Outdoor Spas and Patios

Triple Threat

The triple waterfall in this design by Paul Wrona provides a soothing and relaxing environment. The square shape of the hot tub is an interesting twist on traditional round designs.

All Stacked Up

This stacked design by Scott Cohen incorporates all of the necessary elements for a great outdoor area: fire pit, hot tub and swimming pool. A raised stone wall provides privacy for a hot tub built for two.

Natural Reflections 

Natural elements like boulders and tall grasses provide an organic feeling, as well as privacy to a backyard hot tub. Flame-lit torches are a more romantic form of lighting than electric lights.

Stairway to Heaven

An intimate spa awaits you at the top of the stairs in this backyard paradise from Scott Cohen. Once you're done in the hot tub, cool off in the lounge chairs located in the pool's baja feature.

Roman Retreat

This elegant hot tub has an Old World feel. Picture yourself in a Roman bath as you drift away into bliss. Hanging wisteria adds a romantic touch to the pergola.

Behind (Almost) Closed Doors

If you're lucky enough to have an indoor pool, why not add an indoor hot tub? This room from the Four Seasons is designed to bring the outdoors in.

The patio is being used today during summer and winter......adding fire and water with a little ambiance of back ground music and a glass of merlot, what better way to have that vacation feeling all year round on your own patio.

Extended Rooms

Sheer draperies, a jute area rug, and plush seating lend this outdoor space the elements of an interior room. The interior decorator selected a lively green fabric to complement the woven-wicker furniture. The hand-tumbled, all-masonry brick fireplace....I love this room!!!



A covered porch off the master bedroom provides a comfortable vantage point for watching boats come and go in the harbor. The interior decorator treated the private space as an open-air sitting room, complete with area rug, table lamps, and cozy seating.



On the first-floor porch, synthetic-wicker seating covered in patterned cushions extends the interior's living and dining spaces. OK, I could do this .......



Oatmeal-colored spa-weave outdoor fabric and a bevy of ourdoor throw pillows cover wicker chairs and chaise longues.



This backyard veranda serves as a fireside retreat. With views of lush landscaping and ancient live oaks, the covered terrace evokes the laid-back ambience of the Mississippi River Delta.

More Patios and Extended Rooms

Refined and Rustic

The screened porch of this Highlands, North Carolina, house designed by Nancy Braithwaite features a neutral color palette enlivened by layers of texture. Braithwaite designed the five-foot-wide chandelier specifically for the space.

One of my favorite places to visit is the Highlands, you travel up the beautiful mountain with breathtaking views and natural waterfalls along the way. You will experience  quaint shopping, restaurants, and simply peaceful scenery in all directions.

A Proper Porch

Designer Michael Whaley gave this porch in Point Clear, Alabama, a stately Southern air. The recent renovation falls squarely in step with the historical flavor of the 1880s home.

High-Style Hacienda

Designer Ann Dupuy incorporated pigskin-covered equipal chairs and folk art to keep this San Miguel de Allende space firmly rooted in Mexican tradition.

Golden Glow

Warm-toned checked and chintz fabrics soften the look of this porch, part of a North Carolina mountain house designed by Amelia Handegan. The Stephanus Heidacker painting over the mantel lends an unexpected touch.

Breezy in Blue

Designer Phillip Sides and architect John Kirk created this beach access porch for our 2006 WindMark Beach Showhouse in Port St. Joe, Florida. With elegant accessories and outdoor fabrics in a classic blue-and-white combination, it feels as much like a casual living area as a porch.

Extended Rooms

Looking Up

A watery-hued ceiling adds a subtly striking top note to the side porch from our 2004 showhouse at WaterSound Beach on Florida's Gulf Coast. Brightly colored pillows and coordinating trim on the chair cushions add punch. Designer Suzanne Kasler and architect John Kirk collaborated on the project.

Room With a View

Architect Mark Finlay designed this Kiawah Island, South Carolina, porch with a spectacular 180-degree view of the nearby marsh; designer Amelia Handegan infused it with rustic elegance. Dramatic black trim and furnishings, along with muted fabrics, help dress up the space.

Fresh-Air Functionality

Overlooking the St. Lucie River in Stuart, Florida, this Jackye Lanham-designed porch blends together living and dining areas for versatility.

Pretty Pergola

Climbing roses shade this inviting pergola, part of an 18th-century estate in Alexandria, Virginia. Although the home sits in the midst of Old Town neighborhood bustle, the pergola offers a welcome sense of seclusion and retreat.

Lovely Loggia

A handsomely furnished loggia, part of an Atlanta home designed by architect Norman Askins, overlooks a sunken garden created by landscape architect John Howard.

Sleeping Beauty

A Chippendale railing encloses this simply sophisticated Florida sleeping porch crafted by architects Anne Fairfax and Richard Sammons.

Makes me ready for spring!!!!!

Patio Designs with Function

  Pretty Perch
 
A steep and unusable backyard was transformed with this design. The cantilevered deck is a viewing platform for the homeowners' prized bamboo collection, and terraced paths provide access.

Outdoor Theater

This terrace went from no-place-to-sit to the ultimate in a resort-like lounge and dining space. When evening comes, the area turns into an extra-comfy place to watch movies. A 3-D water feature and a fire pit table complete the ambiance.

French-Provincial Kitchen
 
This is the dream outdoor space for a mom of four who wanted a French-Provincial design to tie in with her house. The large dining area can accommodate big gatherings, and there are places to lounge in shade or sun.