Backyard Deck Design Ideas with a Pergola

Samuel Moore, owner of Consilium Hortus, is renowned for creating beautiful, bespoke outdoor spaces which are designed specifically to meet his client’s tastes. Taking inspiration from landscapes, architecture, art, design and nature, Samuel meets briefs and creates stunning projects in gardens and spaces of all sizes. This recent project in Colchester, Essex, had a brief to create a fully equipped outdoor entertaining area. With a desire for an extension of their home, Samuel has created a space that can be enjoyed throughout the seasons. A louvered pergola covers the full length of the back of the house. Despite being a permanent structural cover, the roof, which can turn 160 degrees, enables the sun to be chased as it moves throughout the day. Heaters and lights have been incorporated for those colder months, so those chillier days and evenings can still be spent outdoors. The slatted feature wall, not only matches the extended outdoor table but also provides a backdrop for the Outdoor Kitchen drawing out its Iroko Hardwood details. For a couple who love to entertain, it was obvious that a trio of cooking appliances needed to be incorporated into the outdoor kitchen design. Featuring our Gusto, the Bull BBQ and the Deli Vita Pizza Oven, the pair and their guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to alfresco dining. The addition of our single outdoor fridge also ensures that glasses are never empty, whatever the tipple.

Built-in bbq with polished concrete bench top and sides, timber batten base. In channel glass pool fence. Tiled pool surrounds with Timber decking. Covered with a mechanical louvred shade structure. Large format stepping stones as access through lawn area. Photos by Natalie Hunfalvay

Deck with transparent roof sheeting provides a nestled spot to enjoy the garden. Photo by Tatjana Plitt.

Under a fully automated bio-climatic pergola, a dining area and outdoor kitchen have been created on a raised composite deck. The kitchen is fully equipped with SubZero Wolf appliances, outdoor pizza oven, warming drawer, barbecue and sink, with a granite worktop. Heaters and screens help to keep the party going into the evening, as well as lights incorporated into the pergola, whose slats can open and close electronically. A decorative screen creates an enhanced backdrop and ties into the pattern on the 'decorative rug' around the firebowl.

Photography: Derek Swalwell

This outdoor space celebrates all of the attributes of our client’s beautiful, landscaped garden. Featuring Millboard decking boards, a product which is hand-moulded from original timber, then hand-coloured to recreate the warm authentic look of timber. The insulated Solarspan pergola compliments the space with its contemporary design embracing a sense of enclosure and keeping the space cool in the warmer months.

The landscape of Provence provides much of the sensory and textural inspiration for this project: from the earthy terracotta hills to the blue-gold flashes of lavender on a beautiful ceramic piece, this project was designed to create a sense of refuge and tranquility.

© Simon Orchard

:ouvre roof with LED lights and wood fire linked to the house for indoor outdoor flow

Jan Meier

This project features a merbau deck, stairs & handrail with stainless steel wire infill. The pergola has been pitched off the external frame of the house using a Colorbond roof. The ceiling has been sheeted in Aquacheck gyprock with LED downlights.

Fun for everyone!