Wood Pavilions, Garden Retreats, Studios & More

I specialize in designing and building fine wood pavilions, garden retreats and adult hideaways which reflect the style of your home and garden. In addition, I also design garden furniture and accessories when my clients have a special need that cannot be met through high end garden accessory retailers or they desired unique garden art and personal touches. Below is more information about the type, style and pricing for the structures and accessories I design and build.

           Design Guide         Pricing Information         Related Links        Portfolio Photos

Design Guide for Pavilions, Garden Retreats & Studios

Types of Structures

There are several types of outdoor structures you can have built:

• a pavilion is a roofed, outdoor room with open sides.
  
  
• a garden retreat is a structure you can use for meditation, artistic pursuits or getting-away-from-it-all
  
  
• a gazebo is usually a structure used for shelter and viewing the garden.
  

Design Elements

The style of your pavilion or hideaway is created with design and construction components. By changing these key design elements and details, you can create a specific style or a totally unique design:

• post size
• beam size
• joinery techniques
• overhead pattern and complexity
• finishing touches (corbels, decorative beam end cuts, post caps and finials)
• wood texture, color and finish
• metalwork
• lighting

Matching Your Pavilion or Garden Retreat To Your Home & Garden

Your pavilion should harmonize with your garden landscaping, as well as the architectural style of your home:

• a formal structure for a formal garden
• a classic design for a classically laid out garden
• a flowing design for a garden with swept paths and flowing planting borders

The overall dimensions should also fit with the proportions of your garden, home and other outdoor structures. The final color should compliment the colors used in your landscaping. If you want to blend into the landscaping, the natural color of the wood or browns and greens work well. If you want the structure to stand out or highlight nearby plants, strong colors like white or black can be used.

Design Criteria & Location Considerations

• Use ~ The first step is to determine all the ways you plan to use the structure. That will help determine design requirements and the right type of structure to build.
  
  • roof support strength
  • ceiling patterns (open beam, patterned, lattice or trellis)
  • decking patterns (of different wood color, concrete or stone)
  • railing styles
  • built-in activity features (benches, storage, fire pits, and barbecues)
  • utilities (electricity for lights, outlets for stereo and appliances, gas for heaters, and water for cleanup)
    
    
• Size & Shape ~ The minimum size will be determined by the activities and furniture you want under it (or nearby). The design will also be influenced by the need to keep it in proportion to the size and spaciousness of the surrounding structures and garden. The shape can be customized to fit and compliment natural features in your garden, such as wrapping around or enclosing a tree, reflecting the curve of a stream or conforming to a rock formation.
  
  
• Access ~ Stairs, pathways, doors and gates should be designed to provide convenient access to and from the house, garden and other key areas, such as the driveway, pool or tennis court.
  
  
• View ~ Determine the garden and house views you want, and if any views need to screened off for privacy. Framed openings can be created to enhance viewing of special garden features like ponds, herb gardens, or sundials.
  
  
• Sunlight ~ The amount of sunlight and heat exposure can be a factor in orienting the structure and its roof design. Consider where furniture and appliances should be placed to catch the sunlight or shade. Also consider if you want to install temporary overhead shading during the summer months.
  
  
• Water ~ Excessive moisture (from sprinklers and deep shade) can lead to premature aging, musty smells and structural damage from rot. The structure should be designed to shed rain and dew readily and dry out well, especially if it will be covered by vines or plants. Good drainage away from the area is also required.
  
  
• Wind ~ In areas with high winds or gusts, you may want to create an area protected from the wind. Strong or regular winds may require a more substantial design to handle the force or building it in a more protected area.

Wood, Hardware & Design Options

• Materials ~ Your pavilion can be built of Redwood, Mangaris™ (Red Balau) or other woods. More expensive woods can be used for accenting joints, pegs and trim. The substructure framing should be built of pressure treated wood for durability.
  
