Backyard magic

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Dawn Clark of Vienna insists that choosing to build a gazebo in her back yard was one of the best decisions she ever made. Throughout the summer, she and her family spend hours relaxing in it. Even in light rain, it still can be enjoyed.

"We live on it," she says. "My husband only reminds me every summer at least two or three times what a brilliant idea it was."

Gazebos, which are popular garden buildings, can take on many shapes and styles. They also can have many functions, including serving as a focal point in a garden or providing a place to enjoy outdoor activities. The structures usually are roofed and open-sided, providing a shady resting place.

The outside rooms have been popular in many cultures. Roman gardens, for instance, frequently had similar buildings, and long, arched colonnades supported grapes in Colonial days. Gazebos often are found in large parks and private estates as free-standing structures. Today, they are being built in the yards of average homes.

More recently, they are being attached to a part of a house. For example, Mrs. Clark's gazebo stands at the left end of her deck. The cedar wood has been stained light gray to blend with the rear facade of the home, which has gray siding.

Even though the gazebo is outside, it practically has become another room of the home. It has been wired with electricity to run lights, stereo and Internet access, adding to the value of the home. It also contains six chairs and a table, along with potted plants.

The design for the area, which features a shake roof supported by four columns and a beamed ceiling, was created by Joan Honeyman, who is a partner with Jordan Honeyman Landscape Architecture in Northwest. She is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects in Northwest.

"More and more people are wanting to improve their landscape and properties," Mrs. Honeyman says. "A gazebo is very often a request."