A covered outdoor oasis overlooking the water.

This family garden was redesigned to gives a sense of space for both adults and children at the same time the clients were extending their home. The view of the garden was enhanced by an oversized picture window from the kitchen onto the garden. This informed the design of the iroko pergola which has a BBQ area to catch the evening sun. The wood was stained to match the picture window allowing continuity between the house and garden. Existing roses were relocated to climb the uprights and a Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Charles Lamont’ was planted immediately outside the window to give floral impact during the winter months which it did beautifully in its first year. The Kiwi clients desired a lot of evergreen structure which helped to define areas. Designboard ‘Greenwich’ was specified to lighten the shaded terrace and provide a long-lasting, low-maintenance surface. The front garden was also reorganised to give it some clarity of design with a Kiwi sense of welcome. The kitchen was featured in Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine, March 2019, if you would like to see more.

Cozy Deck and Covered Porch - Atlanta

Innovative Design Build

Our clients needed a comfortable place to sit in the evenings that was shaded in summer and covered in winter. This porch and deck design has all of those elements and more. The louvered shutters give privacy and adds charm to comfy outdoor room for the whole family.

Jardin urbain minimaliste

Agence MORVANT & MOINGEON Paysagistes Concepteurs

Alderley Courtyard

Define Landscape Architecture

His and Her House

FMD Architects

To address the narrow site and limited northern access a lush courtyard is thoughtfully brought to the heart of the house, establishing a sunlit centre around which daily activities can intuitively occur. Hugging the boundaries of the block, there is little presence to the house’s exterior form creating a house that is almost completely experienced from the interior, creating a place of respite & tranquility.

The Soak Box

Hush House

This project combines three main strengths of Smash Design Build: architecture, landscape, and craftsmanship in concise and composed spaces. Lush planting in modern, rusting steel planters surround wooden decks, which feature a Japanese soaking tub.

Custom Fire Pit

Robinson Environmental Design

For all of the perimeter plantings that this garden had when we first visited the site, it felt exposed with very little privacy. The existing outdoor spaces were virtually nonexistent and hence, went unused. The stairs from the house to the garden were rickety and unattractive doing nothing but transport guests from the inside to the out. As with all of my gardens, the operative goal was Sanctuary in all of it's forms. Creating the sacred from the secular, making the cold and uncomfortable into the warm and inviting. The lot on which this garden was built is one filled with sharp angles that go unnoticed on a conscious level but come into sharp focus when all of the layers are stripped away. My first and most obvious solution was to pour custom circular pads that transport the client and her friends from area to area as if one is jumping from lily pad to lily pad. Small enough in spaces to transport a guest from area to area, large enough to hold a car, the exposed aggregate pads blend in with the multicolored Del Rio pebbles used throughout the garden. A tropical extravaganza, this garden is now the epitome of seclusion and privacy right in the middle of Venice, California.

Greenpoint Secret Garden

Outside Space NYC Landscape Design

Urban Small Backyard Makeover with Plunge Pool

Soake Pools

Soake Pool project complete! This is one of our favorites. The customer had a super tight space with a walk out patio that was about 4' above ground. Pool was installed above ground and a wood deck was built up to and around it. Great use of space and super appealing!

North Hall Screened Porch & Deck Repair

Tracy Tesmer Design/Remodeling

Screened Porch and Deck Repair prior to Landscaping

Victorian Escape

Bumph & Scumble Design Centre

Project 3419-1 Outdoor Living Space Screen Porch Deck Porch Bar Minneapolis

Castle Building & Remodeling

This modern home, near Cedar Lake, built in 1900, was originally a corner store. A massive conversion transformed the home into a spacious, multi-level residence in the 1990’s. However, the home’s lot was unusually steep and overgrown with vegetation. In addition, there were concerns about soil erosion and water intrusion to the house. The homeowners wanted to resolve these issues and create a much more useable outdoor area for family and pets. Castle, in conjunction with Field Outdoor Spaces, designed and built a large deck area in the back yard of the home, which includes a detached screen porch and a bar & grill area under a cedar pergola. The previous, small deck was demolished and the sliding door replaced with a window. A new glass sliding door was inserted along a perpendicular wall to connect the home’s interior kitchen to the backyard oasis. The screen house doors are made from six custom screen panels, attached to a top mount, soft-close track. Inside the screen porch, a patio heater allows the family to enjoy this space much of the year. Concrete was the material chosen for the outdoor countertops, to ensure it lasts several years in Minnesota’s always-changing climate. Trex decking was used throughout, along with red cedar porch, pergola and privacy lattice detailing. The front entry of the home was also updated to include a large, open porch with access to the newly landscaped yard. Cable railings from Loftus Iron add to the contemporary style of the home, including a gate feature at the top of the front steps to contain the family pets when they’re let out into the yard. Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

Contemporary poolside room

Transitional Kitchen and Porch Renovation in Atlanta

Copper Sky Design + Remodel

Imagine entertaining on this incredible screened-in porch complete with 2 skylights, custom trim, and a transitional style ceiling fan.

