Outdoor living spaces built for entertaining
Outdoor kitchens, fire pits and fireplaces, pergolas, lighting and built-in seating, designed and constructed for long-term durability, comfort and luxury backyard entertaining — an extension of your home, not an afterthought.
OUTDOOR LIVING · ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
The room you'll use most — without a roof.
The best outdoor spaces feel planned, not added on. Sightlines from the kitchen window, traffic flow from door to grill, a fire feature placed where the breeze and the view cooperate. We design and build outdoor kitchens, fire pits and fireplaces, pergolas and landscape lighting, along with the patios and seating walls that anchor them, and we draw up full plans in-house when the scope calls for them. We handle the construction with the same precision we bring to every grade, base and joint.
What we build
Fire pits and fireplaces
Built-in fire pits, fireplaces and seating arrangements sized to the patio and the way you gather.
Outdoor kitchens
Built-in cooking and prep areas on a patio designed to hold their weight and stand up to weather.
Pergolas and shade structures
Pergolas and shade structures that give a dining or lounge area shade and definition.
Landscape lighting
Path, step, wall and accent lighting planned with the hardscape for safe footing and an evening glow.
Built-in seating and seating walls
Stone, block or concrete walls that double as seating and define the space.
Patios and terraces
The foundation of every outdoor room, in pavers, flagstone or natural stone. Learn more: Hardscaping & Patios See one we built: Retaining Walls, Hot Tub Pad & Patio in Crownsville, MD.
Planting and screening
Beds, shrubs and trees that soften hardscape and add privacy. Learn more: Landscape Design & Installation
From idea to the first evening outside.
Conversation
We start with how you live: how many you entertain, what you cook, when you're outside, what you want to see from the kitchen window.
Plan
For smaller projects we offer simple design guidance and basic layouts directly. For larger transformations we design every project with you, from layout and materials to plant selection, then build it ourselves, so the project is properly planned from the beginning.
Build
Clean, organized construction with clear timelines and consistent updates.
Handover
Final walkthrough and care guidance for your new space.
Details that matter on the Bay side of Maryland.
- Wind and exposure: properties near the Severn, South and Magothy rivers and the Bay get open breezes — we think about fire placement, seating orientation and screening.
- Drainage first: a beautiful patio on a wet yard becomes a wet patio. We plan where water goes before we place the first stone. — Drainage & Grading
- HOA and permit review: covered structures, fire features and larger additions may need approval. We'll flag what applies at the estimate.
- Shade and canopy: mature trees are an asset; we plan around roots and falling debris.
Pair it with…
Designing a high-end outdoor living space.
The most refined outdoor rooms are planned as a whole, not assembled one feature at a time. Here is how we approach that, and what to settle early. Rules and site conditions vary by property, so treat this as a general guide; we'll confirm specifics at your free on-site estimate.
1. Start with the site and how you live
We look at sun, shade, wind, views, grade, drainage, access for equipment and where utilities run, along with how many people you entertain, what you cook and when you're outside. Those answers decide where the kitchen, dining, lounge and fire areas can go.
2. Zone the space and plan the flow
A well-planned patio reads as separate rooms: a cooking zone near the house, a dining area, a lounge or fire area set back for the view and breeze, with generous paths between them. Seating walls, steps and level changes define the zones. For larger transformations we draw up the full plans with you ourselves, from layout and materials to plant selection.
3. Choose a material palette
Pavers, natural stone and porcelain each have a distinct look, feel and maintenance profile, and they work best chosen together with the house's brick, siding and roofline. We explain the trade-offs in plain terms in our Hardscaping & Patios guide.
4. Layer in fire, cooking, light and shade
- Fire features. Fire pits, fire tables and built-in fireplaces can be wood-burning or gas. The County's open fire guidance allows backyard recreational fires in fire pits without a County license when they are limited to 1 cubic yard or less of clean, natural wood, and gas features bring their own utility and permit questions. Anne Arundel County Health Department: Open Fire Guidance · Fire Marshal: Codes & Regulations
- Outdoor kitchens. Built-in grills, counters, storage, refrigeration and sinks can need gas, electric, water and drainage, so utilities are planned before the patio base is built. The County's permit guide notes that trade permits may apply beyond a general building permit. Anne Arundel County: Do I need a permit?