  
• Finishes ~ Heat and light contribute to weathering, so a UV protection finish is very important. If it will eventually be covered with hard to remove plants, applying a thorough coating is critical. Stains (clear, tinted, or solid) and paint are popular finish choices.
  
  
• Custom Touches ~ Decking patterns can create paths of wood within the flooring and define activity areas. Multiple levels and privacy nooks add drama and functionality. Decorative end beam cuts can echo those used on the house. Post caps and finials can match those used on fences, gates and other structures. Post feet can be boxed with decorative trim. Access panels for utilities can be inset or trimmed with molding. Open beams can be notched and stacked for additional strength and visual interest.
  
  
• Built-ins ~ Consider how built-in features can enhance your usage. Benches (with built in storage) can be added to follow or curve along railings. Cabinets can enclose food preparation and stereo equipment. Fireplaces can add romance and warmth to increase usage during the evenings and winter months.
  
  
• Metalwork ~ Blackened, wrought iron or copper post braces, lanterns and accents can add style, strength and functionality.
  
  
• Lighting ~ The placement and type of lighting can evoke both a style and a mood. Lanterns hung from ceiling beams, side mounted sconces, track or spot lighting or a central chandelier all create an immediate sense of style. Low mood lighting can softly illuminate pathways and steps as well as create a romantic atmosphere.

Prices For Custom Garden Furniture, Builtins & Accessories

There are three price ranges for custom garden furniture: basic pre-made, high end pre-made and custom.

• Basic pre-made furniture is what you see for sale at popular home and garden stores. For an idea of the prices, visit one of them or go online.
  
  
• High end pre-made garden furniture is sold by fine garden furniture makers, such as Smith & Hawken, who charge 150% - 400% above the basic prices. These costs reflect higher quality materials and craftsmanship, more complex or stylish designs, and fine finish details.
  
  
• At the custom level, the price matches or exceeds the cost of high end pre-mades in order to cover the cost of designing and building to meet your specific needs. A unique design can offer additional functionality, meet custom size requirements, incorporate special materials, be an exact replacement, or become part of an existing structure (such as a handrail).

Additional Resources and Related Links

If you need more ideas or inspiration for your pavilion or garden retreat design, check out these resources:

• Hideaways: Cabins, Huts, and Tree House Escapes by Sonya Faure
  This book provides lots of photos for a variety of garden retreats.  LA Public Library book
  
  
• Backyard Idea Book by Lee Anne White / Tauton Home
  Great book with lots of color photos of decks, arbors, fences, outdoor kitchens and garden retreats.  LA Public Library book
  
  
• Barbeques Galore
  Offers a wide variety of BBQ equipment and accessories and has stores in Pasadena, Glendale, Studio City, West Los Angeles, and Costa Mesa.
  
  
• Image Search
  You can search the image archives at Google Images, Yahoo Images, MSN or your favorite search engine to find inspiration from architectural showcase homes, historical buildings and DIY projects.

Garden Furniture, Builtins & Accessories

If you need more ideas or inspiration for your garden furniture and accessories design, check out these resources:

• Deck & Patio Planner and Decks: Your Guide To Designing & Building by Better Homes & Gardens
  These books have many photos as well as pages that highlight custom features such as deck patterns, built-ins, outdoor kitchens, and hot tubs.   LA Public Library book
  
  
• Start to Finish Decks by Martin Miller / Larry Erikson / Ortho Series
  This comprehensive book covers every aspect of decks, from design and planning through construction and accessories. Includes sketches of benches, BBQs and how to add functionality into a deck.     LA Public Library book
  
  
• Image Search
  You can search the image archives at Google Images, Yahoo Images, MSN or your favorite search engine to find inspiration from architectural showcase homes, historical buildings and DIY projects.
  

Use these links to check and see if you can find the garden furniture and accessories you need pre-made -- it can save you both time and money.

