2 pergolas installed in a California backyard

A Fresno Backyard Getaway With Two Timber Pergolas

This Fresno, California backyard getaway works because the shade lands exactly where people sit. Two timber pergolas attach to the house, one over the outdoor fireplace and lounge chairs and one over the dining table, and both open onto a small free-form pool.

“Here is a blast from the past. This is one from a few years back in Fresno, CA. It’s still one of my favorites!” said Mark Mackert, the Western Timber Frame™ design manager who shared the photo.

Key Takeaways

Two attached timber pergolas shade the two places people gather: the fireplace and the dining table.
A dark stain ties the timber to the home’s trim, tile roof, and stone fireplace.
Open rafters and shade planks give filtered shade while keeping the yard bright and open.
The structures are sized to the patio, so the yard feels like a retreat, not a crowded space.

What’s in the Yard

Two dark timber pergolas attached to a Spanish style home, shading an outdoor fireplace and dining set beside a small pool — Two attached pergolas framing the fireplace, the dining area, and the pool.

The home is Spanish style, with stucco walls, a clay tile roof, and arched openings. The first pergola runs off the house over a stone outdoor fireplace and a pair of lounge chairs. The second turns the corner and covers the dining set beside the garden wall. Between them, a small pool sits in a ring of flagstone and turf, with boulders and palms along the edge.

Because both pergolas attach to the house, the shade starts at the back door and carries straight out to the places the family actually uses.

Why It Feels Like a Getaway

Nothing here is oversized. Each pergola covers its seating area and stops there, which keeps the yard open and lets the pool stay the center of the view. The open rafters cast patterned shade without closing in the space, so the patio feels sheltered but never dark.

In a hot inland climate like Fresno’s, the material matters too. Wood transfers heat hundreds to more than 1,000 times more slowly than aluminum, according to the USDA Forest Products Laboratory, so a timber beam is comfortable to touch on a summer afternoon.

Planning something similar? Explore our pergola kits or request a free design consultation.

Western Timber Frame™ — Payson, Utah | Since 2008 | 7,000+ structures in all 50 states
2026 SBA Manufacturing Award | HGTV Design Excellence Award | 28 Best of State Awards

Marilynn Thompson

Content Writer, Architectural Photographer & Outdoor Living Author, Western Timber Frame

Marilynn Thompson is a content writer, architectural photographer, and outdoor living author at Western Timber Frame™, where she specializes in custom timber pergolas, pavilions, gazebos, and heavy timber construction. Since joining the company, she has helped document thousands of custom projects through technical research, homeowner interviews, jobsite photography, and educational articles that explain complex building concepts in clear, practical language.

Her work combines engineering research with real-world project experience, covering topics such as structural design, building permits, installation, timber species, joinery, maintenance, and outdoor living design. She regularly collaborates with Western Timber Frame's designers, engineers, and project specialists to ensure every article reflects current building practices and accurate technical information.

As the company's architectural photographer, Marilynn has photographed custom timber structures across the United States, documenting how they perform in different climates, landscapes, and architectural styles. Her writing is informed not only by research, but by conversations with homeowners and business owners who have lived with these structures for years.

Her goal is simple: to help homeowners understand the decisions behind a custom timber structure so they can build with confidence, not guesswork.