Shape, shade, and architecture
Compare attached, freestanding, open-lattice, roofed, traditional, and modern timber structures, including practical privacy, lighting, and landscape upgrades.
Designed around the site
An attached pergola can extend the home directly, but building structure, siding, windows, roofline, flashing, and drainage must be coordinated. A freestanding structure can sit where the yard, view, pool, or garden works best, yet it still needs foundations, setbacks, utility clearance, and enough room to maintain the house and landscaping.
Talk through your projectVisual style finder
Browse real project directions by placement, roof and shade, or architectural feature. These are starting combinations, not a fixed catalog.
The site, dimensions, structure, exposure, and current material availability still control what belongs in the final scope.
PlacementSelected direction
Extends the architecture and activity of the home directly into the yard.
PlacementSelected direction
Creates a destination where the yard, view, pool, fire pit, or garden works best.
Roof & shadeSelected direction
Preserves sky and airflow while creating changing shade and strong timber rhythm.
Roof & shadeSelected direction
Provides consistent shade and weather protection for a more complete outdoor room.
Roof & shadeSelected direction
Adds height, strong roof geometry, and the presence of a substantial outdoor structure.
Details & featuresSelected direction
Uses restrained profiles, darker finishes, and simpler transitions for a quieter modern look.
Details & featuresSelected direction
Protects an important sightline while keeping the outdoor space open and intentional.
Details & featuresSelected direction
Turns the structure into a comfortable evening space when routes and support are planned early.
Details & featuresSelected direction
Uses planting, water, paving, and circulation to make the structure belong to the landscape.
Open rafters preserve sky and airflow while creating moving shade. Closer spacing can increase filtered shade, but orientation and sun angle still control performance. A solid roof creates more consistent shade and precipitation protection while adding roofing, drainage, snow, ventilation, and connection requirements.
Roof shape, beam profile, brace size, rafter rhythm, hardware, trim, and finish do more to define style than a label. Traditional details can be simplified; modern structures can still use substantial timber. The goal is a structure that relates to the home instead of imitating a trend photo.
Slatted screens, partial walls, planting, curtains, and changes in orientation can improve privacy. Screens should protect the important sightline without making the patio feel boxed in or adding unreviewed wind loads. Keep access, drainage, fire and appliance clearances, finish maintenance, and neighboring views in the plan.
Plan wiring routes, boxes, switches, fixture support, fan clearances, heater clearances, weather ratings, controls, and service access before the frame and roof are closed. Electrical and gas work belongs with the appropriate licensed trades. Do not hang a fan, heater, or heavy fixture from a convenient board without checking support.
A fountain, pond, planter, vine, or irrigation zone can make a pergola feel rooted in the landscape, but repeated splash, trapped leaves, roots, soil contact, mineral deposits, mosquitoes, winterization, and electrical safety need attention. Keep water moving away from post bases and preserve access for cleaning and finish maintenance.
A clear path forward
We review dimensions, exposure, access, use, constraints, and the look you want.
Structure, materials, finish, responsibilities, approvals, and pricing are clarified.
The approved project moves through preparation, installation, cleanup, and review.
Questions before you build
These are starting points. Site conditions and project documents control the final answer.
Yes. Cleaner beam profiles, restrained braces, simple hardware, consistent spacing, and a controlled finish can create a more modern timber expression.
A solid-roof pavilion or roofed pergola provides more protection than an open-lattice structure. The roof assembly, drainage, snow, and connections must be designed for that use.
Sometimes, but it can change wind loads, drainage, access, and the visual balance of the structure. It is better to coordinate privacy with the original frame when possible.
Yes, when fixture support, weather rating, wiring routes, controls, clearances, and electrical work are planned correctly.
Start with the site, the shade, and the way you want to use it.
