Pergola and Patio

The topography proved challenging so the designers elevated the house on piers.

Rian and Melissa Jorgensen's 2 Bar House in Menlo Park boasts all the usual green design suspects: energy-efficient lighting, good insulation, renewable material finishes, radiant heat, and the roof is pre-wired for future PV panels. Executed by Feldman Architecture, the house requires only natural lighting during the day which keeps energy costs way down. Still, the most stunning aspect of the green design is the living roof planted with succulents, aloe, viviums, and ice plants. "I'm absolutely glad that we did it," says Melissa. "It turned out so well and I really enjoy sitting up there and taking advantage of it as much as I can. It's very peaceful." Read more about this total remodel here.

A cantilevered ipe bench hugs a custom board-formed concrete fire pit.

To save money, the main patio was updated with fresh decking, but the metal awning was kept intact.

Spacious balconies and deep overhangs allow for easy entertaining.

Roof Terrace / Tellis

Bistro lights hang in the massive Douglas Fir giving the evenings a great ambience.

After raising the rear patio to the level of the kitchen, the team reused the original redwood decking and supplemented it with recycled pieces from other projects. Recessed planters punctuate a garden wall. Scott and Regina warm themselves by a Solus fire pit on chilly evenings.

Sweet’s renovation scheme included recreating the couple’s backyard as a natural extension of their living room.

A view of the Free Float Pool House from the garden of lush plantings by Bayview Landscape Architecture.

At dusk the fire and lighting extend the hours of use

The patio.

Handmade Adirondacks from local red cedar gather around the backyard fire pit.

A 22-foot sliding-glass door by Fleetwood opens onto an ipe deck furnished with lounge chairs, a cocktail table, and stools from Room & Board’s Penelope line. The bar is made of concrete and Richlite, a wood-fiber composite used in skateboard ramps.

Speaking to his original design, architect Saul Zaik says, “We were really just building boxes with a bunch of windows but experimenting with how you integrated indoor and outdoor spaces.” The house has seven different openings to the exterior, allowing different courtyard or patio settings for a range of outdoor activities, including seating for a gathering on the street-facing side. The Milfords hired Lilyvilla Gardens for the landscaping around the house, including variegated bluestone steps with thyme joints.

A view looking south toward the penthouse addition. The pergola is planted with wisteria providing a welcoming shade.

The pergola was fabricated from solid Ipe and is assembled using stainless steel bolts and plates.

The Barrel House tasting room serves as a community center for Tumwater. The new pergola creates an outdoor room that can play host to wine tastings and private events.