Contemporary dual-stain pergola with horizontal privacy shade screens framing a hot tub and modern patio seating — Dual-stain timber, clean lines, and privacy slats—made for everyday use around the hot tub and patio.

Design Manager Darren Dunn set one outcome: a patio that gets used. The result? A calm, contemporary pergola creating a room outside—dual-stain timber, privacy slats, steady shade. The homeowners’ review seals it: “We spend more time outside than we have in the eight years we’ve lived in our house.” Hot-tub evenings, garden mornings, and the grill back in rotation—exactly what this pergola was built to encourage.

Before: Uncovered Patio

An uncovered concrete patio sits beside a blue house with a sliding door. A hot tub, covered grill, and two chairs occupy the space—shown before the contemporary pergola was installed. — Before: uncovered patio with hot tub and grill—no shade, no defined zones.

After: Shade & Privacy—Modern Pergola

A modern, dual-stain timber pergola stands beside a blue home. Black 8x8 posts support rafters and horizontal privacy slats; a covered grill and hot tub sit beneath, with a garden bed along the fence. — Front view: dual-stain timber, clean lines, and privacy slats organize the patio—grill up front, hot tub and seating under steady shade.

View on Google

“From the measuring to the finishing touches everyone was so courteous, friendly, professional, and always totally cleaned up after themselves. Could not recommend this company more. We spend more time outside than we have in the eight years we have lived in our house.”
— Verified customer, as posted on Google, June 2025

More dinners, longer talks, cleaner air—and now hot-tub soaks, garden snips, and weekend grilling. This contemporary dual-stain pergola with privacy shade screens is built for all of it. Everything we design serves one outcome: more time outside, every day.

Modern geometry, natural flow

This freestanding timber structure pairs clean, modern geometry with a quiet, horizontal rhythm in the privacy screens. Square posts and crisp beam lines keep the look minimal while the feel stays generous. It sits like well-made outdoor furniture, turning open space into a room you actually live in.

Contemporary timber frame style is calm and composed: flush beams, horizontal screens, and simple hardware—knife plates and slim steel brackets—so wood and light take center stage. The result is a durable outdoor room that pairs naturally with glass, concrete, and tidy landscaping.

Key design choices that drive the style:

Black steel corner bracket keeps the contemporary silhouette clean—no knee braces, tight rafter rhythm.

Close-up of a contemporary pergola showing dual-stain rafters and a handsome, thick steel support bracket on a black 8x8 post — Dual-stain timber and a luxurious, thick steel bracket keep the contemporary lines clean—no knee braces, tight rafter rhythm.

Contemporary profile: strong rectangles, no knee braces, and tight rafter spacing for a tailored ceiling line.
Dual-stain finish: deep black frame with Canyon Grey shade planks and lattice for contrast and depth.
Horizontal privacy screens: slatted walls that filter views and light without closing the space.
Knife plates to concrete: a clean, engineered look at the base and confident stability underfoot.

Contemporary Pergola Installation Gallery

What changed?

More dinners outside, longer conversations, and a hot tub that finally gets used. As the homeowner put it, “We spend more time outside than we have in the eight years we’ve lived in our house.”

Designed from the inside out

Inside a dining room, a sliding glass door looks out to a contemporary dual-stain pergola. Horizontal privacy slats frame a hot tub and seating, creating an easy invitation to step outside. — Seen from inside, the contemporary pergola frames the patio like a room—privacy slats, hot tub, and an easy step outdoors.

You can see it in the progress photos from inside the house looking out. The posts clear the view. The header lands where the eye expects a ceiling. As a result, the patio feels intentional, not added on. By afternoon, the shade pattern falls across the chairs; by evening, the screens cut glare and soften the neighborhood into background.

Specs at a glance

Structure type: Freestanding contemporary pergola
Timber: Douglas Fir, 6000 Series
Approx. size: 14′ × 19′
Posts: 8″ × 8″ on aluminum knife plates anchored to concrete
Finish: Dual-stain — black frame with Canyon Grey shade planks & lattice
Screens: Horizontal privacy slats to two sides
Footings: Pre-poured, four points
Style focus: Modern geometry, balanced shade, visual privacy

Q: Can this contemporary pergola include power?
A: Yes—while this build didn’t use it, our TimberVolt® option routes wiring inside the post for clean, concealed power.

Why the privacy shade screens matter

Because the slats are spaced and scaled to the structure, the yard stays open while the seating area feels settled.

Privacy screens do more than hide a view. Used like this, they:

Modern timber pavilion with black and natural privacy panel design on concrete patio

Privacy where you want it; lattice for filtered sun.

Shape light so you get readable shade at midday.
Quiet the backdrop without blocking airflow.
Define zones for dining, conversation, or a spa.
Keep the style consistent with horizontal lines that match the modern frame.
Tame glare so afternoons are usable, not squinty.
Lower radiant heat on the patio surface for cooler seating.
Block sightlines at eye level without losing sky or breeze.
Buffer wind just enough to keep napkins and pool towels calm.
Create a visual boundary that guides traffic around the hot tub and grill.
Frame views (garden, mountains) while editing out the busy bits (AC units, trash cans).
Give you a tidy backdrop for string lights, planters, art, or a TV.
Soften noise by breaking up hard reflections along the fence line.
Make zones obvious—dining, conversation, spa—so the space gets used the way you planned.
Keep the design coherent: horizontal lines match the modern frame for a clean silhouette.
Great for photos—a consistent background that makes gatherings look put-together.
Commercial boost: clearer table layouts, better brand backdrop, and a more comfortable patio season.

Built for everyday life, ready for commercial patios

This is a residential project, but the detailing is commercial-ready. Knife-plated 8×8 posts, structural Douglas Fir, and modular slat assemblies make maintenance simple and upgrades straightforward. The same language scales to cafés, office courtyards, or multifamily amenity decks where clean lines and durability matter.

Results you can feel

Under the contemporary pergola, a black 8x8 post and overhead slats frame two modern chairs, a covered grill, and a long vegetable garden lined with flowers along a white fence.

The family’s review says it plain, and we’re proud to echo it: more evenings outside, more casual meals, more conversations that don’t have to end when the sun gets bright. A contemporary pergola with a dual-stain finish and privacy shade screens did the quiet work—turning a patch of concrete into the room they use most.