Built for Living Outside

Forty years ago, a husband and wife began building shade structures for homes along Florida’s Gulf Coast. They had one employee, a modest workshop and a belief that Tampa Bay’s outdoor spaces deserved the same care as the rooms inside. Three generations later, that vision has grown into Patio Lane Outdoor Living, a 10,000-square-foot showroom along U.S. 19 supported by more than 90 people who still sew, weld and build many of its custom elements by hand.

            The showroom brings that craftsmanship to life through an immersive collection of shade, color, texture and comfort. Homeowners can wander beneath several styles of pergolas, operate retractable awnings and motorized screens, sink into outdoor furnishings and feel the quality of performance fabrics before making a commitment. Complete displays reveal how cushions, furniture, kitchens, turf, pavers and architectural shade can work together, allowing visitors to experience what their own backyard could become rather than trying to imagine it from photographs.

            “We wanted people to be able to touch everything before they commit to anything,” says Steve Schechner, founder of the company that would become Patio Lane. “A shade structure is going to sit in someone’s backyard for twenty years. They should know exactly what it feels like before it’s theirs.”

            Patio Lane serves as the residential division of Awning Works, the family’s long-established commercial company. Decades spent creating solutions for hospitality, educational and theme park projects have shaped a level of engineering, durability and precision rarely available in a residential setting. Today, homeowners receive that same commercial-grade quality through products designed for the scale, style and comfort of home.

            Pergolas and awnings create welcome relief from the Florida sun, while retractable screens lower at the touch of a button to soften glare, discourage insects and add privacy. Clear skies and cooler weather invite them to disappear again, restoring the openness of the patio. Custom cushions and curtains introduce softness and personality, transforming architectural structures into inviting spaces made for lingering. Outdoor kitchens, furniture, turf and pavers complete the setting, turning an unfinished yard into a true extension of the home.

            That breadth also makes the process remarkably seamless. A project that might otherwise require a shade specialist, fabricator, furniture retailer, kitchen company and landscape contractor can be coordinated through one team. White-glove service carries the homeowner from the earliest ideas through installation, while in-house sewing, welding and fabrication make room for creative solutions. Custom brackets can accommodate low rooflines, specialized construction can respond to unusual architecture, and fabrics can be coordinated across awnings, curtains and cushions for a polished, intentional finish.

            A visit may begin with a search for shade, then unfold into a much larger vision: a breezy dining area, a protected poolside lounge or a comfortable gathering place that moves effortlessly between open air and enclosure. Touring the adjacent manufacturing facility deepens that connection, offering a firsthand look at the people and craftsmanship behind every detail.

            Patio Lane’s story is one of family, local growth and a return to the residential roots that started it all. Homeowners no longer need to piece together their dream backyard through multiple contractors. Patio Lane Outdoor Living has everything you need, all in one place.

FAMILY OWNED, SINCE 1985

In 1985 our family business was located in a small, strip mall in Largo, Florida with only two employees. Over four decades later, we continue to be owner operated and have grown into almost 100 team members!

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM.

Where else can you go to see pergolas, patio canopies, motorized screens, resort style furniture, turf and paver displays all under one roof? We even offer tours of our manufacturing area, so that our clients can see first hand the quality that goes into all our projects!