Summer in Bee Cave, TX, is Better with Shade—and Great Neighbors!
You could say the world is made better by folks like these homeowners in Bee Cave, TX, whose concern was for their neighbors. They wanted to add a pergola for shade over their patio and one end of their pool. When we talked about design considerations, they wanted to be sure the pergola did not block their neighbors’ view of the valley. It seemed to us like a thoughtful and generous gesture. While providing for their own needs, they took care to be respectful of their neighbors’ needs as well.
A new pergola over an existing patio in Bee Cave, TX.
Austin Pergola Builder, At Your Service
Their proximity to Texas Hill Country gives these Bee Cave TX homeowners a magnificent view. They make the most of that view each and every day with a backyard pool nestled between their home and the valley below. There was just one problem: No shade.
Before pergola addition.
Our clients wanted to add a shade pergola over the rounded patio at one end of their pool. The pool has little built-in seats at that end, and the patio there includes an outdoor kitchen. The homeowners wanted to swim up to this seating area at the edge of the pool and perhaps enjoy refreshments from the bar. All they needed there was some shade.
When you’re serious about shade, not just any pergola will do. Some pergolas don’t actually provide very much shade! Archadeck of Austin specializes in the art and science of pergola design. We have our ways of coaxing more shade from a pergola! For example, we can angle a pergola’s slats just enough to catch extra shade. We can position a pergola’s orientation in relation to the sun to gain the most shade as the sun travels overhead each day.
After Archadeck of Austin added the beautiful custom pergola.
When our clients are serious about shade, we recommend a special pergola cover to filter out UV rays and absorb some of the sun’s heat. For this Bee Cave TX pergola design, we added a TopGal polycarbonate cover for maximum protection. TopGal sheets have a four-wall structure that provides thermal insulation, reducing the heat beneath the pergola on a sunny day.
Bee Cave TX Homeowners Value Their View!
Our clients were concerned that adding a vertical structure to this landscape might obscure the view from their home. They did not want to install something that would intrude on their view—or that of their neighbors. We had to design the pergola to clear enough head room and still provide unobstructed views. They tasked us with two objectives: designing a pergola to provide sufficient shade, and designing the structure in a way that was respectful to their neighbors. Archadeck of Austin installed a custom freestanding cedar pergola that accomplishes both objectives, and more!
View of the new pergola from the neighbor’s backyard.
We should add that one of our pergola design considerations, always, is to create a thing of beauty. Shade was important to the clients here. An unobstructed view was important to the clients and their neighbors. Creating a beautiful pergola was important to the clients and to us!
Privacy wall with space for mounting a TV!
This pergola features a beautiful all-cedar design and includes a privacy wall at the back. You’ll notice that the back wall lends privacy, but the pergola is still open. The center section of the wall provides the perfect place to mount the clients’ TV. In the photo, you can see the mounting bracket ready there for TV installation.
These Bee Cave homeowners love their new shaded oasis!
The homeowners are thrilled with their new pergola. They can swim over to the bar and enjoy plenty of shade. Summer has taken on new possibilities here.
Would you enjoy an outdoor living area with the promise of shade? We can custom design and build a patio, outdoor kitchen or deck including a shady pergola to make your summer more comfortable. Call Archadeck of Austin today at 512-259-8282 or email us to schedule your free design consultation.
Jim Schallon, senior designer Archadeck of Austin.
This covered patio in Austin is full of angles and it looks great from each one.
This covered patio in Austin looks great from every angle.
When you think of a covered patio design often times your mind will automatically picture a square structure under a hip roof. The fact of the matter is that our covered patio designs don’t fall into a generic, cookie cutter style. Many times your ideal design and roof type can be something quite different and unique. When we design an outdoor structure area that is connected to, or in close proximity to you existing home we consider all the factors that keep the design original to your home’s materials and structural details.
The octagonal roofline of the patio cover adds as much beauty to the inside of the structure as it does the outside.
We recently completed a project in Austin that takes the covered patio to a whole new level. This covered patio includes an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor fireplace and abundant space all under an octagonal roof design. This type of roof is often used when building gazebos and when used as a covered patio roof delivers dramatic beauty evident from the backyard as you look up to the structure and on the interior on the structure as you look at the interior ceiling of the patio. We also used a king-truss which spans the width of the patio and serves as much for aesthetic appeal as for support. The result is stunning.
The material choices for this covered patio in Austin, TX make this space a true gem of dazzling design.
Not only does this covered patio feature a unique roofline, it is also packed with every luxurious amenity that you can get in a covered patio design. We detailed the extensive use of high-quality materials in our last post by Archadeck of Austin, the materials combined with the space this area offers the homeowners takes an otherwise vacant space and creates the feel of an outdoor family room. The brick and white limestone fireplace expanses plenty of room for comfortable outdoor furnishings to surround it so this family can curl up by the fire any day of the week. Above the fireplaces’ mantel we pre-wired the conduit through the fireplace so no wiring is visible to the naked eye for the homeowners to mount their flat-screen TV. The large gourmet outdoor kitchen gives them the freedom to leave their indoor kitchen any time they like and prepare and dine together outside on their new covered patio. We included plenty of lighting and ceiling fans in the design to make sure no creature comfort was left behind. The space also offers endless entertaining possibilities because of the amenities and spacious square footage contained under roof.