• Smith and Hawken
  Fine garden accessories, accents and pre-made outdoor furniture. They have stores in Pasadena, Beverly Hills and Costa Mesa as well as an extensive mail order and online catalog.
  
  
• Fishbecks Patio Center of Pasadena, CA
  This store carries high end pre-made garden furniture, fountains and accessories.
  
  
• Victory Furniture of Los Angeles and Santa Monica, CA
  Offers a nice selection of pre-made teak, wicker, aluminum outdoor furniture as well as accessories (umbrellas, patio heaters and more).
  
  
• Mangaris™ Outdoor Furniture Brochure
  This site sells benches, tables sets and other outdoor accessories.
  

• Coppa Woodworking, Inc. of San Pedro, CA
  A manufacturer of basic and custom (size, material, arched, doggy door access) screen doors built by a local woodworking company. Their site features over 100 traditional, unique and period wood screen doors.
  
  
• Cedar Key Screen Doors.com of Florida
  A great source for basic whimsical screen doors at reasonable prices -- over 30 different designs.
  
  
• ScreenDoors.com of Montana
  Online source for Craftsman, traditional, nature theme and unique hardwood screen doors at reasonable prices -- 25+ designs.
  
  
• Hoffmeyers Mill of Canada
  One man shop making custom high end screen and storm doors in Canada -- affordable prices with the exchange rate and lots of custom details.

Portfolio of Pavilions, Garden Retreats & Accessories

My online portfolio features a few project photos so you can get an idea of the variety of pavilions and garden structures I can build. I specialize in creating client inspired designs -- so if you see an example of exactly what you want (or something close), we can use that as a starting point for your design. Or you can let me create a custom design that matches your home's architectural style.

If you need ideas and inspiration, check out the resources above, clip magazine pictures, look through your vacation photos and keep an eye out for what you like in the neighborhood. The more you know about what you like and don't the easier it is to create and build something you will be delighted with for years to come.

Western Ranch Style Entertaining Pavilion South Pasadena, California 2001 Pressure Treated beams with redwood cladding, redwood roof joists and cross pieces 18 feet by 18 feet by 16 feet Budget: Starting at $16,000 for the wood structure

Craftsman Inspired Garden Retreat & Playhouse San Rafael, California 2001 Redwood with a Pressure treated support platform 14 feet by 10 feet by 10 feet Because the garden space was limited this retreat and playhouse is built into the hillside on a 10 foot high platform. Budget: Starting at $7,500

Custom Garden Accessories & Builtins

Custom Hand Rail Hollywood Hills, California 1999 Steel with Philippine Mahogany overlay 50 feet by 4 feet Flowing wood handrail designed by Flower To The People of Santa Monica.
Custom Hand Rail Detail

Built-in Wooden Bench Pasadena, California 2005 Mangaris™ with custom made Stainless Steel support brackets 30 feet long by 18 inches wide Budget: Starting at $4,500 (which includes the custom stainless support brackets cost of $1,000)

Modern Style Pool Equipment Enclosure Pasadena, California 2005 Mangaris™ 12 feet long by 5 feet high Includes 2 access doors and custom made screens to keep the leaves out of the top. Budget: Starting at $4,000 More information Enlarge photo

Heavy Duty Potting Bench San Rafael, California 1998 Redwood with galvanized metal inserts. 7 feet by 7 feet by 28 inches Budget: Starting at $7,000 (includes custom made galvanized steel countertop and bin liners)

Custom Wooden Screen Doors

Greene & Greene Inspired Screen Door Los Angeles, California 2002 Philippine Mahogany 40 inches by 80 inches Inspired by a screen door at The Gamble House in Pasadena, California, this screen door features the "cloud lift" motif prevalent in Greene & Greene designs. Budget: Starting at $1,500 More information

Custom Arched Screen Door with Carved Flowers Altadena, California 1999 Philippine Mahogany 46 inches by 78 inches Budget: Starting at $2,000 (not including carving) Carved art photo