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Contemporary Terrace Ideas and Designs

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LONDON - Parsons Green
LONDON - Parsons Green
CityscapersCityscapers
Nigel Gomme
Design ideas for a small contemporary terrace in London.
Brooklyn Garden Design Backyard - Cedar Pergola, Fence, Artificial Turf, Grasses
Brooklyn Garden Design Backyard - Cedar Pergola, Fence, Artificial Turf, Grasses
Amber Freda Garden DesignAmber Freda Garden Design
This Boerum Hill, Brooklyn backyard features an ipe deck, knotty cedar fencing, artificial turf, a cedar pergola with corrugated metal roof, stepping stones, and loose Mexican beach stones. The contemporary outdoor furniture is from Restoration Hardware. Plantings are a lush mix of grasses, cherry trees, bamboo, roses, trumpet vines, variegated irises, hydrangeas, and sky pencil hollies.
Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Terrace - Custom Planter Boxes, Bamboo Fence, West Elm Sec
Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Terrace - Custom Planter Boxes, Bamboo Fence, West Elm Sec
Amber Freda Garden DesignAmber Freda Garden Design
This Cobble Hill, Brooklyn terrace features custom ipe planter boxes filled with bamboo and backed by a privacy screen of bamboo roll fencing. The furniture is the wood slat sectional from West Elm. All of the planters contain drip irrigation and automated low-voltage lighting. Read more about our projects on my blog, www.amberfreda.com.
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Williamstown house
Williamstown house
rosstang architectsrosstang architects
Medium sized contemporary back terrace in Melbourne with a pergola.
Irving Street
Irving Street
Patrick Brian Jones PLLCPatrick Brian Jones PLLC
Bob Narod, Photographer, LLC
Contemporary roof terrace in DC Metro with no cover.
Hot Tub Lounge Area
Hot Tub Lounge Area
Best Hot Tubs "Hot Tub and Spa Experts"Best Hot Tubs "Hot Tub and Spa Experts"
Beyond the wonderful dock/water access they already had on a charming Long Island canal, and the pool they were restoring, these homeowners wanted a new hot tub/spa to complete their restored backyard oasis. www.longislandhottub.com
Patio Ideas
Patio Ideas
Van Dyke's RestorersVan Dyke's Restorers
Contemporary side terrace in St Louis with a roof extension.
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My Houzz: A Basketball Court, a Rooftop Kitchen and More in Manhattan
My Houzz: A Basketball Court, a Rooftop Kitchen and More in Manhattan
Adrienne DeRosaAdrienne DeRosa
Moving through the kitchenette to the back seating area of the rooftop, a classic lodge-style hot tub is a pleasant surprise. Enclosed around the back three sides, the patio gains some privacy thanks to faux hedge fencing. Photo: Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2014 Houzz Design: Cortney and Robert Novogratz
Stratford Road
Stratford Road
Randle SiddeleyRandle Siddeley
Design ideas for a contemporary roof rooftop terrace in London with no cover and a potted garden.
Tarrytown Phase II
Tarrytown Phase II
Webber + Studio, ArchitectsWebber + Studio, Architects
Paul Bardagjy Photography
Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary back terrace in Austin with no cover.
Upper West Side Terrace
Upper West Side Terrace
Gunn Landscape ArchitectureGunn Landscape Architecture
Photo: William Waldron
Photo of a contemporary roof terrace in New York.
Geometric Wood Deck with Stone Retaining Walls
Geometric Wood Deck with Stone Retaining Walls
Land Art Design, Inc.Land Art Design, Inc.
Designed and built by Land Art Design, Inc.
Large contemporary back terrace in DC Metro with no cover.
Deck, Rails, Patio Cover, Spa Privacy Enclosure
Deck, Rails, Patio Cover, Spa Privacy Enclosure
Decks & Patio CoversDecks & Patio Covers
The outdoor living area on this traditional split level has it all when it come to low maintenance and a space you can really enjoy. TimberTech Earthwood Teak decking, a custom bronze colored patio cover with solar bronze panels overhead, CRL aluminum picket rails, and custom wood framed spa enclosure with frosted glass panels around. Photo By Doug Woodside, Decks and Patio Covers
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Chicago Roof Decks & Garden - Project Examples
Chicago Roof Decks & Garden - Project Examples
Chicago Roof Deck & GardenChicago Roof Deck & Garden
Inspiration for a small contemporary roof terrace in Chicago with no cover.
Noe Valley Custom Carpentry
Noe Valley Custom Carpentry
The Urban BuilderThe Urban Builder
Photo of a medium sized contemporary side terrace in San Francisco with a roof extension.
The Triangle Deck
The Triangle Deck
Paul Lafrance DesignPaul Lafrance Design
Designed by Paul Lafrance and built on HGTV's "Decked Out" episode, "The Triangle Deck".
Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary back terrace in Toronto with a living wall and no cover.
live eat relax and play in the back yard
live eat relax and play in the back yard
austin outdoor designaustin outdoor design
casual dining under a tigerwood ceiling on an ipe deck adjacent to a light limestone patio with an outdoor kitchen for a chef designed & built by austin outdoor design photo by ryann ford

