With a long-standing presence in the industry, Ted Lare Design Build has earned its reputation as a trusted leader in outdoor living and hardscaping throughout Des Moines and across Iowa.
Our team is known for combining premium materials with proven construction methods and a refined eye for outdoor design details that truly elevate a space.
Over 40 Years of Hands-On Experience
Founded in 1982 by Ted Lare, our company brings more than four decades of hands-on experience creating custom outdoor environments. Over the years, we’ve completed countless paver pathways, patios, and landscape features, giving us deep insight into what works best for Iowa homes and conditions.
Are you looking to transform your backyard into one of the centerpieces of your home? Then you need to install a paver patio outdoor living space that has all of your favorite features. At Ted Lare Design Build, we handle every project with extreme care and precision, creating a custom design that fits perfectly in your backyard space.
When you work with us, you don’t get an existing design from a catalog. Instead, we create a catalog around your property because we personalize your design, making the most out of every single square foot in your backyard. Whether you want an elegant and minimalist flow with beautiful seating, a roaring firepit at the center of your garden, or an outdoor kitchen, our team is here to bring your vision to reality.
Outdoor living rooms are thoughtfully designed extensions of your home where comfort meets the outdoors. Built around outdoor living patios, these spaces are meant for relaxing, entertaining, and gathering, so you can think of them as fully functional rooms without walls, designed to fit your lifestyle, routines, and the way you actually use your backyard.
Every great outdoor living space starts with a strong foundation, and paver patios provide exactly that. They create a durable, level surface that supports seating, kitchens, fire features, and walkways.
Beyond structure, paver patios also set the tone for your entire backyard, tying everything together visually and functionally.
We specialize in designing completely personalized outdoor environments and living spaces, not just individual elements. From cozy gathering areas to expansive entertaining areas, our paver patios for outdoor living are built to support kitchens, fire features, seating, and any other feature you can envision. Everything is designed together so your space feels intentional, balanced, and easy to enjoy
Outdoor kitchens and dining areas transform your backyard into an inviting entertainment space, with thoughtful layouts and durable materials that make cooking, serving, and connecting effortless and enjoyable.
Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces add warmth, ambiance, and year-round comfort, creating natural gathering spots that extend your outdoor season and invite relaxation and connection.
Poolside and entertainment patios are designed for comfort and safety, using smart layouts and slip-resistant pavers to create a seamless transition between swimming, lounging, dining, and hosting.
Seating areas, pergolas, and shade structures add comfort and definition to your patio, offering relief from the sun while creating flexible spaces for relaxing, gathering, and enjoying your outdoor living area.
Quality craftsmanship has always been at the heart of everything we do. From material selection to final installation, we hold every project to the highest standards, ensuring each outdoor living space is built with precision, care, and lasting value.
Des Moines weather presents unique challenges, from humid summers to harsh winters and repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Our local expertise allows us to recommend materials and designs specifically chosen to perform well in Iowa’s climate and maintain their beauty over time.
No two backyards or homeowners are the same. That’s why we take a fully customized approach, meeting with you on-site to evaluate your space, discuss your goals, and account for every detail that influences design, timeline, and investment.
Our mission is to create outdoor living areas that are as functional as they are beautiful, and so far we’ve met every single challenge. By blending thoughtful design with durable construction, we help transform your yard into a welcoming place for gathering, relaxing, and making lasting memories with family and friends.
An outdoor living room can include comfortable seating, durable paver patios, shade, lighting, and optional features like fire pits or outdoor kitchens, but what it features is completely up to you!
Paver patios are often better than concrete because they’re more durable, easier to repair, and visually appealing. Your paver patio will last a lifetime.
Yes, outdoor kitchens and fire features can be added later with proper planning and a patio designed to support future upgrades. However, it usually costs less to do the work in one planned trip.
Designing an outdoor living space starts with thoughtful planning around how you actually want to use the area. Begin by identifying your primary goals — do you want a space for entertaining, relaxing, dining al fresco, or all of the above? Consider the natural flow from your indoor spaces to the outdoors, and think about sun exposure, prevailing winds, and privacy. Here in Central Iowa, where summers can be warm and social but weather can shift quickly, it’s smart to incorporate shade structures like pergolas or covered areas that extend the usable season. Sketch out rough zones for seating, cooking, dining, and fire features, keeping in mind that good outdoor design layers these elements naturally rather than crowding everything together.
Once you have a general vision, focus on the foundational elements that will define the space. A well-chosen patio surface — whether natural stone, concrete pavers, or a combination — anchors the entire design and sets the aesthetic tone. Retaining walls can help define levels and create visual interest, especially on sloped Iowa properties. From there, you build outward with features like fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, or water elements that add ambiance and make the space feel like a true extension of your home. Planting beds and thoughtful landscaping around the perimeter soften hardscape edges and give the space a finished, cohesive feel.
Working with experienced professionals makes a significant difference in turning concepts into functional, beautiful results. Teams like the landscape architects at Ted Lare Design & Build bring both design expertise and construction knowledge to the table, which means your space is not only visually stunning but also built to handle the Central Iowa climate long-term. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refreshing an existing yard, a comprehensive design-to-build approach ensures that every element — from the paver walkways to the pergola to the plantings — works together seamlessly to create the outdoor living space you’ve always envisioned.
Spending time outdoors can have a great impact on your mental health, help you connect with nature, and add another healthy habit to your routine. By installing a paver patio outdoor living space, you are actively improving your life quality, adding a touch of beauty to your yard, and ultimately increasing your property value.
With that said, it’s important to get a paver patio outdoor living space designed specifically for your home. Choosing designs from a gallery never produces the same results because your property is not the one being featured in the catalog. Instead of selecting a set option, get a custom design that takes all of the little nuances and intricacies of your property, accentuates the natural lines in your garden, and transforms your outdoor space into one of your activity hubs.
At Ted Lare Design Build, we only create custom outdoor living space designs for our customers. We believe that the best exterior spaces take into account the characteristics, appearance, and available space of the home they are paired with. This is the reason why our designers start by organizing an in-person visit, understanding your goals, and creating a unique design that fits perfectly with the rest of your property.
Contact Ted Lare Design Build today and our outdoor space and hardscaping experts will be glad to assist you.
While we create every single custom design from scratch, we love to take inspiration from different masterpieces, including our finished projects. We don’t have a set style, but instead we work with a variety of design frameworks and layouts in order to find what works best for your property.
We particularly love paver patios because they fulfill three key roles in your home. They provide durable and smooth surfaces that encourage family and friends to spend time in your outdoor area. They are also extremely practical because they can feature seating areas, barbecue grills, firepits, and water features.
Please take your time and browse through our projects and tell us if you see a style, flow, or single element you’d like to mimic in your design.
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