The Pacific Northwest is catching up with the rest of the country in outdoor entertaining and family activity. While gardening has always been popular, it seems people simply did not use patios (or decks) or other outdoor living spaces to the extent of other regions because of the winter rains and cooler nights. While we still have those to contend with, homes being built with covered porches has coaxed us to the outdoors. Outdoor fireplaces and kitchens, heat lamps, new styles of furniture, along with so many crafting and do-it-yourself shows have further brought us outdoors to enjoy these new-found spaces we have around our homes in a comfortable and relaxing way.
In the past, patios were usually formed in the shape of a square, rectangle, or jelly bean, if it was ‘fancy’. They would be made from cement or later, aggregate. The main question about them was ‘What side will the table and chairs go on, and what side will be for the grill?’
People have become interested in creating havens in their yards, a place to unwind and ‘just get away’ – a place for the kids to play and to enjoy watching them in the yard. We now are able to work from our laptops and use cells, so the outdoors is more available at all hours to work, play and relax. There might be a feature to draw people outside, maybe a waterfall, fire pit, or sports court. Those are beautiful and fun, but we first need a ‘home base’ to enjoy them from, usually someplace closer to the house and its amenities…..a patio (or deck) is the usual answer.
Shades of Green Landscaping has designed hundreds of patios over the past 35+ years in all shapes and sizes. They serve many purposes from the traditional place to sit outside, have dinner, grill, and have neighborhood barbecues, to sitting on a low rock that has been designed as part of the patio and dipping your toes in the adjacent koi pond, or enjoying a built-in fire pit area, or watching a pickle-ball game on the nearby sports court. Some people want more sun, others want more shade, maybe a nice view can be enhanced, and certainly enough room for entertaining, but still creating an area small enough not to feel isolated when it is only a few people using the patio. A place where there is some privacy and quiet for working or having an intimate conversation. Each client has varying wants and needs for their own retreat. Shades of Green Landscaping prides itself on listening to the clients’ requests, concerns, and vision, taking note of the little details they mention ….. and designing just the right patio that will be unique and one of a kind, and incorporate, if possible, something the clients mentioned into the design or installation process to personalize it. A place to be proud to entertain guests and comfortable for everyday use. Lots of happy memories to be made…..
Please look at the examples below and see if you can visualize a custom patio designed just for you and just for your own yard:
Elevated patio a few steps up from the back yard sidewalk to the lower yard gives a better view of that yard and adds more interest to the area. The land was already higher, so placement of the patio at this elevation prevented the need for a lot of grading.
This large patio in a sunny spot of the yard has a decorative block seating area as well as a concentric circle pattern. It is at a turning point to make a turn to the stream below.
Stamped concrete patio with lower fire pit area.
Stamped concrete patio with block wall planter replaces the small 6x8 cement patio originally installed in the builder’s package.
Concentric brick ring patio gives this patio a country charm.
Brick Paver Patio with a glass-roof dining pergola allow more use in the misty PNW – very easy maintenance compared to lots of lawn and plants.
A widening of the flagstone walk creates a ‘mini-patio’ and is a great spot for some comfy chairs to overlook the garden as rest for a little.
This new patio will offer many good times in both day and night; a seating wall for a portable fire pit and another larger lobe for lounging, conversation areas or large/samll grou dining and buffet area.
This paver patio has a seating/retaining wall, fire pit and enough area to make it an intimate area or hold large groups. There is a flagpole and lots of plantings surrounding the patio.
Patio made from tile pavers that match entry walk. A pergola near the property kine adds a shady spot as well as providing some privacy from the nearby neighbors…..as soon as the vines are planted and grown……
Intimate little patio of flagstone pieces set in sand with a pergola above. When the vines grow more, it will be quite secluded feeling.