Patio Ideas
A bungalow containing a bedroom, sitting room, kitchenette and two bathrooms. This project provides on site housing for the owner of a construction firm and guest quarters when he is not on site. The project uses thickened side walls and glazed end walls to blur the border between inside and outside. The large deck and overhanging roof allow outdoor enjoyment in the hot and w
Paving may seem to be the obvious choice for flooring in a minimalist garden, yet it must be chosen and laid with skill to achieve the type of perfect finish we see here. The warm gray finish of the paving creates a wonderful background for the darker gray detailing provided by the seating, planted containers and window frames. This attention to detail can make creating a professional-looking minimalist design easier than you might think.
3. Say ahoy to shade sails. Shade sails make a sculptural statement while blocking up to 95 percent of harmful UV rays. They can be mounted via existing walls or poles, making them a versatile solution for a variety of spaces. Use a single shade or layer them — as in this custom design — for a more dramatic look.
Patio transition idea. Exposed Aggregate with grass inbewteen. Exposed aggregate: This finish has a coarser texture than that of sand-finished or acid-etched concrete. It is created by casting the concrete against a form surface that has been painted with a retarder to slow the set of the concrete. After the form is removed, the retarded concrete is stripped away to reveal the beauty and texture of the underlying aggregate. Endless variations are possible, depending on the type of aggregate used and degree of exposure. In this example pebble-like Coral Sea gravel was exposed to provide a warm, shimmery texture. Because of its skid resistance, an exposed aggregate finish is ideal for most flat underfoot surfaces, such as sidewalks and patio floors.
Variations on the Slider A variant of the sliding glass door is what some manufacturers term the French slider. In many ways this door incorporates the advantages of a sliding glass door with the look of a French door. Unlike the two-panel configuration of the typical sliding glass door, the French slider has four panels. The two outer panels are fixed in place; the two inner panels operate. When closed, the two operable panels butt into each other, resting in the same plane, creating the look of a hinged door. Another advantage to these doors is the opening can be even wider than a regular sliding glass door. At widths of 10, 12 and 16 feet, these doors can create a wall of glass while also allowing for a lot of natural ventilation. Whether it's the standard sliding glass door or the French slider, an important design consideration is the track system. As in the hinged doors, these tracks can project up an inch or more and are typically 5 to 6 inches wide. The large track is something you'll want to deal with by setting it down lower or specifying a lower profile system as some manufacturers can provide.
Sliding Glass Doors The sliding glass door has got to be the most ubiquitous patio door. Made up of two framed glass panels that slide past each other, this door can be seen on contemporary, traditional and every style in between. Having said that, it really fits a contemporary aesthetic as the sliding operation and staggered planes are typically not quite right for traditional styles. An advantage of these doors is that the opening can be quite wide. While the standard door will be 5 or 6 feet wide, doors that are 8 or 10 feet wide are available. An important design consideration when selecting a sliding glass door is the frame size. The actual frame dimensions will vary considerably depending on the frame material. While metal frames, like aluminum, can be quite thin, vinyl frames will likely be thick. Cost. A sliding glass door will typically cost considerably less than a comparable French door. It has to do with operation and mechanisms. Simply put, the sliding glass door is easier to engineer and build and has fewer moving parts. So a sliding glass door can be had for as little as $500.
Alternatives to Guards There are other solutions that completely eliminate the need for guards altogether. Terraces. Sloping sites can take advantage of a terraced deck configuration to minimize the need for guards. As they step along with the adjacent grade, they maintain a constant relationship to the site that’s always less than 30 inches.
Seating Elements Integrating furniture-like elements into the edge of the deck is worth considering too. I like how the back of this deck wall is just the right height to give a sense of enclosure while not limiting views to the horizon. Be sure to check with your local codes as to whether this is feasible, because the seat could be used as a platform and thus not meet the code.
Cable Railings One of the more common means of deferring to the view is to use a cable system. There are many types and sizes to choose from. Feeney makes the most recognizable brand, called CableRail. Vertical posts should be rigid enough to withstand the tightening of the cables. I always equally space my cables at slightly less than 4 inches to account for cable sag midspan. Opt for thin verticals to complement the low profile of the cabling. They can be made quite thin if fabricated from steel. The horizontal cables, to me, seem to disappear more than the verticals as our eyes naturally orient to the horizon. Equally, when peering back at the building, horizontal lines often correlate with the siding lines and tend to dissolve even further.
4. Complement your interiors. Use the same colors and style that you’ve already established inside your home for your backyard to make it feel more like its own living room. “Stylistically, you want to pick up on colors and textures that tie the two spaces together,” says Amber Freda, a landscape architect in New York. “Make it more than just a couple of chairs and a dining table. A plain dining table with wooden chairs won’t entice you to use it very much, but really comfortable lounge seating will.”
3. Extend an indoor space. Architect Carson Arthur likes to ask his clients which indoor room they feel is too small, then establish more of that space in the backyard. “Is your kitchen too small? Do you need a bigger family room? Why not do that outside?” he says. “With the development of outdoor technology, anything inside can now be done outside.”
different levels, clean lines
Concrete squares, outdoor fire place, fence slats placed so that you can see through
Pergola for back deck?
Indoor opens up to outdoor, rectangular fire feature.
Different levels, incorporates rock garden, windows open up house
privacy wall slatts — mconcitis For the west side of Engawa and perhaps east side of deck
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