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1910 Outdoor Back Yard Design Photos And Ideas

The Eames Lounge Chair and sunken garden make for a serene combination.
From the dining table, "it feels like you're on the outdoor patio," says architect Takashi Yanai.
The Yanai-Rhee family gathers on the deck, an organic transition between the house and the garden. The exterior, now painted black, is reminiscent of the Japanese shou sugi ban technique.
A southern view shows the exposed concrete foundation and entrance bridge. “As you approach and enter, the front door is at the top,” explains Sokol. “It’s a three-story house with the entrance on the third story, and the master bedroom in the basement—it’s sort of upside down.”
One of the owners steps out on the new terrace with one of the many household animals. “We have moved the chicken coop so we can enjoy their busy, chooky lives,” they explain.
A stone path provides access through the internal courtyard, connecting the various ground floor spaces.
The landscaping was created in collaboration with landscape architecture studio Entorno. "They are extremely talented and have a deep knowledge and understanding of the right composition and best expression of the plants inside a space," says designer Hector Esrawe.
“The height of the new extension has been kept low, while still keeping all interior spaces on one level,” says the firm. “This approach led us to establish the project’s design identity in detail and materiality rather than in a ‘grand architectural gesture.’"
The new brick-and-wood pavilion faces north for optimal sun exposure.
If you already have a projector, white sheets and some popcorn are all you need to create your own outdoor cinema. Alternatively, you can set up a backyard screening with a monitor, TV stand, and an extension cord.
A vintage Malm fireplace is paired with Pebble seats "K" by Atelier Vierkant.
A new metal roof syncs with the addition’s metal siding and knits the changes together.
After completing their backyard renovation last fall, the two spend much of their time there now—even for work.
Sliding glass doors in the smaller volumes lead to a pair of paved patios. A sitting area faces a West Elm Geo fire pit. The Terassi dining table and Lisboa chairs are from Design Within Reach.
The views are spectacular, but drapes can wrap the upstairs for privacy.
The rear garden is filled with ferns, sedges, lowbush blueberry, and a poplar tree growing out of a rock face.
“The multilayered approach to this house—the use of healthy materials, the prefab, the relation to nature—has definitely changed our practice,” says Laura Briggs, architectural designer.
An iron swing gate leads to the in-ground pool in the backyard.
The homeowner designed the seven-foot-deep pool and concrete breeze wall themselves.
The homeowners designed the pool and the geometric barrier, made from a foam-cast cement breeze wall and iron swing gate.
Guy (holding Pickles the cat) and Mark transformed the backyard, adding a pool and planting sycamore trees and native grasses. A custom dining table by Angel City Lumber is paired with vintage chairs from Amsterdam Modern.
As the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day usually draws crowds to beaches, parks, and campgrounds—it goes without saying, however, that this year, things will look different. With stay-at-home orders just starting to loosen up in some parts of the country, this long weekend calls for some creativity, and offers a chance to cultivate a greater understanding and appreciation for the holiday’s true meaning. Below, you’ll find some ideas for spending this Memorial Day with family while staying at a safe social distance from others.
The backyard evokes the serenity of a Japanese Zen garden with a beautiful leaning tree and a shou sugi ban shed.
"The architecture enhances and reinforces this weaving together of inside and outside," says the firm. "The large lift and slide doors open to allow a single corner column to feel outside."
Ample patio space provides the perfect background for entertaining—both for the homeowners and their children. Large overhangs with built-in lighting shade wood-clad patios with comfortable lounge chairs.
"The patios, yard, and pool were all designed to support an active social life for the homeowners’ children and friends and to make the place a hub of activity," Epstein says.
From the outside looking in, this vacation home's kitchen is perfectly appointed to overlook the sea.
The added porch is a centerpiece of the home’s inside/outside concept.
Architect and surfer Kenichiro Iwakiri renovates a beach house for himself in Shonan, a region of Japan known for its surf spots.
Raised beds and containers are excellent choices for beginners, as you can avoid remedying your existing soil and ensure your new crops are receiving the appropriate nutrients via new potting soil.
A new covered seating area was created on the existing redwood deck, with hanging basket lamps inspired by decorations Sharp created for the couple's wedding.
A tea house in the corner of the yard looks out on a small waterfall and pond.
The bluestone-clad addition appears to gently slide under the roof eave of the existing home, establishing a seamless connection between old and new.
The lap pool provides a focal point both inside and outside. Connecting old and new, as well as public and private, the lap pool links all spaces at the heart of the home.
A punched window opening introduces a contemporary element to the original home. The metal-clad window box contrasts with the Edwardian architecture, while connecting materially to the new addition.
The original chimney peeks above the new rear addition. Throughout the design, there is a play of tactile elements which blend old and new.
The new extension is a serene, private retreat at the rear of the home. The design seamlessly blends indoor living spaces with an outdoor garden and lap pool.
Ipe wood decking and a built-in bench were combined with a vertical cedar slat screen, which "obscures the neighboring houses at the precise height of their rooflines, while allowing sunlight to filter through," says Wittman. A custom-designed, live-edge table has Lucite legs.
The cedar privacy screen that wraps the deck will patina to a natural silver color over time.
Friends often camp out at the guesthouse, but on most days, the couple enjoy it as a workspace.
A fire pit between two wings of the home encourages outdoor living.
To complement the charred cedar cladding Vista Residence, the outdoor furniture is crafted from the same wood.
“Although I’ve known WWA for many years, this is our first project together—but it is not the last,” says Oldroyd. “The talented and experienced group of designers at ODADA is a nice compliment to the architectural prowess of WWA. We make a great team, as evidenced by this project.”
The three-story structure designed by BattersbyHowat Architects gets nearly wall-to-wall exposure to the south, and the terraces block sunlight when the sun is highest during the hottest months.
While not connected to the house's irrigation, the saltwater pool has its own solar-powered saline pump and cleansing system.
The architects nestled the home into a fold in the topography so that the western facade grips the land, and the eastern facade cantilevers over a small slope.
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Whether it's a backyard patio, an infinity pool, or a rooftop terrace, these modern outdoor spaces add to the richness of daily life. Escape into nature, or get lost in city views. Wherever you are, let these outdoor photos take you somewhere new with inspirational ideas for yards, gardens, outdoor tubs and showers, patios, porches, and decks.