Patio of the Week: Nestled Into a Willamette Valley Hillside
An outdoor fireplace, custom planters and cedar decking warm this cozy covered patio in Oregon
Becky Harris
June 15, 2019
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
After retiring, this couple swapped their cottage in Manhattan Beach, California, for a new contemporary home in the hills of Eugene, Oregon. They had admired one of the homes of Jordan Iverson, a designer and design-build-firm owner, and wanted him to craft something similar for them. They were drawn to the home’s sleek contemporary style warmed by organic materials. And though the climate in the Willamette Valley is markedly different from what they were used to in Southern California, they wanted to keep the indoor-outdoor lifestyle they had enjoyed in their previous home.
Photos by KuDa Photography
Patio of the Week
Who uses it: A retired couple
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Size: 204 square feet (19 square meters)
Designer: Jordan Iverson Signature Homes
The site presented some big challenges for planning the home and outdoor space. Not only is the property located on a significantly sloped hillside, but Iverson also had to plan construction around a protected zone of native trees and their root systems. These challenges drove a smart design — he carved out a fantastic spot for a patio in a back corner of the yard that looks out on spectacular mature oaks and firs. And a city park is just a few yards up the hill.
The structural concrete retaining walls that hold back the hillside could have looked cold, but thanks to a thoughtful design, they make the covered patio feel cozy, private and protected. The outdoor room includes a substantial outdoor fireplace, long wall-mounted planters and warm cedar wood decking. It serves as a favorite space for grilling, relaxing and enjoying the wines and coffees their new home state is known for.
Before designing the patio, Iverson had the couple fill out a lifestyle survey and create a Houzz ideabook with photos of spaces they liked. “Houzz inspiration ideabooks are actually a requirement when we meet with clients,” he says. “I’ve found that when someone says they like modern, you don’t really know what they mean by that without seeing a photo of what they consider modern.”
How to Create and Use Ideabooks
Patio of the Week
Who uses it: A retired couple
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Size: 204 square feet (19 square meters)
Designer: Jordan Iverson Signature Homes
The site presented some big challenges for planning the home and outdoor space. Not only is the property located on a significantly sloped hillside, but Iverson also had to plan construction around a protected zone of native trees and their root systems. These challenges drove a smart design — he carved out a fantastic spot for a patio in a back corner of the yard that looks out on spectacular mature oaks and firs. And a city park is just a few yards up the hill.
The structural concrete retaining walls that hold back the hillside could have looked cold, but thanks to a thoughtful design, they make the covered patio feel cozy, private and protected. The outdoor room includes a substantial outdoor fireplace, long wall-mounted planters and warm cedar wood decking. It serves as a favorite space for grilling, relaxing and enjoying the wines and coffees their new home state is known for.
Before designing the patio, Iverson had the couple fill out a lifestyle survey and create a Houzz ideabook with photos of spaces they liked. “Houzz inspiration ideabooks are actually a requirement when we meet with clients,” he says. “I’ve found that when someone says they like modern, you don’t really know what they mean by that without seeing a photo of what they consider modern.”
How to Create and Use Ideabooks
Thoughtful Site Planning
Often a patio is an afterthought, but not here — it was an important part of the home and property’s design. “Every element was well-thought-out,” Iverson says. These elements include how the patio relates to the landscape and the interiors, as well as protection from the elements, access and privacy.
Views of the patio from inside the house were important. This photograph shows how nicely the fireplace is centered on the kitchen’s picture window, beckoning the homeowners from across the room to come out and enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. The location also provides easy access between the kitchen and the patio for outdoor grilling.
Often a patio is an afterthought, but not here — it was an important part of the home and property’s design. “Every element was well-thought-out,” Iverson says. These elements include how the patio relates to the landscape and the interiors, as well as protection from the elements, access and privacy.
Views of the patio from inside the house were important. This photograph shows how nicely the fireplace is centered on the kitchen’s picture window, beckoning the homeowners from across the room to come out and enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. The location also provides easy access between the kitchen and the patio for outdoor grilling.
