An outdoor living space should be a place to relax, cook, entertain, and enjoy time with family and friends. But when a patio is poorly constructed, has drainage problems, or simply no longer meets the needs of the homeowners, it can become more of a problem than a destination. For our Lake Forest homeowners, an aging patio had become difficult to use and was creating serious concerns about water around the home. As previous BDS customers, they turned to the BDS team to reimagine the space and create an outdoor area that was both beautiful and functional. The result is a complete outdoor living transformation designed for cooking, entertaining, and enjoying the outdoors throughout the year.
The existing patio had not been installed on a proper base. Over time, it began settling and heaving, creating an uneven surface and contributing to drainage problems. Even more concerning, the patio was directing water toward the home. During periods of heavy rain, the homeowners had observed water entering the crawl space, making it clear that the existing drainage needed to be addressed as part of the project. Rather than simply replacing the patio surface, the BDS team approached the project as an opportunity to solve the underlying issue while creating a much more functional outdoor living environment. The expanded layout incorporated drainage considerations from the beginning, helping address the water concerns associated with the original patio. The BDS team knows outdoor remodeling is about more than selecting attractive materials. Proper planning, grading, drainage, and construction techniques are essential to creating an outdoor space that performs well over time.
Our homeowners wanted more than a new patio. They needed a space that could accommodate the way they actually enjoy spending time outdoors. The existing layout didn't provide dedicated areas for grilling, smoking, cooking, dining, or entertaining. The new design expanded the patio footprint and created room for an outdoor kitchen, dining table, additional seating, and improved circulation. Every area was planned to work together, creating a natural flow between cooking, dining, and relaxing. Our Lake Forest homeowners love to cook outdoors, so adding a place for a smoker and larger built-in grill and pizza oven was a must. The BDS team added a strong table for the egg with granite sides to reflect heat, so using the smoker can be done in a safe place. We also added plenty of access to power and gas sources to make using appliances easy.
At the heart of the new outdoor living space is a covered outdoor kitchen designed to make cooking and entertaining more convenient. A large, full-roof pergola provides protection from the elements while creating a comfortable destination for outdoor gatherings. Instead of being limited by unpredictable Midwest weather, the homeowners can now enjoy their outdoor space in a much wider range of conditions. The covered area also helps define the outdoor kitchen and entertaining zone, giving the patio the feeling of an outdoor room. The new patio and covered pergola was carefully designed to direct rainwater away from the home rather than toward it.
A Lake Forest outdoor living space needs to withstand more than a beautiful summer afternoon. It must also stand up to freezing temperatures, snow, moisture, and the repeated freeze-thaw cycles of Midwest winters. Durability was a key part of the design. The new outdoor living space was built with materials and construction methods selected to provide lasting performance through changing seasons. The result is an outdoor area designed to not only look great but also remain functional and enjoyable year after year.
What began as an aging patio with structural and drainage concerns became an opportunity to completely rethink the homeowners' outdoor living experience. The expanded patio now provides dedicated space for cooking, dining, entertaining, and relaxing. The u-shaped kitchen was created for function as well as to provide ample space for dining and preparing. Most importantly, the new space gives the homeowners a comfortable place to gather throughout the year. The BDS team also added plenty of lighting, so this beautiful space can be used throughout the day even on those nights when the sun sets early.
This Lake Forest project is a great example of how thoughtful remodeling can solve existing problems while creating something better. The BDS team didn't simply replace an aging patio. We addressed the underlying drainage concerns, reimagined the layout, expanded the usable space, and created a covered outdoor kitchen designed around the homeowners' lifestyle. The finished space is more than a patio—it is an extension of the home and a destination for cooking, entertaining, relaxing, and making memories in every season. The BDS team believes the best outdoor living spaces combine thoughtful design, durable construction, and practical solutions to create spaces homeowners can enjoy for years to come.