Why be sunburnt and style-starved? As these five pulled-from-the-archives spaces prove, striking overhead structures and ceilings can transform patios, porches and decks into shaded outdoor sanctuaries with all the comfort and character of indoor rooms.
In Holladay, a guesthouse’s long, shaded porch overlooks a tranquil pond filled with water lilies and goldfish reminiscent of a Monet painting. Classic Adirondack chairs add to the scene’s timeless style. Landscape design by Willie Eschenfelder.
In Salt Lake City’s Federal Heights neighborhood, dappled sunlight filters through a patio’s wisteria-covered trellises and an open-framed roof. The shaded outdoor sanctuary seems transported from Provence, with lux furnishings and potted topiaries adding to its beauty. The patio’s stone floor is level with that of the adjoining kitchen and family room, making this outdoor oasis a natural extension of the home’s indoor spaces. Interior design by Michele Dunker.
In Park City, a sloped, beamed ceiling covers a patio located just outside the home’s interior bar and lounge area, making the outdoor space ideal for intimate get-togethers and casual dining. The hefty overhead structure, supported by stone walls and beefy columns, lends a decidedly rustic European feel to the outdoor space. Interior design by Doran Taylor and architecture by Brighton Architectural Group.
In SLC’s Avenues neighborhood, widely spaced beams partially shade a modern home’s courtyard enclosed by brick walls and expansive windows connecting to the home‘s kitchen. Classic butterfly chairs gather around a sunken circular fire pit, adding to the space’s hip, modern vibe.
A triangular steel pergola is equipped with retractable canopies to shade a similarly shaped Batu hardwood deck below. Sleek outdoor furnishings perfectly complement the St. George dwelling’s dramatic architecture, which was conceived by architects Rob McQuay and Todd Benson and built by Markay Johnson Construction.
Hostas are perfect for shaded outdoor sanctuaries, learn how to care for them here!