A two-level pergola, circular firepit area and outdoor kitchen with a charcoal-gas combo grill star in this Houston patio addition designed for entertaining large crowds in style. "The client was an attorney with a passion for cooking and entertaining," says the project's principal designer, Lisha Maxey of LGH Designs. "Her main objective with this space was to create a large area for 10 to 20 guests, including seating and the prep and cooking of meals." Located in the backyard of the client's home in Spring, TX, this beautiful outdoor living and entertaining space includes a 28-by-12-foot patio with Fantastico silver travertine tile flooring, arranged in a Versailles pattern. The walkway is Oklahoma wister flagstone. Providing filtered shade for the patio is a two-level pergola of treated pine stained honey gold. The larger, higher tier is about 18 by 10 feet; the smaller, lower tier is about 10 feet square. "We covered the entire pergola with Lexan - a high-quality, clear acrylic sheet that provides protection from the sun, heat and rain," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. Beneath the lower tier of the pergola sits an L-shaped, 12-by-9-foot outdoor kitchen island faced with Carmel Country ledgestone. The island houses a Fire Magic® combination charcoal-gas grill and lowered power burner, a Pacific Living countertop pizza oven and a stainless steel RCS trash drawer and sink. The countertops and raised bar are Fantastico silver travertine (18-square-inch tiles) and the backsplash is real quartz. "The most unique design item of this kitchen area is the hexagon/circular table we added to the end of the long bar," says Lisha. This enabled the client to add seating for her dining guests." Under the higher, larger tier of the pergola is a seating area, made up of a coffee table and espresso-colored rattan sofa and club chairs with spring-green-and-white cushions. "Lighting also plays an important role in this space, since the client often entertains in the evening," says Wayne. Enter the chandelier over the patio seating arrangement and - over the outdoor kitchen - pendant lamps and an industrial-modern ceiling fan with a light fixture in the center. "It's important to layer your lighting for ambiance, security and safety - from an all-over ambient light that fills the space to under-the-counter task lighting for food prep and cooking to path and retaining wall lighting." Off the patio is a transition area of crushed granite and floating flagstone pavers, leading to a circular firepit area of stamped concrete. At the center of this circle is the standalone firepit, framed at the back by a curved stone bench. The walls of the bench and column bases for the pergola, by the way, are the same ledgestone as the kitchen island. The top slab on the bench is a hearth piece of manmade stone. "I think the finish materials blend with the home really well," says Wayne. "We met her objectives of being able to entertain with 10 to 12 to 20 people at one time and being able to cook with charcoal and gas separately in one unit. And of course, the project was on time, on budget." "It is truly a paradise," says client Carvanna Cloud in her Houzz review of the project. "They listened to my vision and incorporated their expertise to create an outdoor living space just perfect for me and my family!"

Black door and window frames offer a dramatic contrast to the stucco exterior.

In this Hamptons styled landscape we used herringbone tiling to connect and draw people to the supersized alfresco space. The interwoven cooking, dining, lounge & occasional spaces are linked by three overflowing urn water features. The space features an off form polished BBQ bench with sink. The bench is faced with white cladding. Batten screens provide privacy whilst also framing views. The same battens in the pergola to provide a linear shadow feature. The greenwall to the kitchen splashback window was created by planting of Lady palm begins an interplay of linear and layered planting of green featuring Buxus, Viburnum, Ornamental Pears, Lily Pily, Magnolias, Murrayas and Helichrysum. Photography Peter Brennan

CC Patio custom designed and build sofas and bench from Romeo collection, with Sunbrella fabric cushions.

Gorgeous Travertine flooring, modern rectangle fire pit to allow a beautiful pool view, custom stone/granite kitchen with granite counters, RCS frills and fun wine cooler! Open concept wooden T&G ceiling and exposed beams. TK Images

Al fresco dining in this atrium courtyard. Terra cotta pot with Cypress, a pair of Bromeliads at the base of the fountain

Custom home for client's with extensive art collection who enjoy entertaining. Designed to take advantage of beautiful vistas.

Aged cedar baton fence panels and rendered planters combined with plenty of hidden storage

Outdoor patio

Garden room addition and courtyard

Small spaces scream for cozy aesthetics. A romantic Italian bistro setting fit the bill perfectly without detracting from the home’s architectural style.

Martin Mann photographer

Lilycot is a bijou holiday cottage lovingly furnished with hand-painted furniture and interesting and eclectic vintage items and artefacts. Set within the thriving community of St Marychurch, Torquay, South Devon. Colin Cadle Photography, Photo Stylng Jan Cadle

This long narrow outdoor area is full of practical solutions and by zoning the various activities manages to comfortably fit all functions required, even room for a firepit (seen in the foreground) set into the garden edging.