Large Patio with a Water Feature Ideas and Designs

@ Lauren Devon www.laurendevon.com
Large contemporary front patio in San Francisco with a water feature, concrete slabs and a pergola.

City: McDougald Residence

Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home

Linda McDougald, principal and lead designer of Linda McDougald Design l Postcard from Paris Home, re-designed and renovated her home, which now showcases an innovative mix of contemporary and antique furnishings set against a dramatic linen, white, and gray palette. The English country home features floors of dark-stained oak, white painted hardwood, and Lagos Azul limestone. Antique lighting marks most every room, each of which is filled with exquisite antiques from France. At the heart of the re-design was an extensive kitchen renovation, now featuring a La Cornue Chateau range, Sub-Zero and Miele appliances, custom cabinetry, and Waterworks tile.

View with Cider Press & Benches

Haver & Skolnick LLC Architects

Teak benches on either side of the garden afford shady spots to enjoy the fountain. Robert Benson Photography
Inspiration for a large rustic courtyard patio in New York with a water feature, natural stone paving and a pergola.

Aviary in Landscape node

3D Green Planet Architects

Aviary for a formal garden. The garden implements landscape node design. This garden has three nodes: Alley of the Planets and Arbor; Koi Pond with floating orbs: and Aviary node for tropical birds........ This garden is featured in the 2012 book: A GARDEN MAKES A HOUSE A HOME, by Elvin McDonald.

Mediterranean Villa and Mexican Colonial Casita in La Jolla

Anna Rodé Designs, Inc.

The old Mexico feel of the front patio is enhanced by this wall fountain mounted on a painted tile wall. The large stone table with heavy wooden base is an import from Mexico, as are nearly all other design items in the home.

San Francisco

Envision Landscape Studio

Photo Credit: Michele Lee Wilson
Inspiration for a large world-inspired back patio in San Francisco with a water feature.

Prosise Project

Timberline Patio Covers

A cedar free-standing, gable style patio cover with beautiful landscaping and stone walkways that lead around the house. This project also has a day bed that is surrounded by landscaping and a water fountain.

Private Courtyard Addition

The Cleary Company

Private courtyard - Master suite deck
Design ideas for a large classic courtyard patio in Columbus with a water feature, concrete paving and no cover.

Residential Traditional - Paradise Valley

Greey Pickett

Large classic back patio in Phoenix with a water feature and no cover.

Robbinsville Backyard Patio & Deck

New Outlooks Construction

There is enough to love about this space to keep you busy all year round! Indulge in differing outdoor activities with this backyard retreat! With this project, you can enjoy the covered patio all year round, as well as have a relaxing time in this spacious hot tub!

Hacienda

Young Construction

Photo of a large courtyard patio in Santa Barbara with a water feature, brick paving and no cover.

Contemporary Classic

Woodhouse and Law

We worked alongside our clients and their contractors to re-design the existing outdoor space. We incorporated the existing swimming pool and some established planting in our scheme but reconfigured the space to provide both intimate and larger entertaining spaces. The design work included a bespoke water feature to add an air of tranquility to the garden and custom furniture. We developed a comprehensive lighting plan to create atmosphere and drama during the evening as well as an electrical plan, including a versatile outdoor sound system. Material cues in the garden were taken from the interior design of the main house including bronze, stone and the pink and purple hues in the planting.

Midtown Mobile Classical Revival Restoration

Pete J. Vallas, A.I.A., Architect

The slightly raised Koi pond directs guests to the front entrance door beneath the overhanging balcony above.
Photo of a large traditional courtyard patio in Miami with a water feature, concrete paving and no cover.

River Oaks

YSL Builders

ªPaul Hester Photographer
This is an example of a large classic courtyard patio in Houston with a water feature and an awning.

Multiple Custom Coastal Homes

Marengo Morton Architects

This is an example of a large world-inspired courtyard patio in San Diego with a water feature, tiled flooring and a roof extension.

Westfield, NJ – Vacation at Home

Parker Landscape Design

Techo-Bloc paver stone patio with masonry cultured stone seating wall & pillars (finished with Bluestone tread tops) . Landscaping compliments the hardscape. #techobloc

Outdoor Living

Interiors by Brown

Designed By Catherine Caporaso Brown's Interior Design Boca Raton, FL
Large contemporary back patio in Miami with a roof extension, a water feature and concrete paving.

