Stone Patio with Dining and Fire Pit

Design notes

Modern farmhouse design keeps things honest: white board-and-batten or painted brick, black-framed windows and doors, standing-seam metal roofs, cedar posts and beams. Outside, that means gravel and bluestone rather than fancy paving, a big lawn, raised beds, a porch or pavilion with a fan, and simple furniture in black or natural wood. Lighting is gooseneck barn lights and warm string lights, never anything glossy.

What to look for

• How the space is zoned — dining, lounging, lawn, planting
• Sightlines from the back door to the furthest feature
• Layers of privacy: canopy, screening, structure