Designers' Portfolio

Designer's Notes

This former carport was transformed into a colorful outdoor living room without making a trip to the landfill. First, we sliced the existing concrete slab into a pattern of pavers to define the space. Then we stacked up the strips to form a corner bench and raised koi pond. Where the concrete strips were removed, we created planting beds. Finally, for nighttime entertaining, we installed a fire bowl and low-voltage lighting. Photo by Andrew Takeuchi.

Design tip: Existing concrete slabs can be cut with a concrete saw to create the illusion of tiles or pavers, changing the scale of the space and making it feel more intimate.