Modernizing a Historical Masterpiece

GDC Construction

The elegance of the architecture is mirrored by the owner’s extensive art collection. Vintage light fixtures and reclaimed materials add to the ambience.

Custom Outdoor Fireplace and Fountain Project

CHER HOUSE

Design ideas for a large traditional courtyard patio in San Francisco with a water feature, tiled flooring and no cover.

Bellevue-Charmingly Formal

Sage and Stone LLC

Inspiration for a large classic back patio in Seattle with a water feature, stamped concrete and a roof extension.

Large Patio with a Water Feature Ideas and Designs

Patios are the go-to solution for turning your garden, or part of it, into an outdoor living area. A well-laid patio will integrate your home seamlessly into your garden, providing a solid and level surface for garden furniture and potted plants. Well designed patios are about more than just paving slabs – its positioning and layout are crucial to how much you enjoy this space. Before you start picking out patio ideas for materials and laying your patio, ask yourself important questions such as what will you use it for? How many people should it accommodate? Which part of your garden has the best aspect and sunlight? Will the patio have enough privacy?

How should I position my patio?

If you are designing your patio as a space for entertaining then make sure it’s wide enough for the garden furniture you want so you haven’t got guests tipping over into the flowerbeds. Don’t be wedded to the idea of having your patio attached to the house; think about positioning yours elsewhere in the garden if that space doesn’t offer the best aspect or lighting position. Consider the position of the sun through the course of the day and depending on whether you are most likely to want to dine outside at breakfast, have lunch on your patio or host dinner outside, you may want to position your patio differently. You can connect patios to your house with a footpath or stepping stones to allow easy transportation of food and drink.

How should I design and lay my patio?

Rectangles are the classic shape for patios, not least because they make the most efficient use of space and can be softened with garden edging. However, a rounded patio or a paving circle can perfectly complement a garden which isn’t linear in design. Paving slabs come in an extensive range of materials and are the most practical surface for patios. Yorkstone has the most traditional appeal, whereas concrete blocks, granite and slate patio slabs have a great texture and colour for modern gardens. Natural stones such as limestone, travertine and Indian sandstone vary in colour and finish and are a great way to add shade and texture to your patio. For some patio ideas that offer an alternative to block paving, loose material such as crushed stone and wood chippings have a rustic and more casual feel; if there are specific materials that re-occur elsewhere in the garden, you could repeat this in your choice of patio materials for consistency. Finally, it’s not a British summer without the great British barbeque, so look at patio ideas that incorporate barbeques and think about how you could accommodate one on your patio.

What garden furniture does my patio need?

Rattan garden furniture is a patio favourite, offering a durable, attractive finish that blends well into natural surroundings. Metal garden furniture and wooden garden furniture are sturdy alternatives available in many styles. Weight is a good feature in garden furniture to stop it from being blown away, but if you want to be able to move your furniture around the patio and garden to follow the sun you won’t want to go too heavy. Browse the various patio ideas that include garden furniture to see what styles of furniture go with different types of patios. If you find a particular patio set you like, you may be able to ask the designer where the furniture is from so you can look at buying the same set for your patio. Good, outdoor patio furniture crafted in high-quality materials should withstand bad weather, but cold, wet British winters followed by strong sun in the summer will be enough to weather even the best furniture, so it’s important to have somewhere, such as a shed, to store it when not in use for long periods of time. If you don’t have the space to store patio furniture, make sure that at least the cushions and umbrellas are stowed away out of the elements, and consider investing in a waterproof cover. One piece of furniture that might be able to stay out for a bit longer is a patio heater; it will warm any brave patio users and most modern designs are built to survive the cold weather. If you prefer something a bit more rustic than a patio heater, look at fire pits instead which will add warmth and an attractive centrepiece to your patio. If privacy or shade is an issue, then covering patio furniture with a parasol or sheltering patios with a gazebo or pergola are both smart patio ideas – these can be covered in climbing flowers or even wound with outdoor fairy lights for romantic evening lighting.

United Kingdom

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.