Coastal Project

MGrisafeArchitect

View of covered patio with heaters, tongue and groove ceilings, columns. looking into family room, kitchen, and dining nook, grill connections

Modern Hillside Custom Home in Chapel Hill, NC

Bold Construction

Architect: Szostak Design, Inc. Photo: Jim Sink

New Construction

Katy Costner Interiors

Outdoor Design Ideas with Decking

Australian and New Zealand outdoor living is hard to rival – the warm, temperate climate encourages the year-round enjoyment of backyards, courtyards, patios, verandahs and balconies. These alfresco areas, sometimes referred to as outdoor rooms, are so ubiquitous with the Australian and New Zealand lifestyles that they are now being treated the same way as any other room in the house in terms of architecture and landscape design. Modern backyards and gardens are now extensions to the home. Even cooking is moving outside with many Australians and New Zealanders including outdoor kitchens in their home designs. Unlike the rest of your home, however, a backyard, patio or verandah needs regular attention, to ensure it doesn’t become overgrown with plants, or look drab when the weather turns. But clever decisions can reduce the level of maintenance needed to keep your alfresco areas and outdoor furniture looking fresh and neat. Browse the photos on Houzz for landscape architecture ideas, and engage with the outdoor specialists of your favourite picks, so you can make the most of your home’s outdoor living spaces.

How do I decide on my landscape design?

Before you dive head first into planning your outdoor areas, consider the site in which your home sits. Understanding your soil type, topography and climate will ensure you make the most of your site. Plants, for example, should grow comfortably in the climate and soil conditions, and complement the existing landscape. Next, take into account how you will use your outdoor areas and how much maintenance you can sustain. More hardscape – paths, walls, steps and decks – generally means easier upkeep. If you have children, you will want to divide your backyard into areas: you could opt for an entryway, entertaining area and play area. A sheltered area is usually a must, too, whether in the form of a pergola, awning or arbour. How much you entertain may dictate whether you want to include an outdoor kitchen, or even an outdoor bar. Outdoor specialists – landscape architects, landscape designers and garden designers – will be able to take your outdoor areas to the next level. Just browse Houzz professionals for a full list of experts in your area.

How do I create an outdoor room?

Outdoor rooms take the comfort of the indoors outside. No longer just a covered area in the backyard, outdoor rooms have a visible connection to the spaces within the home. Laser-cut screens could create a sense of enclosure for a modern veranda. Or, a patio could be an extension of your living room, with leather or upholstered chairs substituted with outdoor-suited materials. Even the smallest of spaces can be transformed into outdoor rooms. An inner-city balcony, for example, could squeeze in a couple of chairs, a drinks table and a stylish shelving unit. Outdoor kitchens are one of the most popular types of outdoor rooms in Australia and New Zealand. They, too, can come in many forms, however many outdoor kitchens like to spill out from the interior. Those that stand their own often have a built-in barbecue, bar fridge, built-in sink and plenty of storage. A wood-fired pizza oven is just the cherry on top!

How can I get the most out of my front yard?

Your front yard doesn’t have to act purely as a transitional zone. A front fence can create privacy from a busy road and, in turn, open up the option of having a small courtyard in which you can entertain or relax in. Not having a fence, on the other hand, can make your front yard appear bigger, and will show off the architecture of your home. If this is the case, you may want to create a structural feature out of something like your letterbox. Pathways should be easy to navigate, well-lit and obstacle-free. Add more functionality to your front yard with a bench seat or herb garden; or keep your focus on creating a welcoming entry with a water feature, sculpture or garden art.

What small backyard ideas will maximise my space?

Small backyard ideas are plentiful on Houzz. You’ll notice terracing is popular in small backyards as it adds dimension and visually expands a small plot into distinct, separate spaces. Consider using large pots to break up the space, creating different points of interest, too. Next, think vertically. Tall plants are a great way to add height to a small backyard, or consider using a trellis, arbour or pergola to draw the eye up. Other small backyard ideas include complementing your interior with the same colours and style to make it feel more like its own living room; installing smart lighting that creates a backdrop or gently illuminates the area; and creating a focal point to distract the eye from the limited square meterage.

What retaining wall options are available?

A retaining wall isn’t just functional, but can add aesthetic value to your outdoor areas, too. Which retaining wall designs are best suited to you will depend of your budget, the incline of your slope, local regulations and the aesthetic you want to achieve. Timber sleeper retaining walls are the most common retaining wall, because they are relatively affordable; however, they do have limited longevity. If life expectancy is an issue, consider concrete sleepers, or clad the timer slats in Corten steel panels. A boulder rock bank is the most cost-effective type of retaining wall, and with the inclusion of plants, is often the most natural looking, too. Corton steel blades or rendered masonry walls can retain a small dip in your landscape and make an eye-catching feature, while masonry walls and drystone walls are the most expensive options, but do tend to look the best.