HGTV Green Home 2011: Front Patio Pictures

A private spot for homeowners and neighbors to gather, the front patio invites conversation in a relaxed, casual atmosphere.

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January 20, 2015

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The home’s front patio, clad in permeable pavers and buffered by conifers, offers a cozy conversation area. An outdoor gas fireplace, faced in thin-set brick, provides both warmth and ambiance.

“It’s always a treat to be involved in the design process from day one,” says landscape architect Brad Fox. “I think it makes a design come together so much better when you can collaborate with a builder and with an architect.”

An intriguing architectural element inspired by the shape of airplane wings, the cantilever shades the patio and makes subtle reference to traditional prairie-style home design.

Ornamental grasses and fragrant herbs, planted in urns that are staggered throughout the landscape, echo the home’s vertical design and add layers of privacy as one nears the front door.

Contemporary-style sofas, upholstered in durable Sunbrella fabric, feature aluminum frames and synthetic wicker bases — both recyclable. Two cube-shaped, industrial-style coffee tables were handcrafted from sustainable wood by carpenter David Brown.

Throw pillows, sourced locally, lend a cozy feel while echoing the design style of brickwork and patio pavers.

Interior designer Linda Woodrum credits David Steinke, Infinity Home Collection’s partner and general manager, with the idea for an outdoor living space that encourages socializing. “It’s an intimate space,” says Linda. “You choose who you want to interact with and invite into your space.”

Casual and durable dinnerware is the perfect choice for the front patio space, where a morning coffee klatch is as apropos as after-work cocktails.

Hard-bound novels, stacked casually on the coffee cube, serve as ideal perches for fresh aloe plants, potted in clear, lava stone-filled urns.

English oak adds color and a screen of privacy in the spring, summer and fall. Within three to five years, trees will grow to full height.

Karl Foerster, a cool-season, feather reed grass, adds texture and interest and partially blocks the view of the road. “It greens up very early and says Colorado right now,” says landscape architect Brad Fox.

The unique linear design of the gas fireplace complements the contemporary design of HGTV Green Home 2011. The unit is encased in the same thin-set black brick that clads the home and the indoor fireplace surround.