What is the point of having a pergola?
We all appreciate our outdoor spaces more and more, but we also understand sun damage better. How does the canny home landscaper deal with this conundrum? By researching pergola ideas, of course! While many of us want to maximize our time in nature, it may seem like you can’t enjoy your outdoor space without risking those harmful rays. A covered pergola helps solve that problem, and can even let you better enjoy the comforts of an indoor living room or dining area on your backyard patio. But you’re going to have to decide what kind of alfresco style your seating area is going to have—and that’s where scrolling through pergola designs comes into play.
Rattan Plan
Using natural materials like rattan for a respite from the Montecito, California, sun, interior designer Suzanne Rheinstein crafted a pergola-anchored getaway with an assist from Bories & Shearron Architecture.
The Good Kind of Board Meeting
With its striking midcentury-modern dandelion chandelier and subdued sconces, this pergola, designed by Jessica Risko Smith, is grounded and formal-looking enough to host an alfresco business meeting, but also perfectly suitable for an impromptu weekend family meal. The dark frame of the pergola is a striking contrast to the light stone floors and low outdoor walls.
White Shade
Answering only to the towering pines above, this grid-like outdoor pergola of light wood is draped with white cloth on loops, which can be extended to provide shade—or privacy—as needed.
Poolside Pergola in the Country
Fieldstone and other natural materials make this cedar pergola—which acts as a pool house in Westport, Connecticut, by the New York City architecture firm SPAN—feel connected to its surroundings.
Columns Calling
This secret garden pergola provides a getaway in this outdoor space, with distinctively ribbed columns supporting a thriving ecosystem of climbing plants that make this an almost fully covered patio space.
Poolside Pergola Off Kenya
You could add umbrellas to the pool area, but why not shade the space with a rustic pergola? The poolside pergola gives a Mediterranean feel to a home on the Kenyan island of Lamu decorated by E. Claudio Modola.
Well-Equipped Wood Pergola in Martha's Vineyard
A pergola can help ensure an outdoor living space or outdoor kitchen has all the comforts of the indoors, from sofas to fireplaces. Under the terrace pergola of a Martha's Vineyard home by Mark Cunningham, a zinc-top reclaimed oak table stands next to a wood-burning oven.
Hope this inspires some fresh ideas. It's warming up so it's a great time to upgrade your outdoors.
Best!
Basya
Pictures & info from Architectural Digest