- Lighting. Low-voltage lighting is easiest to do well when it is planned with the hardscape: path and step lights for safe footing, wall or seating lights for glow, and accent lighting for trees and planting.
- Pergolas and shade structures. The County's permit guide says pergolas need a permit (attached ones fall under the dwelling permit), gazebos over 10 feet tall or 150 square feet need one, all gazebos in the Critical Area need one, and hot tubs require a permit. Anne Arundel County: Do I need a permit?
Anne Arundel County considerations
- Critical Area. Within 1,000 feet of tidal water, lot coverage is limited and disturbing the 100-foot Buffer generally needs approval. How patios, structures and permeable paving count toward coverage is worth confirming early. Anne Arundel County: Critical Area
- Grading. A patio doesn't need a building permit, but a Standard Grading Plan may apply depending on size and disturbed area. Anne Arundel County: Standard Grading Plan
- HOA and architectural review. Many communities require approval for structures, lighting and fire features, so we'll flag what to submit.
What our clients say
“I worked with … from Riverside Landscaping, and he was amazing! He had such a positive attitude and was super professional and knowledgeable about redoing our outdoor fire pit area. He even sent me a mock-up of what it would look like, and the final result looked exactly like it — down to the smallest details! I’m so happy with how everything turned out and would absolutely work with him again. 10/10 recommend!”
— Malia P., Google review
Rated 5.0 on Google by our customers. Read our reviews, or leave us a review.
Frequently asked questions
What outdoor living features do you build?
We design and build outdoor kitchens, fire pits and fireplaces, pergolas and landscape lighting, along with the patios, walkways, built-in seating and retaining or seating walls that tie the space together.
Do you provide design services for outdoor living projects?
For smaller projects we offer simple design guidance directly and can produce basic layouts in-house. For major transformations we design every project with you, from layout and materials to plant selection, then build it ourselves, so your project is properly planned from the very beginning.
How long does an outdoor living build take?
Timelines depend on scope, materials, weather and site conditions. Larger construction projects take longer than smaller jobs, and we provide a clear timeline with your estimate before work begins. Extensive outdoor living builds with multiple features may take longer; we'll confirm at your estimate.
Do outdoor living projects come with a warranty?
We warranty most of our project-based work; ask about the specific warranty for your project.
Can you build around mature trees and sloped yards?
Yes — grading, retaining walls and drainage are core parts of what we do, so slopes and drainage are planned into the design instead of becoming problems later.
What does your design process look like for a high-end outdoor living space?
We start with the site and how you live, then zone the space, choose a material palette that suits your home, and plan the fire, cooking, lighting and shade elements together. For larger transformations we design every project with you, from layout and materials to plant selection, then build it ourselves, so the project is planned properly from the beginning. We walk the finished space with you at handover. It starts with a free on-site estimate.
Do pergolas, outdoor kitchens and hot tubs need permits in Anne Arundel County?
Often, yes. The County's permit guide says pergolas and hot tubs need permits, gazebos over 10 feet tall or 150 square feet need one, and all gazebos in the Critical Area need one. Outdoor kitchens that involve gas, electric or plumbing may need trade permits. Requirements depend on your property, so confirm with Anne Arundel County Inspections & Permits. See the County permit guide.
Can I have a wood-burning fire pit in Anne Arundel County?
Backyard recreational fires in fire pits are allowed under County Code without a County license when they are limited to 1 cubic yard or less of clean, natural wood, and trash, treated lumber and similar materials can't be burned. Gas fire features are a different design and utility question, and HOA rules may add limits. See the County open fire guidance.
Riverside Landscaping is licensed, bonded and insured in Maryland (MHIC #160581).
Picture the first evening out there.
Tell us what you want to build. We'll visit, talk through options and follow with a clear written proposal. Call 443-333-3136 or request your free estimate.