elean13's ideas
Around the pergola’s perimeter, 1¼-inch by 5½-inch ipe louvers are diagonally slotted into the ipe 2-by-6s so that they have room to move side to side, much like traditional window shutters were constructed. “This detail is critical to the longevity of the structure,” says Ginn. The steel beams and wood louvers move and experience thermal expansion at different rates. “By allowing the pieces to move differentially, stress that would otherwise damage the components is greatly reduced,” he says. The roof’s center is solid and is made of treated lumber topped with a TPO membrane, a common rubber roof covering. The ceiling portion is 2-by-6 cedar tongue and groove decking.
Patio cover: Nebraska’s climate influenced the patio cover’s varied construction, which provides a range of coverage and experiences for visitors, depending on conditions. “Users can position themselves within the space based on how much shade they want, whether they want to be near the fan’s breeze, whether they prefer the electric light that illuminates the interior area or the natural light that penetrates the periphery,” says Ginn. Above the two main beams that run perpendicular to the house, five sets of ipe 2-by-6s are bolted through the webbing of wide-flange beams that run in the opposite direction, parallel to the house. A proprietary clear finish made specifically for ipe was used to seal all the ipe in the project.
Pergola structure: “The pergola’s strength comes from wide-flange steel beams flanked on each side by 6-by-4 tube steel columns,” says Ginn. The roof structure sits on top of this solid structure. The steel is coated with Tnemec paint, developed in Kansas City specifically for this type of climate, making it an excellent choice for protecting the steel.
Purpose: "In the summer heat, the pergola provides protective shade for the adults to lounge in while the children play in the yard,” says Ginn. The breeze from the ceiling fan cools the area down and also helps repel pesky mosquitoes. The solid center portion of the roof shields the space from rain.
The inside-outside experience. Creating an outdoor room or experiencing the feeling of being outdoors does not always mean styling an entire alfresco area as seen in previous photos. Why not, instead, open up the back of your home and utilize the internal functions such as the kitchen to enjoy outside with all the comforts of the inside. Danny Broe Architects has created this simple concept by providing bifold doors that slide to the side to open up the space. What makes the space more interesting is that the bifold doors cut through the central island kitchen bench, provide a permanent serving area and under-counter storage for the outdoor dining area.
The garden pavilion. If your garden is large enough, why not create stand-alone garden pavilions where overhead canopies provide cover and the walls are open to the surrounding garden. This terraced garden provides individual outdoor rooms like those found within your home. The lower level houses a kitchen that can act as both a food preparation area and a bar for pool guests floating by. On the higher terrace, the undercover dining experience is set among the lush green landscape where the highlight is a floating dining counter. Layering the garden using natural durable materials helps define the spaces.
A room with a vista. An outdoor room can be a place for reflection and simply taking in the sights. This Sydney house has a wonderful layered outdoor room where, from the dining suite, one can look out to the garden, which is beautifully framed by a climbing vine. From here there is a view of the pool and then the waterway and finally the hilltop homes. This outdoor room is not complicated and nor does it have to be. It’s the surrounding spaces that create the atmosphere in this courtyard — no additional embellishment needed. Simplicity is the key.
10. The outdoor dining room. This outdoor alfresco dining room celebrates all the attributes provided by a landscaped garden while embracing a sense of enclosure and protection from the weather. To create a sense of intimacy, walls are defined by their function. On one wall, an outdoor kitchen and built-in fireplace provides all the internal comforts outside, undercover and protected from the elements. On the other wall, built-in seating set amid a lush garden allows for respite to take in those rays of sun on a crisp spring morning. Out of shot, the space opens into the home via bifold doors. The roof appears to hover, supported by minimal supports. The design philosophy here is not to completely enclose the space but to capture garden and outdoor glimpses.
To the left of the sink, a two-tier garbage center pullout has a top drawer for plastic liners, foil and storage bags, with the garbage can and recyclables bin below. The garbage center features an automated system that allows the homeowners to open and close the unit with a touch of the hip.
Wall storage with hidden tv
Fence design
AFTER: Here is the same drawer after. Kondo is all about stacking clothes sideways, or “standing up,” as she says, rather than on top of each other. This, she says, is the key to storing clothes.
Paintings
The backyard was designed with family play and this three-quarters-regulation-size bocce ball court in mind, along with other garden games. Heritage redwood trees flank the court, and there’s a seating area for enjoying the game.
In the backyard’s farthest corner, low sofas in a curtained cabana give visitors a place to sit back and relax in privacy, with a view looking back over the garden. A solid roof, outdoor lanterns and heaters make this space usable year-round, day and night.
A mature wisteria (Wisteria sp) grows around a spiral wrought iron staircase, framing the entrance from the side yard into the backyard.
Get listing photos right. The listing photos of your home will be responsible for drawing most people into that first open house. When the photographer comes to take pictures, make sure every lamp is turned on, all the window coverings are pulled open and the floors are shiny and clean. In the listing, make sure your real estate agent only includes photos of your home’s most attractive rooms, plus written descriptions of the other spaces. Potential buyers will be attracted by your home’s best features — don’t wreck it by including a photo of that dated powder room. Tip: The more flooring that can be seen, the larger the room will appear, so consider removing area rugs before having photos taken.
The clients’ request for indoor plants has been played out in the kitchen with a custom-made suspended pergola covered in vine.
The home’s orientation makes the most of the rising and setting sun, so the outdoor areas and main living areas benefit from an all-day sunny, northern exposure, while the sleeping zones take in the afternoon sun.
Conversation area with an ensemble of glass bottles on the coffee table
Glass bottles on coffee table
Patio cover: Aluminum panels that are 3/16 inch thick and roughly 3 feet by 3 feet are attached to the structure with custom clips and screws. Each panel features a custom, hand-drawn pattern that was transferred to AutoCAD and cut with a water jet. Halper says a laser cutter would have made cleaner cuts, but the material was too thick. The patterns loosely resemble leaves. Sunlight streams through during the day, creating dappled shade that resembles that under a large tree canopy, protecting the patio without making it too dark. At night the light from the outdoor bulbs filters through the holes and creates another unique pattern.
Pergola structure: They fabricated the arbor using solid aluminum and painted it to match the exterior siding. It rains a lot in Houston, and the aluminum will never rust. It’s more expensive than steel but also a lot lighter; Halper says it cost about 40 percent more than steel would have. The beams and posts were notched together for a more woven complexity, also adding to the cost.
She also saved by purchasing two of these side dressers and a longer version of them from Ikea, adding the overlays and painting them. Glass tops add an elegant touch.
Q