Even the utility entrance of the Schneider home offers a warm welcome, as guests are brought in by way of a stone path and stacked split-faced steps. An unassuming neutral palette is enhanced with Ipe decking and weathered fixtures. Ipe, a Braziian hardwood, is ideal for outdoor applications, lasting 25-40 years without treatment. As Gayle explains, "It is lower maintenance if you let it age naturally, like teak or cedar, but we've chosen to seal it yearly to highlight and retain more of the deeper, richer color." Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2013 Houzz