Tag Archives: patio

Patio is a Spanish word that means inner courtyard. Anyone who travels in the Caribbean, Spain or South America has already encountered these outdoor spaces, often covered, which run the length of house or direct people to the centre of the property.

In Quebec, patio means most outdoor structures: large gallery, big balcony, deck. In general, a patio is on the ground while a deck is raised above the ground.

To get a taste of the great outdoors, the patio is a great choice if you have a small budget or if the space is too narrow. Sometimes it’s just a simple set of steps or a staircase leading to the yard. You can place plants, flowers and decorative pots there.

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The great thing about patios is that you can set them up any way you want, thus the importance of determining its use before you start the work. Do you extend it to the bedroom so you can have your morning coffee or a candlelit breakfast? Do you extend it to the living room for the pleasure of a cocktail in the fresh air? Do you extend it to the kitchen to benefit from outdoor meals or to organize receptions?  [……]

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Pergola, tunnel, deck, gazebo, patio, all these structures are practical, but they also have a decorative aspect, especially when the deck turns into a living area, outdoor kitchen or reception area. Now we talk more about design, with everything this word implies in terms of audaciousness and imagination.

Today, you have to design your outdoor decoration with the same care as you do indoors, because the deck and patio are nothing more and nothing less than an extension of the living area.

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At first, there are the big classics: flower beds, plant pots, small and large vases, grass, bushes, but outdoor decoration goes far beyond the landscaping.

If the deck is medium or large sized, you have something to play with. You can divide the space with benches, vases, decorative lattices, flower beds, screens, geometrical shapes on the ground or projectors at ground level, at night.[……]

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Nature has the frustrating habit of always wanting to spread on our land. It is invasive. Until recently, we fought it with lawnmowers, cutters and pesticides. But times have changed. More and more owners are letting nature spread. We are in the era of eco-friendly housing.

All owners can contribute to the fight for survival of the planet, not only by carefully choosing the materials for their home, but by taking their fight outdoors: greenery, garden, back yard, driveway and relaxation and reception area.

If you build a deck, a patio or other outdoor structure, whenever possible choose a material that doesn’t need any toxic agents for finishing or preservation purposes: solvent, stain, sealing product, etc. If not, make sure there’s very little.

Wood, stone, brick and even concrete are materials that co-exist very well with eco-friendly housing. Composite wood made of recycled plastic and wood fibres are not bad either. Because they are smaller structures, you have the ideal opportunity to opt for recycled materials.[……]

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