10 Ways to Bedeck Your Deck
Make the Most of Your Indoor-Outdoor Kick-Back Space
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Whether you're planning to add a deck to your home or are just feeling like yours is a bit ho-hum, there are lots of moves that can help you make the most of this outdoor space. If you're starting from scratch, you'll want to complement your house, ease the transition from indoors to out, and make the most of your surroundings. If your home is already bedecked, you can transform these spaces to make sure you'll use them as often as possible. You can make small moves like adding flowers, to big moves like adding built-in furnishings. All right, I promise I won't say "bedecked" again for the rest of this ideabook.
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by Robert Granoff
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| First, take advantage of your surroundings. All right, few of us have the chance to enjoy a view quite this good from our decks, but I thought I'd kick off this ideabook with something spectacular. |
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by Robert Granoff
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| This is the same deck you see in the previous picture. It's in Belize, and its perch is not all that different from a zip-line starting point: high in the trees with a long vista over the jungle. |
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by Elliott Kaufman
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| A long viewing platform on this deck makes for a new and dramatic experience. |
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by DNM Architect
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| The design of this railing has a nautical feel and allows for a view through to the harbor and its boats. |
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| When choosing materials and planning the design, think of how it will relate to the house. This minimal deck adds a bit of ornament to the unadorned house facade; the lines and patterns in the wood add rhythm and texture. |
| Too often decks are haphazardly added to the back of a house without regard for the architecture. Not so with this deck and arbor painted to match the rest of the house. |
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| Plan on getting comfortable. There are so many new options for |
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| This sectional creates a spot for gathering that's just as comfortable as an indoor room. |
| Plan for built-in furniture.Built-in deck furnishings can be as simple as a wooden wraparound bench. |
These built-ins take it a step further and incorporate a wall and lighting.
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| Built-ins can also take it a few steps further and build them out for more cushy lounging. |
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| Plan for plants. Other clever deck built-ins include planters. This is a great opportunity for adding a layer of privacy with taller plants, and creating a spot for an edible garden. |
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If you don't want to get so elaborate, something as simple as these galvanized bins can contain plants. Check the paint section of a big-box hardware store; these are very inexpensive.
| A mix of terracotta pots is also a good move. When a deck is close to the ground level, be sure to leave room for planting around the edges. |
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| Emphasize connectivity between indoors and out. This deck connects to a second one via this staircase. Everyone can enjoy the lily pond from different levels. |
| A deck is a transitional area between your indoor space and the rest of your yard. Make sure you have good visual and physical access from inside, and if possible, provide this same access from the deck to the rest of the yard. |
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| This deck can be directly accessed from the house, and it is part of a greater circulation plan that includes these stepping stones. |
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| Here the same decking material is used to connect the house to the hot tub area. The staggered platforms add a calm, Japanese-style sensibility. |
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| This deck is nestled in the trees, and the detail over the planter brings the eye up to further emphasize the vertical. |
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| Plan around trees. Literally. This doesn't always work out, but it's wonderful when you are able to save a tree by cutting the deck around it. |
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by Spore Design
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| Give a roof new purpose.Part deck, part planted roof. this kind of design helps lessen the amount of rainwater runoff. |
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| Program different areas for different activities. Design blogger Cococozy has maximized the potential of her deck, creating rooms for all different activities from napping to entertaining. All of the details are here. |
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by SB Architects
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| The Hillside House utilizes outdoor space as much as indoor space. Covered and uncovered decks add several rooms to the house, and one even contains a bathtub. |
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| This deck makes the most of the covered area, where there is an outdoor living room, while leaving a freer program around the uncovered parts. |
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| The dining area is uncovered and overlooks the pool ... |
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| ... also, the wide stairs beyond the dining table provide a strong connection between the deck and the pool area. |
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| Bonus shot. This is simply one of my favorite photographs on Houzz. The photographers did such a brilliant job with the composition: plants on two sides, the off-center circle from the table, the way the chairs are pulled out, and even that magazine open to what appears to be a Ruben Toledo illustration.
More: Deck Days What Makes a Patio Modern? Ten Ways to Make Your Balcony More Inviting |
Comments
Danielle Becky you did a fabulous job here...great tips and beautiful photos, thanks.
2 years ago · Like
bubbletoes So very beautiful ! thanks for these wonderful ideas!
2 years ago · Like
Reena I love decks for small yard space !! thank you-
2 years ago · Like
Johanna Wow! Nice job! While some are eccentric, most are acheiveable with more time, energy and creativity than money! They all make you want to take a break and put your feet up!!!
2 years ago · Like
Ayelet Designs love this idea book!!
2 years ago · Like
midmodfan So many wonderful ideas and beautiful photos. Thank you!
2 years ago · Like
dancingfish I have to say that when we redid our deck we added wide stairs both width and depth and they really transform the space. Providing added seated (wider stairs) and providing a connection to the yard.
2 years ago · Like
Tierney Conner Design Studio Decks are one of our favorite things to design - they can be such a great transitional space between interior and exterior spaces...here is one that is near completion, and one that was completed a couple of years ago (Tierney Conner) 
2 years ago · Like
lronald Loving all these beautiful and well thought out spaces
2 years ago · Like
tboz VERY VERY NICE i LOVE OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 years ago · Like
luckykats The horizontal wire (actually, any horizontal railing) is usually against building code because small children can so easily climb it and fall over. It looks good though.
2 years ago · Like
snowblime Actually luckykatz cable rail does meet code. As long as the gap between the cables are less than 4". There used to be a ladder effect rule in the code which was removed about 12 years ago making horizontal rail legal here in the states although some parts of Canada have held on the the rule. AGS stainless is a good company for stainless cable rail if you like the look.
8 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on May 9, 2011.
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