These new homeowners felt detached from their backyard. They considered the tiny elevated deck and screened porch far too small for their two young boys, 13-year-old dog and own entertainment needs. There also was the matter of the ugly black grill cover view from the kitchen island where mom often worked from home.

Although the original builder claimed to have maxed out the site’s 150 sf hardcover and 50 sf stair allowance, this NARI member dug into the code details, double-checked the math and discovered she could expand the deck to 147 sf and the stairs to 38 sf. However, the real magic comes from how the new design melds the structure with the home’s main level, porch and sloping landscape. The owners say they could not have imagined how much better their outdoor living environments would become with innovative products, clever design and a sharper pencil. Clearly, this remodeled space exceeds the sum of its very cool parts.