Contemporary Patio Ideas and Designs

Caterpillar House
Caterpillar House
Joni L. Janecki & Associates, Inc.Joni L. Janecki & Associates, Inc.
Embodying the owner’s love for modern ranch house architecture, this innovative home, designed with Feldman Architecture, sits lightly on its site and connects outwards to the Preserve’s landscape. We located the structure at the lowest point between surrounding hills so that it would be as visually inconspicuous as possible. Rammed earth walls, built using earth excavated from the site, define outdoor living spaces and serve to retain the soil along the edges of the drive and at patio spaces. Within the outdoor living spaces surrounding the buildings, native plants are combined with succulents and ornamental plants to contrast with the open grassland and provide a rich setting for entertaining, while garden areas to the south are stepped and allowed to erode on the edges, blending into the hillside. Sitting prominently adjacent to the home, three tanks capture rainwater for irrigation and are a clear indication of water available for the landscape throughout the year. LEED Platinum certification. Photo by Joe Fletcher.
Bluestone patio with waterfeature
Bluestone patio with waterfeature
Lifestyle Landscapes, IncLifestyle Landscapes, Inc
Stone patio, stone water feature, and pacific northwest plantings
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Iron Shade Arbor
Iron Shade Arbor
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & DesignExterior Worlds Landscaping & Design
This shade arbor, located in The Woodlands, TX north of Houston, spans the entire length of the back yard. It combines a number of elements with custom structures that were constructed to emulate specific aspects of a Zen garden. The homeowner wanted a low-maintenance garden whose beauty could withstand the tough seasonal weather that strikes the area at various times of the year. He also desired a mood-altering aesthetic that would relax the senses and calm the mind. Most importantly, he wanted this meditative environment completely shielded from the outside world so he could find serenity in total privacy. The most unique design element in this entire project is the roof of the shade arbor itself. It features a “negative space” leaf pattern that was designed in a software suite and cut out of the metal with a water jet cutter. Each form in the pattern is loosely suggestive of either a leaf, or a cluster of leaves. These small, negative spaces cut from the metal are the source of the structure’ powerful visual and emotional impact. During the day, sunlight shines down and highlights columns, furniture, plantings, and gravel with a blend of dappling and shade that make you feel like you are sitting under the branches of a tree. At night, the effects are even more brilliant. Skillfully concealed lights mounted on the trusses reflect off the steel in places, while in other places they penetrate the negative spaces, cascading brilliant patterns of ambient light down on vegetation, hardscape, and water alike. The shade arbor shelters two gravel patios that are almost identical in space. The patio closest to the living room features a mini outdoor dining room, replete with tables and chairs. The patio is ornamented with a blend of ornamental grass, a small human figurine sculpture, and mid-level impact ground cover. Gravel was chosen as the preferred hardscape material because of its Zen-like connotations. It is also remarkably soft to walk on, helping to set the mood for a relaxed afternoon in the dappled shade of gently filtered sunlight. The second patio, spaced 15 feet away from the first, resides adjacent to the home at the opposite end of the shade arbor. Like its twin, it is also ornamented with ground cover borders, ornamental grasses, and a large urn identical to the first. Seating here is even more private and contemplative. Instead of a table and chairs, there is a large decorative concrete bench cut in the shape of a giant four-leaf clover. Spanning the distance between these two patios, a bluestone walkway connects the two spaces. Along the way, its borders are punctuated in places by low-level ornamental grasses, a large flowering bush, another sculpture in the form of human faces, and foxtail ferns that spring up from a spread of river rock that punctuates the ends of the walkway. The meditative quality of the shade arbor is reinforced by two special features. The first of these is a disappearing fountain that flows from the top of a large vertical stone embedded like a monolith in the other edges of the river rock. The drains and pumps to this fountain are carefully concealed underneath the covering of smooth stones, and the sound of the water is only barely perceptible, as if it is trying to force you to let go of your thoughts to hear it. A large piece of core-10 steel, which is deliberately intended to rust quickly, rises up like an arced wall from behind the fountain stone. The dark color of the metal helps the casual viewer catch just a glimpse of light reflecting off the slow trickle of water that runs down the side of the stone into the river rock bed. To complete the quiet moment that the shade arbor is intended to invoke, a thick wall of cypress trees rises up on all sides of the yard, completely shutting out the disturbances of the world with a comforting wall of living greenery that comforts the thoughts and emotions.
Ten Residence
Ten Residence
MTLA- Mark Tessier Landscape ArchitectureMTLA- Mark Tessier Landscape Architecture
The design intent for this modest home and garden, located on a tree-lined street in Culver City, was to create a family-friendly, versatile, sustainable outdoor environment that grew with the rapidly changing needs of the owners, their three children and their close-knit community. This became the site of the "Neighborhood Film Festival" where family and friends could settle into the oversized sofa, warm themselves by the outdoor firepit/coffee table, and enjoy a movie under the stars.
Green Lake
Green Lake
Coates Design Architecture + InteriorsCoates Design Architecture + Interiors
Backyard fire pit. Taken by Lara Swimmer. Landscape Design by ModernBackyard
Contemporary Twist on an English Garden
Contemporary Twist on an English Garden
Fredman Design GroupFredman Design Group
An axial garden, dining area, outdoor kitchen and lounge with over-scaled upholstered furniture from Janus et Cie, in a natural palette brings modern design into harmony with lush green surroundings.
CLB Network - Carrington Homes - Indianapolis, IN - 2
CLB Network - Carrington Homes - Indianapolis, IN - 2
Distinctive DomainDistinctive Domain
"About this Home: Discover the epitome of luxury living in this custom-built masterpiece by the esteemed Carrington Homes. Nestled within the prestigious Holliday Farms Golf Course Community, this residence seamlessly blends premium quality, superior craftsmanship, and modern design. From the backlit island top adorning the expansive kitchen to the adventure room with a climbing wall in the lower level, every detail exudes opulence. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views of the golf course, while the whole-house automation system enhances convenience. With a wine room, golf simulator, and outdoor kitchen, this home is a sanctuary of sophistication. Distinctive Domain is a member of the Certified Luxury Builders Network. Certified Luxury Builders is a network of leading custom home builders and luxury home and condo remodelers who create 5-Star experiences for luxury home and condo owners from New York to Los Angeles and Boston to Naples. As a Certified Luxury Builder, Distinctive Domain is proud to feature photos of select projects from our members around the country to inspire you with design ideas. Please feel free to contact the specific Certified Luxury Builder with any questions or inquiries you may have about their projects. Please visit www.CLBNetwork.com for a directory of CLB members featured on Houzz and their contact information."
Small Courtyard Garden, Wimbledon
Small Courtyard Garden, Wimbledon
Luxury Garden DesignLuxury Garden Design
This courtyard garden is perfect for adults and provides an escape from everyday life with luxury finishes, such as the bespoke kitchen and planters.
Arash
Arash
J. Montgomery Designs, Inc.J. Montgomery Designs, Inc.
Ipe wood decking with modern firepit features. Displays an L arbor with heating lamps attached. Pathway with concrete steppers, Mexican pebbles and synthetic lawn.

Contemporary Patio Ideas and Designs

Emerald Bay Modern
Emerald Bay Modern
Meridith Baer HomeMeridith Baer Home
Staged for: David Wojtaszek, DiVita Builders Listed by: Tim Smith, Coldwell Banker Realty Photos by: Mellon Studio
5
Ireland
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