WHETHER ATTACHED to the house or freestanding, covered in vines or clean and modern, a pergola is an architectural feature that provides a welcome sense of enclosure outdoors, carving out an inviting retreat that allows in fresh air, gentle breezes, and dappled sunlight. "A pergola creates a sense of place and sets the stage for relaxing and entertaining,” says TOH landscape contractor Jenn Nawada.
In its most basic form, a pergola consists of posts topped by beams and rafters, with room-sized proportions and a ceiling height of 8 to 12 feet. Set on a deck or patio and connected to the house, it can define a convenient area for alfresco dining or shield an outdoor kitchen from the elements. Anchored in the yard, it can frame a fire-pit seating area, shelter poolside lounge chairs, create a garden destination, or serve as a passageway from one garden room to another.
Whether it's a DIY project or a custom installation, there's a wide variety of materials, styles, and extras to choose from. Here's how to plan a pergola project.
MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS
A pergola will integrate seamlessly into your home if it echoes the architecture of your house. Just pick the look and level of maintenance that's right for you
WOOD
Denne historien er fra Summer 2022-utgaven av This Old House Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Summer 2022-utgaven av This Old House Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Mobile kitchen island
TOH DIY expert Jenn Largesse shows how to build a rolling kitchen cart with a butcher-block top
Bathtub tray
TOH general contractor Tom Silva and TOH host Kevin O'Connor construct a slatted zebrawood caddy to hold grooming essentials, a book, and even a glass of wine, for those who like a long soak
Navigating the rise in mortgage rates
Looking to buy—or refinance—and feeling frustrated by lenders’ sky-high interest rates? Here’s how to get the best deal
Graceful grasses
With dramatic foliage and distinctive plumes, ornamental grasses come in sizes to suit virtually any garden
A better asphalt driveway
It's long-lasting and recyclable, and it weathers extreme temperatures. You can repair small cracks and divots in asphalt, too. Here's what you need to know to get-and maintain-a great-looking asphalt driveway
Modernizing a mid-century house
A family turns to TOH to renovate a 1960 house that had been awkwardly expanded over time. Their goal: to create a contemporary, energy-efficient, open-plan home that is fully accessible for a son with mobility issues
Making a house her own
Renovating in stages over nearly two decades, a homeowner transforms a once forlorn bungalow into a cozy, very personal space
A little house that lives large
A reimagined interior and second-story addition double the living area inside a narrow shotgun house, while respecting its historical roots
Before & After: Bath Fit for a Queen Anne
Classic meets modern in this primary-suite retreat
Before & After: Kitchen Moving a wall makes it work
Grabbing a few feet from the adjacent dining room yields major layout improvements
