Deck: Make large couches on the cheap. There’s a lot to like about this tutorial by Rain Noe over at Core77 about how to build upholstered benches called “banquettes,” not the least of which is Rain’s amusing and engaging prose style.
His attention-grabbing opening line is one for the books. More:DIY Couch. Rooms With a View. An outdoor room can be located almost anywhere in your yard, but there are a few guidelines for creating one.
They typically require some sort of floor, such as crushed stone, brick pavers, or even a patch of steppable ground cover. You'll also need walls: A simple hedgerow, picket fence, or adjoining trellises can create a boundary. What was done here: The remains of the 5-foot stone foundation Bruce found on his property are tall enough to provide a sense of enclosure but not so high that you can't peek over them and take in the view. Working with Tim Cleary, he laid a bed of pea gravel to form a stone floor, then outfitted the space with a table and chairs and a bar cart for an outdoor dining and entertaining room. More take-home tips: You could build your own sitting wall of mortared stacked stone. How to Build a Pergola - DIY Building a Pergola. Here's a structure that won't provide shelter from wind or rain, and is only marginally better when it comes to the midday sun.
So, why build it? Because in the absence of walls and a roof, it defines an outdoor space without constraining it. It's a unique architectural blend that places you both inside and out at the same time. The structure is called a pergola, and it's just the thing to bring backyard landscaping to life. Alternative planter. Small Yard Big Impact. Small Yard Big Impact.