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759 Outdoor Side Yard Design Photos And Ideas

New glass sliders lead to the courtyard from the lower-level master bedroom.
Two new midcentury-style water features are located on either side of the house. “We are passionate about enhancing the interaction between indoor and outdoor living, and materials were carefully selected to emulate the look and feel of the home’s original style,” shares Uzcategui.
Durable, long-lasting exterior materials of concrete and weathering steel were chosen to withstand the climate extremes in Ketchum, Idaho, and require minimal maintenance.
Deciduous birch and ash trees provide natural shade in the summer and allow sun exposure in the winter.
New retaining walls and landscaping help to further harmonize the stepped areas.
A garden work bench and recycled plastic towers planted with vegetables, herbs, and fruit are situated on the porch.
The living area is bordered on two sides by separate courtyards.
The entryway opens into a courtyard overlooking the main living pavilion. Throughout the home, interior spaces flow into outdoor areas via folding and sliding glass doors.
The leftover outdoor space was converted into a mini basketball court for Mr. Yeh. “We used geometric patterns and saturated color blocks to divide the basic court zones and reference the interior design.”
Adrian Bueno and Yvette Leeper-Bueno sit on the simple platform porch that extends from the living room of their weekend retreat in Saugerties, New York.
“Over time, the frame will fill up with vegetation, and the house will appear to ‘capture’ the site,” explains architect Cesar Guerrero.
There is minimal decoration in the house, keeping the focus on the plantings that surround it.
The dining area is completely open to the outdoors. “Ian and Krista wanted to celebrate their everyday routine and abandon things they don’t use, like a formal dining space,” says Jess. The Jorn dining table is by Minotti while the Mariposa chairs are by Fyrn. The grill is by Lion and the heater is by Heatstrip.
"The H-shaped plan and outbuildings create an assemblage of forms that celebrates the site and creates a continuing sense of surprise," Epstein adds.
A vintage 1950s fireplace imported from Surfing Cowboys in Malibu adds heat and style to the side porch.
Folding glass doors open from the living room to the red cedar porch.
A cypress fence and white gravel borders a side yard with a row of grass .
A mosquito net awning shelters a closed porch from the elements.
Suspended by two wire cables, a “floating” drop-down deck lowers with the push of a button, and can hold up to 1,500 pounds. The custom sliding dual-plane deck doors are constructed from cedar.
The outdoor living space of the Birch Le Collaboration House features a wood-burning fireplace under large, covered porch.
Designed as a flat-pack system, the sauna can be easily disassembled and transported.
The exterior is constructed from cypress pine wood and lightweight polycarbonate.
The western facade features a pavilion-like area, where the family can dine outdoors together. A long, narrow corridor runs along the southern facade, leading to the different rooms of the house.
The way the house cantilevers over a gentle slope in the land allows the Del Fierros to experience a tree-house effect while spending time in the eastern side, where the bedrooms are located.
The home has a simple, linear plan that balances open spaces with more cozy, private rooms. The sliding doors at the side of the home can either be completely closed to the elements in winter, or opened in the warmer months.
Skylights in the roof allow natural light and ventilation into the guest bedrooms, which don't have windows.
The vertical lines of the timber facade and the corrugated Zincalume roof create a simple, graphic rhythm across the entire home.
To ensure structural integrity, the architects designed the home’s living spaces to be perpendicular to the sloping topography, and the roofline to be in harmony with the ground level, canopy, and horizon.
The screen is coated with a clear finish by Penofin Red Label. The steel rail and cables are by Feeney and the deck is by Bison Innovative Products. The windows and doors are from Loewen.
The outdoor shower is located right off the main balcony and living room.
The focal point of the terrace is one large potted frangipani tree. The planted edge against the brick wall works to visually soften the space.
The clients had a very clear brief for the outdoor areas. The courtyard was to have at least one large palm tree, which would be clearly visible from the living space, and it was important that the space could be viewed from above and also below from the street entry.
The outdoor spaces—including a courtyard with a small pool—were formed by simply removing the original roof toward the end of the construction, allowing dry working conditions for the majority of the construction period.
Although the exterior material connects the new addition back to the house, it distinguishes itself in form with an arched, load-bearing roof. The high ceilings allow light into the new kitchen, dining, and work spaces.
Even in the chilly evenings, guests spend ample time on the deck thanks to a warming fire pit.
A table and chairs encourage alfresco dining on the deck.
Windows provide framed views to the courtyards from both walkways and living spaces.
At the center of the home is a large courtyard which extends the full height of the home, providing a break in the simple form and plan.
It took less than five months for architect David Hovey Jr. to build this prefab home in Arizona's Paradise Valley, a rectangular pavilion with a shell of laminated glass, a perforated Cor-Ten steel roof, and an indoor courtyard where Hovey Jr.'s family take dips in the Olympic-size swimming pool. Polished concrete floors, Nakashima furniture, and a large black walnut bar are all found indoors.
At midcentury-style Pavilion Haus in Houston, the home of StudioMET Architects principal and partner Shawn Gottschalk, Gottschalk ensured that kids could play freely in the contained courtyard while parents kept watch through the sleek glass panels. A large pedestrian gate doubling as the front door establishes a dialogue with nature found throughout the pavilion.
Windsor Residence by Dick Clark + Associates
designed by Estúdio Minke
When Oslo-based architect Marianne Borge was approached in 2004 by a client who wanted an actual cabin rather than a second home, she was instantly inspired by the challenge of working on a smaller scale. The home, called Woody35, has a distinct shape that makes it stand out from its surroundings despite the modest size of the building.
This Mallorcan villa was the firm’s first full architectural project. It was originally built for German art dealers whom Pawson had met by chance on an Italian beach. Acclaimed for his moody minimalism, the architect lends his signature touch to this five-bedroom home. To obtain a rosy hue, pigments from the local red soil were mixed with plaster.
Re-configured Side Entry
Another lush patio area just off the kitchen offers a pergola-topped outdoor kitchen and bar. Other features of the backyard include a fire pit, raised-bed gardens, and matured fruit trees.
Down the spiral staircase, a covered outdoor area provides an intimate spot for entertaining.
In the wintertime, the living room is cozy and welcoming with its large fireplace and warm lighting.
The expansive windows in the living room were strategically positioned for sunset views.
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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.