Cy-Fair Lifestyles and Homes magazine Apr 2010: Patios, Decks and Garden Arbors

By Christie Craig

If you’re like most Americans, you’re probably tired of winter. And make no mistake, Texas definitely felt the chill this year. But while we may have experienced a few sub-freezing days in January and February that played havoc with our azaleas, we were the lucky ones. After all, one of the great things about living in southern Texas is its temperate climate, which means we can enjoy outdoor entertaining nearly year round.

Think about it. Pool parties, backyard barbecues on the patio, afternoon tea served in a pergola surrounded by the beauty of nature, or cocktails at sunset on your deck; the possibilities are virtually endless. In fact, your greatest obstacle in designing an outdoor living area could very well be deciding upon the type of outdoor space you wish to create: a deck, a patio or a garden arbor.

What’s more, now is the perfect time to make your dreams become reality for living large outdoors.

Choosing the Right Outdoor Space

So, what is the first step in deciding which type of outdoor living space to create? “Easy,” says Lawrence Winterburn, founder and principal designer of GardenStructure.com, an industry leader in the creation of architecturally unique backyard designs in both Canada and the United States for more than 20 years. Winterburn ’s advice? Define what you want to achieve.

“What is your dream for this space?” asks Winterburn. “What would make this space absolutely perfect?”

Also, ask yourself how many people you want to entertain, as well as the type of entertaining you plan to do. Will it be large gatherings with friends, family and business associates? Or does your outdoor entertaining tend more toward family-centric get-togethers?

And don’t just think about the present—consider your plans for the future.

“Ask yourself what features you’d like to add in the next few years,” suggests Winterburn. “What would make your home look better from the yard, even if you can’t afford to do it all right away? There are literally millions of possibilities to improve every space —and it all starts with questions.”

For example, a pergola, also known as an arbor, is a structure that provides shade in a landscaped backyard garden, usually through a wooden cross-beam roof or a retractable canopy. It ’s a great choice for sheltering an outdoor kitchen or for creating a cozy spot to catch up on reading while surrounded by nature ’s bounty. Pergolas can also be part of a much larger landscaping design and work in tandem with a patio.

A patio is typically a paved living space composed of concrete or stone tiles that adjoin a residence. Patios work nicely with an in-ground pool or additional structures and design elements. Versatile and relatively easy to maintain, patios can accommodate everything from formal outdoor dining to even the most informal get-together.

Decks, by contrast, are an elevated platform comprised of either a wood composite or treated timber, such as redwood and cedar. Surrounded by a protective railing, decks are attached to the house and often have a stairway that leads to the ground below. Decks are ideal for houses with unusable backyards because of either rough terrain or a steep drop. Much like a pergola, a deck can be covered by a canopy to control sunlight.

Another method to decide on the right outdoor living space for your lifestyle is to evaluate your backyard and identify any imperfections you ’d like to eradicate, or at least, disguise.

For example, perhaps your backyard lacks privacy, so that each time you go outside, you feel you ’re on display to everyone in the neighborhood. Adding landscaping elements that create a barrier between you and your neighbors would be ideal.

“Maybe you need to bring in trees, or create a canopy pergola to shield the space from prying eyes, ” suggests Winterburn of GardenStructure.com.

A retractable canopy operated by a remote control can also provide shelter from the elements, so a sudden downpour won ’t ruin your outdoor party.

Adding the Wow! Factor

Regardless of whether you choose to go with a pergola, patio or deck, don’t forget to add the Wow! factor to your design plan.

The right lighting for your outdoor space can create drama—or intimacy—depending on your mood.

“The most important concept for lighting these types of spaces is to achieve the desired lighting effect without seeing the light source, ” says

Joseph A. Rey-Barreau, AIA, architect/lighting designer and education consultant for the American Lighting Association

“You want to illuminate the object, as in the case of an arbor, or illuminate an area such as a patio or deck, but you want to avoid the glare that comes from the bulb. ”

For arbors, Rey-Barreau recommends that you use a cylindrical fixture that has the bulb located several inches below the edge of the front of the fixture. Direct the light up toward the arbor, which will illuminate the fixture and avoid temporarily blinding people as they approach the structure.

“For patios, it is best to use small pathlights where the bulb is concealed,” Rey-Barreau says. “These types of fixtures are available in many styles, but the best is to use a simple fixture that provides light while shielding the bulb. ”

For decks, consider using small landscape fixtures that can be mounted on the posts of the deck, or can be mounted below the handrail.

Rey-Barreau’s final recommendation is that you use a low voltage (12 volt) landscape system, which provides excellent illumination

along with peace of mind.

As for other ways of adding the Wow! factor to decks and patios, Erik Hanson, principal of McDugald-Steele/McDugald-Steele Austin, LLC, suggests you consider integrating design techniques such as cantilevering, which can give a deck the feeling of “floating,” or level changes that can add visual interest and enhance the design of a deck or patio.

For arbors or pergolas, adding enhancements is key.

“We often use the arbor structure to hang outdoor ceiling fans, stereo speakers, lighting, swings, planters, etc. that can extend the usage of the space to all day long, all year long, ” says Hanson. “It’s wonderful to dine or relax outside under an arbor with music playing in the background, a nice breeze blowing from the fan and a beautifully lit table or sitting area. It truly can be an indoor room outdoors. ”

So, there you have it, the basics for creating an outdoor living space that is just right for you and your family. Patio, deck or pergola —the choice is yours; and if your budget allows, consider adding more than one.l