The Coves A-Frame Gazebo
Cedar A-frame gazebo, expanded-view screen, fireplace wall and outdoor kitchen, The Coves (Sawgrass Players Club), Ponte Vedra Beach.
This project in The Coves shows how we manage every step, from the first AutoCAD design to the final walkthrough.
AY Luxury Designs LLC · Certified Building Contractor CBC1268168 · Amany Youssef: Registered Building Contractor RB29003947 · Registered Electrical Contractor ER13016631 · Registered Underground Utility & Excavation Contractor RU11066663
Book a Consultation · Call (904) 629-8803
About This Project
This backyard started as a blank slate. We designed a cedar A-frame gazebo that ties into the back of the house, with a second A-frame that echoes the home's own roofline, so the new room looks like it was always there.
We opened up the back of the house for panoramic doors, so the living room flows straight out to the outdoor room: a white stucco fireplace wall framed by two bars, an outdoor kitchen and a stained wood ceiling overhead.
The whole space sits inside an A-frame screen enclosure with our expanded-view upgrade, so the view stays open. The pool is the work of the homeowners' pool builder; we designed the gazebo, the enclosure and the patio around it.
What we built
- A cedar A-frame gazebo tied into the house
- An opened-up back wall that connects the living room to the outdoor room
- A stained wood ceiling
- A white stucco fireplace wall with a bar on each side
- An outdoor kitchen with a matching bar
- An A-frame screen enclosure with our expanded-view upgrade
- A raised natural-stone patio
The challenge
The lot is wider at one end than the other. We laid out the patio so the difference disappears and the space feels square to the house.
What the Homeowners Said
"Our house wasn't even for sale when a buyer from out of state called. They'd seen AY Luxury Designs' videos of our backyard online and fell in love with it. Then they made us an offer we couldn't refuse. … The communication was great, the craftsmanship is top-notch, and the finished result was beyond what we imagined." — Jill B., Google review
Services in This Project
A-Frame Gazebos · Gazebos · Screen Enclosures · Outdoor Kitchens · Outdoor Fireplaces · Wood Ceilings · Pavers & Patios
Planning a Screened A-Frame Outdoor Room: A General Guide
Freestanding gazebo or A-frame tied into the house?
Merriam-Webster defines a gazebo as a roofed structure, usually freestanding and usually open on the sides, and lists pavilion as a synonym. An A-frame (gable) roof that ties into the house works differently: it becomes an extension of the home's roofline, so the outdoor room feels like another room of the house.
Because a tied-in roof connects to your home's structure, plan on engineered documents and a building permit. If a wall or door opening changes too, that is part of the same permit conversation.
Any roof over a patio can cut the daylight reaching nearby windows, but daylighting research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory shows taller, sloped ceilings spread light deeper, so a raised, pitched A-frame ceiling can keep more daylight reaching the house.
Screen shape and the view
Many Florida screen enclosures use a mansard shape, with sloped sides and a flat top. Matching the screen to the roof shape, such as an A-frame screen under an A-frame roof, keeps the lines cleaner, and fewer, wider-spaced posts keep more of the view open.
The Florida Building Code has its own section for screen enclosures, and it requires their structural members to be designed for wind from two directions.
Fireplace walls, bars and comfort
A fireplace wall gives an outdoor room a focal point. If you plan a TV above it, follow the fireplace maker's clearance guidance, and think about glare from the screen and the sun at the times you'll use the space most.
NAHB counts outdoor fireplaces among the home features that have grown most in popularity over the past decade.
Fans cool people, not rooms: the breeze creates a wind-chill effect, according to ENERGY STAR.
Building in Ponte Vedra Beach
Most neighborhoods in Ponte Vedra Beach have an architectural review board, so plan time for HOA approval before the permit. See our Ponte Vedra Beach page for HOA and permit details in the area.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, with the peak around September 10, according to NOAA. The Florida Building Code uses the national ASCE 7 wind standard, so design wind speeds vary by location. Permitted structures are designed to Florida Building Code wind requirements.
Florida's summer thunderstorms are a reason to know the CDC's rule: open structures like gazebos and porches don't protect you from lightning, so go indoors when thunder roars.
Why AY Luxury Designs
- You design it with the founder. Amany Youssef designs every project with you in person and stays involved through the final walkthrough.
- We manage every step, from design to final inspection. We handle the AutoCAD design, the HOA paperwork, the engineering, the permits and the build. We handle electrical work with our licensed electrical partner, and gas and plumbing with our licensed trade partners.
- Built for Florida. Every permitted structure gets its necessary engineered documents.
- A Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite.
AY Luxury Designs LLC · Certified Building Contractor CBC1268168 · Amany Youssef: Registered Building Contractor RB29003947 · Registered Electrical Contractor ER13016631 · Registered Underground Utility & Excavation Contractor RU11066663
Our Design-Build Process
- Design session with Amany. Your project starts at our Jacksonville design studio, where you sit down with founder Amany Youssef and watch your project take shape live on screen in AutoCAD.
- Free AutoCAD design and a custom quote. You get to-scale 3D renderings and a fully itemized custom quote within 24 hours of your consultation, so you know exactly what you're getting.
- In-home design visit. Amany comes to your home for an in-person walkthrough, so we look at the project together where you're most comfortable, finalize the details and choose your colors and finishes.
- Engineering, HOA and permits handled. We get the necessary engineered documents for every permitted structure, prepare your HOA/ARB package and pull the St. Johns County permits.
- Build. We can start most projects within two to four weeks. Our crews follow a build process we've refined over many projects, and you get daily updates.
- The AY Advantage. You hold back the final 5% for seven days after completion, so we can take care of any touch-ups before you sign off.
Financing is available through Synchrony Bank, including 18 months of no-interest financing, and we have other financing options as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an outdoor living project in Ponte Vedra Beach cost? Every project gets a custom quote with an in-person AutoCAD design, and every AY Luxury Designs project has a $10,000 minimum. What drives the cost of an outdoor living project in Ponte Vedra Beach: the size of the space; materials; features like fireplaces, fire pits and screens; electrical; engineering and permits; HOA requirements; and site work. You get a fully itemized quote within 24 hours of your design consultation.
Do I need HOA approval for a pergola, gazebo or patio cover in Ponte Vedra Beach? In most planned communities, yes. In Ponte Vedra Beach, pergolas, covers, screen enclosures, outdoor kitchens and fire features usually need architectural review before work starts. We prepare the drawings, site plan and material and color selections your review board asks for and submit them with you. The decision is your association's, so confirm current guidelines with your association.
How soon can my project start? It depends on the project's scope. We can start most projects within two to four weeks.
Do you offer financing? Yes. We offer financing through Synchrony Bank, including 18 months of no-interest financing, and we have other financing options as well.
Want a Backyard Like This?
Book your in-person design session with Amany and see your project in AutoCAD before anything is built.
Call (904) 629-8803 or book a consultation. Design studio: 8917 Western Way, Suite 7, Jacksonville, FL 32256 · Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm
AY Luxury Designs LLC · Certified Building Contractor CBC1268168 · Amany Youssef: Registered Building Contractor RB29003947 · Registered Electrical Contractor ER13016631 · Registered Underground Utility & Excavation Contractor RU11066663