Shawn Spry Photography

This over 6,000 square foot 2-story home has a beautiful gray brick exterior with black accents. The classic black and white interiors are complemented by warm touches that make this space feel refined yet cozy.

This cabana is truly outdoor living at its best. An outdoor kitchen beside the outdoor living room and pool. With aluminum shutters to block the hot western sun, fans to move the air, and heaters for cool evenings, make the space extremely comfortable. This has become the most used room "in" the house.

We love this rustic-modern Houston patio addition with an outdoor kitchen and double pergola! It not only made the most of a long, narrow space while satisfying strict homeowners association rules, but did so affordably in a warm, timeless style. “The client really enjoys outdoor living, but had a specific budget they wanted to meet,” explains Outdoor Homescapes owner Wayne Franks. “They also live on a golf course and had to meet particular HOA requirements.” The HOA requirements restricted how far back the new 450-square-foot patio and pergola could extend back into the yard. The HOA also wanted to make sure the patio’s colors and materials matched the existing home and others around it. “We chose colors and materials that offered texture and character, but that would go with just about anything around it,” says Wayne. “We found what we were looking for in the Fantastico travertine and Austin limestone – two materials clients love and just can’t go wrong with.” The Austin limestone facing the 8-foot-square, L-shaped kitchen island is dry-stacked in a castle pattern for a naturalistic, rustic look. Yet its light, neutral color keeps the style fresh and modern. Adding to the modern look are the stainless steel appliances: an RCS 30-inch stainless steel grill, double burner and outdoor fridge. Even though the finishes on the sink and light fixtures (Hunter pendant lamps and Hampton Bay light/fan combos) have a different finish – oil-rubbed-bronze – this actually follows the recent trend of mixing different metals, materials and finishes. “The look’s not so matchy-matchy anymore,” explains Wayne. “Mixing it up makes it look more authentic and personalized.” That’s why backsplashes like the one in this project – done in glass and metal mosaic – are also becoming more popular than traditional ceramic tile. Another recent trend can be seen here, too – an amping up of color variation and texture. “In addition to the split-face texture of the rock, you can definitely see the bold color variation in the travertine,” says Wayne. The flooring is a Fantastico travertine, laid out in a Versailles pattern. “The Fantastico tile is killer,” says Wayne. “The warm reds go great with red brick, which we have a lot of around here.” The countertop with the rounded, raised bar at the end is English walnut travertine. The red bar stools also add a pop of exciting color that contrasts nicely with the greenery around the patio. The double pergola, continues Wayne, is No. 2 pine stained a Minwax honey-gold. One side of the pergola – the side over the seating area – is covered with Lexan, a clear material that keeps out rain, heat and UV rays. The pergola also juts further into the yard on that side. “It’s called a scallop, and it just lends some visual interest,” explains Wayne. “It prevents the pergola from just looking like one big rectangular hunk of wood.” Wayne particularly likes how everything blended so well with the brick – which was a big concern – yet didn’t come off as too neutral or boring. “The Fantastico travertine and red chairs do an excellent job of pulling the red from the brick and working with the warmth of that color to make a super-inviting space,” says Wayne. “We’re really pleased with how it all ties together so well.”

Techo-Bloc's Chantilly Masonry stone.

Landscape Creations, Inc. Cedar Covered Patio with outdoor fireplace, stone columns, stone wood storage, stone outdoor kitchen with gas grill and green egg, and stone bar. Stamped decorative concrete and washed limestone concrete.

Landworks Construction design team can turn any area into a very appealing, and comfortable space so your client may enjoy the comfort of there hard work.

David Roberts

12x12 Antique Saltillo tile flooring with Talavera Painted 4x4 Insert tiles. Cantera Stone Columns in Pinon. Materials Supplied and Installed by Rustico Tile and Stone. Wholesale prices and Worldwide Shipping. (512) 260-9111 / info@rusticotile.com / RusticoTile.com Rustico Tile and Stone Photos by Jeff Harris, Austin Imaging

The true allure of this model is its extended outdoor living space.

Patio and back exterior view of Traditional White Colonial home with green shutters. Expansive property surrounds this equally large home. This classic home is complete with white vinyl siding, white entryway / windows, and red brick chimneys. Large stone patio with glossy red and brown stone tile, has a surrounding low red brick wall.

Trenched & Ran Gas Line 135ft. Installed Key Valve, Lava Rock, Burner & Ceramic Fire Stones

Stamped concrete had not been seal for many years and lost all the sealer and color faded. The freeze and thaw weather also contributed to the concrete to spall creating light brown pot marks on the concrete. We restore the color with Bark Brown color stain, and seal it with SealGreen E10 Epoxy sealer to prevent the damage from future extreme weather. Unfortunately it is not possible to fill in the pot marks but with the color they became less visible and part of the character of the concrete. As a matter of fact our customer was complemented by one of his guests because it look like new.