Iverson extended a butterfly roof off the house to cover the patio without impeding the views from inside. “There’s a window that sits above their piano. It actually allows you to see sunlight and the park through the patio when standing in the living room,” he says. A long vertical window next to it provides a view of the outdoor fireplace’s glow.
Find a local design-build firm on Houzz
Find a local design-build firm on Houzz
Cohesive Elements Warm the Patio
Iverson designed the long steel natural-gas fireplace, and the pros at Cutting Edge Landscape & Design built it. Next he had them fabricate wall-mounted linear horizontal planters to wrap the corner; the foliage adds softness and color. Iverson had the walls capped with a black metal detail that coordinates with the fireplace and planters, providing a finished look along the top of the walls. The clean and cohesive contemporary style of the patio continues the style of the house from indoors to out.
See more photos of the house
Iverson designed the long steel natural-gas fireplace, and the pros at Cutting Edge Landscape & Design built it. Next he had them fabricate wall-mounted linear horizontal planters to wrap the corner; the foliage adds softness and color. Iverson had the walls capped with a black metal detail that coordinates with the fireplace and planters, providing a finished look along the top of the walls. The clean and cohesive contemporary style of the patio continues the style of the house from indoors to out.
See more photos of the house
Seen here at night, the space receives a warm glow from the long fireplace, with a few choice trees up the hillside illuminated by landscape lighting. There are four recessed LED can lights in the roof over the patio.
The knotty cedar decking and the wicker furniture add warmth. “I used cedar decking because it will naturally fade and tie into the other exterior materials,” Iverson says. “And it’s easy to spray down and clean.”
The art-loving homeowners put a personal touch on the space by adding two sculptures of climbers scaling the concrete wall.
Browse outdoor pots and planters in the Houzz Shop
The knotty cedar decking and the wicker furniture add warmth. “I used cedar decking because it will naturally fade and tie into the other exterior materials,” Iverson says. “And it’s easy to spray down and clean.”
The art-loving homeowners put a personal touch on the space by adding two sculptures of climbers scaling the concrete wall.
Browse outdoor pots and planters in the Houzz Shop
Resilient in the Climate
Because Eugene receives a lot of rainfall, covering the porch was a must. So was planning for how the water would affect the structural integrity of the retaining walls.
Iverson used an engineered fill (a mix of backfill that includes dirt, gravel and sand and is for proper drainage and compaction) and multiple drains — behind the wall, to the side and underneath the decking — to handle heavy rainfall. Should there ever be overflow, the decking allows water to drain into a water collector that sits beneath it. Plans for these elements were stamped by a licensed structural engineer and approved by the local city permit department.
Takeaways
More on Houzz
Key Measurements for Designing Your Perfect Patio
Browse more patio photos
Find a landscape architect
Shop for your patio
Because Eugene receives a lot of rainfall, covering the porch was a must. So was planning for how the water would affect the structural integrity of the retaining walls.
Iverson used an engineered fill (a mix of backfill that includes dirt, gravel and sand and is for proper drainage and compaction) and multiple drains — behind the wall, to the side and underneath the decking — to handle heavy rainfall. Should there ever be overflow, the decking allows water to drain into a water collector that sits beneath it. Plans for these elements were stamped by a licensed structural engineer and approved by the local city permit department.
Takeaways
- Plan outdoor rooms so they relate well to your home’s interiors. Consider how a porch or covered patio will affect the light and views inside the house.
- For a cohesive contemporary design, maintain a limited material and color palette.
- Soften concrete spaces with elements like a fireplace, plants, art and knotty decking material.
- Be aware that water will affect the structural integrity of retaining walls. Make sure your project is designed and overseen by someone with the proper licensing in your area.
More on Houzz
Key Measurements for Designing Your Perfect Patio
Browse more patio photos
Find a landscape architect
Shop for your patio
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Looked at your site. Everyone should have an opportunity to live in your one of your homes. I'll take a condo please.They are amazing!
Love the indoor coffee table, can you share the source, thank you!
Stunning...although I probably would of used other seating than those 2 chairs...it's looks so comfy and those chairs don't.