Louvered Pergola Outdoor Living Space

The brief for this space was simple: make the outdoors as comfortable as the living room. Our answer was a louvered pergola with a sleek dark frame, so the family can dial the shade up or down depending on the season, and use the space all year rather than only in winter.

Under that roof we fitted a complete outdoor room. A cushioned hanging swing chair for lazy afternoons, a full dining set for evening meals, and a built-in kitchenette with sleek countertop and cabinetry set into a stone-clad feature wall so cooking happens outside too, not ferried from the house.

The floor is warm timber decking that runs to the edge of the pool, tying the lounge and the water into one continuous space. Manicured greenery and a planted privacy wall close the composition, keeping the retreat feeling private and calm. It is a small footprint used completely, with nothing in it that does not earn its place.