Whether you’re joining friends for dinner on a warm spring evening, sipping a cool beverage on a hot summer day, or sitting beside a cozy fire on a chilly fall night, there’s just something about doing these activities outdoors that makes them even more enjoyable. Of course, you don’t need to have a fancy patio to do these things, but it sure is nice if you do. If your backyard renovation plans call for installing an outdoor entertaining area, here are a few great spaces to inspire you.

Modern-day timber-frame pavilion

This living and dining pavilion and pergola near Portland, Oregon was added during the whole-house remodel of a timber-frame home. The pergola and pavilion were crafted with reclaimed industrial timbers salvaged by Pioneer Millworks. The 560-sq.-ft. pavilion includes an outdoor kitchen and dining space as well as a cozy seating area complete with Rumford fireplace. With additional bar seating and built-in benches, there’s plenty of room for entertaining family and friends and enjoying the incredible views on all sides.

Intimate and inviting in town

What began as an addition to the main house and a garage replacement led to the total re-landscaping of this backyard. The sloping lot was graded and then finished with a retaining wall and pair of patios, all built using Vermont fieldstone. Because the house is nestled into the base of a small hill, the view from the neighbor’s house is directly into this yard. To create a bit of privacy, the homeowner’s architect brother-in-law designed the red-cedar and galvanized-steel pergola over the main patio. The addition of a children’s play structure at the back of the yard completed the project.

Nighttime in New Hampshire

A screened porch and stone terrace were added to this home as part of a whole-house remodel. The porch features motorized retractable screens that open it up to the rest of the terrace. To add interest and functionality, the designer incorporated recessed areas into the terrace for gardens and a fire pit. From the fire pit area you can sit back and enjoy the view yet still stay warm on chilly New Hampshire nights.