A screen porch with ghost screens makes bringing the outdoors in even easier when the weather is great!

Authentic wood fired pizza ovens that are preassembled and portable with a metal stand and optional wheels. Superior quality refractory ovens for the ultimate heating and cooking results. Delivered anywhere in Australia.

Sunset Construction and Design specializes in creating residential patio retreats, outdoor kitchens with fireplaces and luxurious outdoor living rooms. Our design-build service can turn an ordinary back yard into a natural extension of your home giving you a whole new dimension for entertaining or simply unwinding at the end of the day. If you’re interested in converting a boring back yard or starting from scratch in a new home, give us a call today! A great patio and outdoor living area can easily be yours. Greg, Sunset Construction & Design in Fresno, CA.

Patio door detail. Photography by Lucas Henning.

Peta North

The existing patio porch framing was saved and covered with birch panel plywood to unite the interior and exterior. The framing is supported by steel wide-flange beams and concrete columns echoing the interior language. The new space allows the exterior patio to become an extension of the interior spaces encouraging indoor-outdoor living. Secrest Architecture LLC

In this project we have transformed an intimate backyard into a high-end patio including: artificial grass, stepping stones, stamp concrete, custom made fire –pit with a concrete bench, Alumawood patio cover with canopy, lighting and electric outlets.

This compact pool maximizes the small backyard with all the features of a larger backyard. Photography: Wade Griffith

Mike Dean

Adrienne DeRosa © 2014 Houzz Inc. Inside, the pool house is ready for entertaining. Raymond and Jennifer poured the concrete counter top themselves. The paneling on the front of the bar came from a large cupcake counter at a friend's antique store. When her friend was closing the store, Jennifer and Raymond dismantled the counter and salvaged the painted doors, which they then cut to size as needed. Antique stools reflect the patina of the bar in an effortlessly charming way. "I found them at the Columbus Country Living Fair," Jennifer explains. "They came from an old Amusement Park; I'm not sure which one, but I kept everything original to them." Photo: Adrienne DeRosa © 2014 Houzz

A very small backyard where space was at a premium. Our client wanted a sitting area with fire pit and low maintenance was a priority. We designed a simple stamped concrete fire pit patio that butted up to the corner of the yard and used beautiful natural rock slab step stones to carry from the lower walkout patio to both the fire pit patio and the Rundle side yard. Black mulch and some nice plantings rounded out the project. Easy and clean!!

Every home improvement project can feel like going into battle, but the sweet taste of victory is enough to make it worthwhile. If you ever feel intimidated by homes and gardens in magazines, don’t fret – you can turn your home into a beautiful beacon with easy curb appeal updates! Kevin and Annette Klingel are some of our favorite weekend warriors, and their latest project proves that anything is possible when it comes to dressing up your front garden. The Klingels recently gave their home and front garden a major renovation and entered their photos in the Window Box Contest. When we saw the gorgeous before and after pictures, we knew we had to get the inside scoop on their process and uncover their best curb appeal ideas. Curb Appeal – Before and After Before the renovation, the Klingels had a charming South Bend, Indiana rambler that was tidy and traditional, if a little unassuming. Deciding it was time for a much-needed update, the Klingels replaced their old green roof with a black barrel roof to match the style of their home. They also made a needed replacement and changed out the sidewalk and front stoop to a new version in classic black. After those dramatic changes, the Klingels just couldn’t stop! Loving the contrast between the new black roof and stoop and their cream house, they painted their shutters black. And here’s where we come in – Annette wanted to incorporate her love of flowers into the new home design and found the perfect planters and window boxes to match the shutters. They purchased ten black window boxes in a classic and chic design to put around their outside windows. The Klingels also used tall black planters around the entrance to the house. The window boxes and planters each received the same plant treatment – red, yellow, and orange impatiens with flowing ferns for a bright punch of color. Paired with hanging baskets and a few other accents, the Klingels house is now a masterpiece. From Drab to Fab The Klingels love their warm and inviting new front entrance, and the neighbors do too. Instead of getting overlooked, their house now stands out and is the star of their busy street, where it is seen by lots of people everyday. They have received tons of compliments about their new look – a crisp and clean front garden that stays true to the style of the home and neighborhood. The Klingels’ curb appeal update wasn’t without its challenges, but the end product is amazing, and as Annette says, definitely worth the time. The Klingels recommend starting with the necessary replacements and finding beautiful matching pieces to add curb appeal. With a little patience, elbow grease, and the help of a great garden supply store like Hooks & Lattice, you too can have the home of your dreams. Photos: Kevin & Annette Klingel