Outdoor living space renovation
My family is embarking on an outdoor renovation. Our current 15 year old deck is fine, but we would like more of a "living space". We are thinking about a paver patio with fire pit/fireplace, grilling station with smoker, pergola with fan & lighting, and a hot tub. We want to keep the light coming in through the window of the house, hence the pergola idea. We also need to incorporate steps from the left side of the patio down to the basement door. So basically, we are starting from scratch, which means I'm overwhelmed with plans/ideas. We are working with a landscape architect, but I'd like to give him more guidance. Does anyone have any views for this space, including style and color? Our interior leans clean, non-fussy (I don't like traditional or rustic). The swing set can be moved, if necessary. Thanks for any ideas!
Some inspirations, but nothing is exactly right! These inspirational photos are more about layout and features, not so much style/colors.
Comments (7)
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
PRODig Doug's Designs
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
I understand your vision & can design what you want, but I would need many more photos from many angles. I do agree that a skilled, on-site designer would be preferred because you are dealing with multiple grade changes.
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Comments (1)Nice work....See MoreNeed help decorating outdoor living space
Comments (13)You appear to have three rounded stone planters built into the stone wall outside the patio area. I don't know what is currently planted in them, but I'm guessing it may only be volunteer trees. I would turn the center one into a water feature to add a pleasant sound to your outdoor room. Then plant up the other two with flowers. As for the furniture, I would rearrange it with the sofa facing the outdoors side of the patio to enjoy the view of the wall and planters. Angle the two chairs opposite it. Move your two planters behind the sofa, flanking the slider, so you have flowers at both ends of the patio for everyone to enjoy. Close the tops of the two little metal stool/tables with lucite (or whatever came with them) and move one by each chair to be useful for setting drinks. Rescue your droopy string lights and put them on the tile roof edge. Add a coordinated rug and pillows in your favorite color. Anything can work with the neutral surroundings, and don't worry about the stone being too busy. Its background, so have fun with colors you love....See MoreHome exterior and outdoor living space
Comments (3)Real life ain’t TV. Someone has to have boots on the ground there to supply accurate measurements, including elevation heights, and placement of existing elements on the grid. Pie in the sky Photoshop doodling does zero but create fantasies that can’t exist in reality. Measurements rule. And climate zone. And the upkeep requirements. Professional help working in the home? And a whole host of synergistic elements that can only be seen by a site visit. For anything real, and actually doable, you’re going to need to pay for site visits. If you want to hire someone 2000 miles away, that can get expensive....See MoreOutdoor living spaces, improve or move
Comments (11)I don't know where you live, but really think hard about what you want to do outside. Where I live, our time outside is limited to before "M" hour (mosquito) and never during big mosquito hatch-outs. So not that often. For hanging out in the warmer months, we use our screened in porch. The three things we do outside occasionally are have a campfire, grill, and I have a lounge chair in the front where one of us can sit and watch the other putter in the front yard. At my last house, I did invest in a staged redo of my back yard, and I never regretted it. The hours and hours of pleasure I spent out there added up fast. But we didn't have mosquitoes at the old place so were outside for dinner many, many nights. Plus, I designed a pleasure garden for viewing from an outdoor swing, and we often just sat out there at night and watched the garden. It had lots of white flowers that looked good at night, and lights and a fountain. The reason I am saying all this is if you are going to spend the money, really think about what you are likely to do out there. Maybe you need an expanded outdoor cooking space? If so, I'd be more likely to create an additional screened in area. Also, if you want to sit out more, like around a campfire or something like that, plan your landscaping around the views you want from the seating areas. Finding a good landscape designer is not easy. Mine was pretty bad. I could have done better myself and just taken some ideas to the installation contractors, which is what the designer did anyway....See More
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5 years agoStephanie Strazisar
5 years ago- PRO
Yardvaark
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