This image shows all the elements working together; the stucco skirting, brick, limestone and even the custom iron rail.
From the backyard the covered patio is a design masterpiece, from the custom iron staircase that spills gracefully into the beautifully landscaped backyard to the stucco finished skirting used around the base of the covered patio to give it a finished look that ties it into the existing home perfectly. The image that comes to mind when I see the completed project is a photographer searching for the “best angle” to photograph a shot of his subject. This covered patio is full of angles and it looks beautiful from every one of them. This space delivers everything you would want in a covered patio design; harmony, functionality, cohesive tie-in to the existing home and it also increases the value of the existing home with the added outdoor living space.
Jim Odom Archadeck of Austin
Contact Archadeck of Austin to design your perfect covered patio, or outdoor structure, we can create a work of art for your backyard too. Call for a free consultation : ( 512) 259 – 8282
Austin@archadeck.net
To see more stunning covered patio designs you can visit our covered patio photo gallery located on our website. You can also visit our outdoor fireplace and fire pit gallery as well as our outdoor kitchen photo gallery for endless inspiration for your outdoor endeavor.
The materials make the difference in this covered patio addition in Austin, TX
The material choices for this covered patio in Austin, TX make this space a true gem of dazzling design.
At first glance, when you look at this recently completed addition in Austin, TX you will assume it to be a typical covered patio under a roof that mimics the look of a large gazebo, but indeed it is so much more than that. At closer inspection you will see the covered patio has all the amenities that make an outdoor structure great. The space contains an outdoor kitchen, abundant dining and seating space and an outdoor fireplace. The materials used in this construction are some of the finest used in outdoor structure designs.
A limestone decorative arched key and custom mantel grace the facade of the patio’s outdoor fireplace.
On the outdoor fireplace we used a combination of brick that was chosen to match the brick used on the existing home and stunning white limestone. We used the limestone on the hearth and firebox that surround the fireplace and also added a decorative key made of limestone into the area right above the hearth. We also carried the use of limestone into the outdoor kitchen area where we used it to finish out the area on the side of the bar. Limestone is a solid choice for use in outdoor structures such as these, not only for its beauty but also for its density. Limestone is a dense sedimentary rock that is very hard. On this project we used white limestone, but limestone is available in a wide range of colors such as vanilla, beige, tan and darker hues like taupe and dark wood tones. Using limestone can also help bridge the gap between two separate design styles. Limestone is a transitional material and adding it in small touches or in a wide spectrum can help you mix two styles such as traditional and modern more easily.
We combined Limestone and granite counter tops to the outdoor kitchen to make the area unforgettable.
Along with using limestone around the side of the bar/serving area in the patio cover’s outdoor kitchen area, we also brought in granite for the counter-tops in a complimentary neutral color. Granite is another natural stone. Granite is quarried from natural granite beds in large deposits beneath the earth’s surface. It comes in a wide arrange of hues from pink to black and is perfect for use in kitchens because of its resistant to man-made mishaps that are common in a kitchen setting. Granite is alkali and acid resistant, boiling water, oils, and wines will not affect the granite and granite is easy to clean. The material also offers resiliency to cuts and scratches as well.
The floor of the patio cover is finished in beautiful 12 x 12 ceramic tiles which carry the theme of natural stone influence used in the entire design of the space. Tile is easy to clean and will withstand the test of time better than wood, and it also stays cooler in the warm Texas weather and helps keep the space cooler by a few degrees. The use of stone, combined with the ceiling fans we installed in the covered patio will equal more enjoyment on the patio on those sultry days.
As you descend off of the covered patio into the beautifully landscaped backyard you will also notice the clever use of high-quality composite decking on the steps. This will make for easy upkeep and low-maintenance in keeping this stairway looking like new for many years to come. We paired the rich hues used in the steps alongside a custom iron railing for added elegance.
The entire completed project exudes an elegance that ties in all the uses of various materials into an eclectic style. The Austin homeowners are ecstatic about all the outdoor living opportunities their space has opened up for them. They view the covered patio as an extension of living space, and look forward to enjoying all it has to offer in the years to come.
The mixed medias of limestone, ceramic, granite and brick make for an eclectic mix of texture and neutral harmony.
If you are envisioning a covered patio in your near future, contact Archadeck of Austin. We can plan, design and build an outdoor space for you that will not only improve your outdoor experience but, we can create an area for you that make a design statement as well. Call for a free consultation : ( 512) 259 – 8282 email:Austin@archadeck.net
Jim Odom Archadeck of Austin
You can view more inspiring views of past covered patio projects by visiting our covered patio photo gallery located on our website.
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