Contemporary Terrace Ideas and Designs

There’s nothing quite like an outdoor space with a view and if you’re elevated up high then there’s more chance of getting that view. Even if you’re not blessed with a natural view from your home, an elevated space outdoors will at least give you the chance to survey the land in front of you; whether that’s a few square metres or whole acres! A terrace is one way of achieving this as it gives you the flat surface of a patio but elevated; either on a flat roof, as decking in your garden, or extending out from your house at ground level or higher. Whether a contemporary terrace is your only outside space and you want it to function as a garden or you’ll be using it as a dining or seating area, there are all sorts of contemporary design ideas, furniture, plants and accessory options to think about.

How do I decorate or design a contemporary roof garden?

UK homeowners are resourceful when it comes to outside space and will make the most of anything they can get their hands on, so it’s no wonder that in urban areas and cities we look to the roof for a place to get some rays. A contemporary roof terrace can work in just the same way as a decking area, but you just may need a few extra elements to make it more comfortable – a way of shading an area from the sun, perhaps a parasol or sun shade, a touch of green to break up the stark nature of a roof, and a drainage system that will stop rain water collecting in colder months. If you want to create a whole garden on your roof you’ll be a little more restricted than when on ground level. Plants may have to remain potted, but you can find companies that design and install green roofs – systems that allow plants to be planted into the roof surface. However, green roofs can be costly and tricky to install, so stick to pots and raised flower beds if you want to stay on the safe side. Loungers, deck chairs and rattan chairs are great pieces of roof garden furniture as they’re portable and can be moved around your rooftop garden easily; perfect for sun chasers. However, if you want to create a larger sense of space for your roof terrace design, think about built-in benches or seating around the sides or a corner of your roof garden.

What to consider when designing garden decking

A decked garden area may look simple once finished, but there are so many factors to consider when it comes to putting together decking ideas. You’ll need to think about the materials you want to use, the balustrades or railings you might choose, whether you will have a raised deck and decking steps, and whether you want decking lights.

Which decking material is best?

Composite decking is a popular choice for outdoor deck material because it offers a combination of practicality and style. The boards are made of wood and plastic fibres so that the classic wooden look is kept but the plastic fibres mean they will be much more durable and easier to maintain than traditional hardwood. If you can’t resist the natural look and feel of hardwood decking boards, then yellow balau, iroko and ipe decking are suitable outdoor boards that will give you the classic feel of a traditional wooden deck. Remember, with hardwood decking you will regularly need to treat the wood to keep it clean, waterproofed and to maintain the colour. As wood is usually more of an investment than composite or plastic decking, it’s a good idea to speak to decking specialists or timber merchants because they will be able to advise you on the best wood for your design and how best to treat it. You may find that different decking materials are better to suited to different types of terraces; whether that’s on a roof, in the garden or on a balcony. Whether you are designing a terrace, balcony or decked garden area from scratch, or just looking to decorate what you already have, take a look through the photos on Houzz to find terrace and balcony ideas and inspiration.
Chesley Knoll - Deck and Patio
Chesley Knoll - Deck and Patio
Jack CalderoneJack Calderone
The angled stairs add interest to an otherwise simple deck design. The two planters at the base of the stairs add a bit of our rustic style to the yard. I made them from rough cedar planks we found at the local Habitat for Humanity Restore. The material for both planters cost less than $15.
Redesdale Project
Redesdale Project
Vidal Design CollaborativeVidal Design Collaborative
Photos by Marcia Prentice
Contemporary back terrace in Los Angeles.
PRIMA
PRIMA
Couture-HomesCouture-Homes
PRIMA by Couture Homes. The Classic Italian Courtyard Villa: Reimagined, Redefined, Revitalized. Enter and discover a home where art & architecture are seamlessly fused. And the courtyard is the heart and soul of the home offering an oasis for dining, entertaining & relaxation.And the courtyard is the heart and soul of the home offering an oasis for dining, entertaining & relaxation.
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