Outdoor Patio Covers

This backyard landscaping and covered porch project is probably one of my favorite jobs we have done in a long time.  The homeowners have a large and rambunctious family, so they wanted to create an outdoor area that they could entertain guests while their kids ran wild and played in the yard.  On the to-do list was a pool with waterfall, some sort of entertaining area with an outdoor cover to protect it from weather, a large fireplace, and a great cooking area to grill and make drinks. We decided to go with a rustic mountain-side resort theme, and make the focal point a large stone and thick wood beam pavilion. We had considered a more simple area with some type of fabric outdoor patio covers but, together with the homeowners, decided that a large focal point like this would be more appropriate for their space and the design we are trying to achieve.

Check out this gorgeous patio canopy we just added to our outdoor pavilion! I have seen these recently in so many home and garden magazines and thought it would be an easy and beautiful addition to our back patio. My husband and I are always saying that we wish we could sit out there more often but, at our age, the sunny climate here in Florida makes us scared to stay outside for long without shade.  I thought adding outdoor patio covers might just do the trick and give us a little bit more freedom to use that area during the day. Boy were we right! It created a stunning little room just large enough for a dining table and a few sitting areas. To tie together the look a bit more, we bought new patio chair covers that coordinate with the canvas fabric of the awning.

Pergola covers are a fantastic non-permanent structure that can not only provide some protection from the weather, but also are a source of great decorative appeal in your outdoor living spaces as well.  We just added one to our back patio overtop of a brand new bar setup. The goal here was to give us a shaded area next to the pool as well as to portion off a separate entertaining area away from the larger space where the rest of the family gathers. We were attracted to patio cover designs that feature a traditional look as well as clean simple lines. For this reason, we opted to paint the unit a lovely cream color and mount it to the base of our natural stone bar.

When we first took on our new patio awning project, I was a bit intimidated by the scope of the job. We wanted to created a large outdoor living area set off of our kitchen, but wanted to create something that did not impede our pool design or the lovely colonial architecture of the home. We decided on a long roofed lanai that had three different entertaining "zones."  The plans seemed simple enough, but I was nervous that building a patio cover would take more time and money than we anticipated. Well, I am happy to report that our contractor actually finished on time and under budget! Plus, we could not be more happy with how the finished design turned out.

While I was looking around for covered patio ideas for our house, I came across this beautiful mountain home.  We don't live in a mountainous area right now, but boy does this house make me want to pack up and move! I love the mixture of stone and brick siding that they used on the actual house as well as the dark wood trim work and detailing accenting the siding. It is so rustic yet elegant at the same time. I would absolutely love to have an outdoor space like this with a paneled patio roof, large double fireplaces, cozy lounging areas as well as a large pool and spa to play in. It must be such a great backyard for entertaining in the summer or cozying up by the fire on a cool fall day.

I’ve designed the perfect house by connecting the silent beauty of the forested hillside, wood patio covers surround and endow a comfortable refuge. A narrow and elegant pool extends a little beyond the wooden patio, ideal for a refreshing dip or an earnest swim among the scenery. Mirroring and complimenting the surrounding landscape, a stacked stone fireplace takes pride of place, perfect for keeping warm under an illuminated night sky. A large 40 inch television adorns and centers the patio, itself the height of comfort– furnished with a comfortable sofa and armchair, as well as an understated bench padded with vibrant cushions.