Is anyone looking to put a pergola in their front garden?

This is what Robin Novotny and Becky Vanderbeek from Detroit did.

Their pergola, painted shades of light taupe, and surrounded by flowering trees and perennials, stands on their front lawn in full view of the neighbors. It has a great feeling to it, they say, a real interesting outdoor space to enjoy.

The pergola is made from 4 fluted fiber glass columns together with a series of overhead cross boards that stands on an 8ft by 8ft slab of textured concrete. Inside the pergola are two 4ft teak benches and a table complete with candles. Hanging from the pergola itself is a rather quirky looking rusty chandelier.

The couple say the best bit of having a pergola on the front lawn is that their neighbors frequently come to sit and chat – reminiscent of the days of the old front porch when there was much more interaction with the neighbors.

So if you get on with your neighbors, and fancy having a few parties around your pergola, then get those pergola plans into action and give it a go!

Depending upon the layout of your home, designers suggest installing a pergola over the garage, adding climbing plants, such as grape vines and some outdoor lighting to soften the look.

So want to sell your house fast – then get out your pergola plans now…

A family from Melbourne are really going for it in the water conservation stakes, by using rainwater for showering, washing clothes and dishes, watering their garden and even drinking.

Whilst this has not been a cheap exercise for them, having spent about $12,000 on water tanks, their water consumption bills have now been reduced to zero.

Some of the work required them to create more roof space and guttering and they have found their pergola invaluable for this purpose. So perhaps if water conservation is an issue for you could consider adding a roof and guttering to your existing pergola plans. Cover with the pergola climbers and mask any unsightly water butt’s with shrubs.