feet
Designer and builder: Samantha Kleinknecht of SK Design; Feasby & Bleeks Design selected the furnishings
With the help of landscape designer Samantha Kleinknecht, a family in Toronto can now dine, cook, lounge and even swim in their newly renovated urban backyard. “Even though the space is the same size, we’ve reclaimed a lot of it by taking out the overgrown plantings that were there and opening things up,” Kleinknecht says.
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Location: Toronto
Size: 1,450 square feet (135 square meters); 58 by 25 feet
Designer and builder: Samantha Kleinknecht of SK Design; Feasby & Bleeks Design selected the furnishings
With the help of landscape designer Samantha Kleinknecht, a family in Toronto can now dine, cook, lounge and even swim in their newly renovated urban backyard. “Even though the space is the same size, we’ve reclaimed a lot of it by taking out the overgrown plantings that were there and opening things up,” Kleinknecht says.
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3. New Design Flows With Midcentury Architecture
Location: Hingham, Massachusetts
Size: 800 square feet (74 square meters)
Designer: Amy Martin Landscape Design
Landscape designer Amy Martin remedied a landscape that felt disjointed with the home’s midcentury modern architecture, which featured dangerous drop-offs without railings and invasive nonnative plants. Now the young family who lives here has comfortable and stylish outdoor areas where they can eat, lounge, play, watch movies and make s’mores.
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Location: Hingham, Massachusetts
Size: 800 square feet (74 square meters)
Designer: Amy Martin Landscape Design
Landscape designer Amy Martin remedied a landscape that felt disjointed with the home’s midcentury modern architecture, which featured dangerous drop-offs without railings and invasive nonnative plants. Now the young family who lives here has comfortable and stylish outdoor areas where they can eat, lounge, play, watch movies and make s’mores.
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2. Dramatic Black Accents and Layers of Plantings
Location: New Westminster, British Columbia, near Vancouver
Size: 1,000-square-foot (93-square-meter) backyard on a 4,100-square-foot (381-square-meter) lot
Interior and exterior home designer: Denise Ashmore of Project 22 Design and Megan Baker of Megan Baker Interiors
Landscape designer: CYAN Horticulture and Project 22 Design
General contractor: Rechsteiner Construction
Multiple patios offer the owners of this backyard plenty of room to dine or relax outside. The backyard features a modern design, as was the request by the homeowners and the style of their home, capped off with a black geometric pergola over the dining area. Contemporary plantings surrounding the outdoor seating areas will eventually fill in to form lush borders.
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Location: New Westminster, British Columbia, near Vancouver
Size: 1,000-square-foot (93-square-meter) backyard on a 4,100-square-foot (381-square-meter) lot
Interior and exterior home designer: Denise Ashmore of Project 22 Design and Megan Baker of Megan Baker Interiors
Landscape designer: CYAN Horticulture and Project 22 Design
General contractor: Rechsteiner Construction
Multiple patios offer the owners of this backyard plenty of room to dine or relax outside. The backyard features a modern design, as was the request by the homeowners and the style of their home, capped off with a black geometric pergola over the dining area. Contemporary plantings surrounding the outdoor seating areas will eventually fill in to form lush borders.
See more of this patio
1. Pergola-Covered With a Pass-Through Window
Location: Abington, Massachusetts
Size: 275 square feet (26 square meters)
Designers: Tracy Parkinson of Nest + Co. (interior designer) and Caitlin Struble of Winslow Design (architect)
Not surprisingly, the most popular outdoor tour of 2020 celebrates indoor-outdoor living. The new deck design coincided with a kitchen remodel, which resulted in the two spaces offering multiple opportunities for indoor-outdoor flow and connection. Interior designer Tracy Parkinson had worked with the family on other rooms in the house, and architect Caitlin Struble signed on for the kitchen and deck renovation.
New doors and windows create a light-filled kitchen, with sliding doors connecting to the new deck and a convenient kitchen pass-through window making it easy to pass drinks or snacks to anyone sitting at the bar on the other side. Beyond the bar area, the 275-square-foot deck features a pergola for shade and lots of comfortable outdoor lounge furniture for the family to spread out and relax on.
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Location: Abington, Massachusetts
Size: 275 square feet (26 square meters)
Designers: Tracy Parkinson of Nest + Co. (interior designer) and Caitlin Struble of Winslow Design (architect)
Not surprisingly, the most popular outdoor tour of 2020 celebrates indoor-outdoor living. The new deck design coincided with a kitchen remodel, which resulted in the two spaces offering multiple opportunities for indoor-outdoor flow and connection. Interior designer Tracy Parkinson had worked with the family on other rooms in the house, and architect Caitlin Struble signed on for the kitchen and deck renovation.
New doors and windows create a light-filled kitchen, with sliding doors connecting to the new deck and a convenient kitchen pass-through window making it easy to pass drinks or snacks to anyone sitting at the bar on the other side. Beyond the bar area, the 275-square-foot deck features a pergola for shade and lots of comfortable outdoor lounge furniture for the family to spread out and relax on.
See more of this deck
More on Houzz
Read more landscape stories
Browse patio photos
Hire a landscape designer
Shop for products for your outdoor space
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 2,600-square-foot (242-square-meter) backyard; 1,600-square-foot (149-square-meter) front yard
Designer: Catherine Bosler of Bosler Earth Design
The owners of this backyard in Southern California wanted a drought-tolerant, dog-friendly landscape that would welcome wildlife such as birds and butterflies. Additionally, they wanted a space where they could enjoy year-round indoor-outdoor living.
Working with landscape designer Catherine Bosler, whom the homeowners found on Houzz, the couple can now enjoy the natural sights, sounds and smells that Southern California has to offer — all from their backyard. “There is a movement in the garden from birds, bees and butterflies,” Bosler says. “It is a garden for all of the senses.”
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