"The addition of a shade sail can make an existing outdoor living space so much more interesting," says Nathaniel Allen, cofounder of Tenshon, a shade sail manufacturer. Shades are available in almost any size. (Tenshon made a 10,000-square-foot one to cover a sea lion exhibit for a zoo in Louisiana.) You can overlap them to add dimension and more coverage, and use different colors for contrast.
Make a seating area feel more private. Have a seating area in your yard but find you rarely feel like using it? If so, perhaps privacy is an issue. Even if you don’t think you mind seeing or hearing neighbors, you will probably feel more comfortable if you can increase privacy. Hedges and climbing plants can provide a living wall, and solidly constructed benches, planters and shade covers can add to the feelings of privacy and safety. Consider also adding a water feature if neighbors are close — it will mask your own conversations as well as cut down on chatter from the other side of the fence.
Consider steps and pathways between outdoor rooms. Part of what makes outdoor rooms work well is the way you travel from one part of the space to another. Consider adding stairs, terraces, gravel paths or stepping stones between outdoor rooms. Or change the material underfoot — pavers in one area; pea gravel, concrete and grass in others.
Creating a contemporary seating space otudoors is surprisingly simple as well as comfortable and inviting. A softly colored but not too sweetly pastel rug anchors the space, the dark wood of the deck and furniture is modern in feeling, and bright red accents echo the brick of the building beyond. If you crave a modern touch, even in a traditional garden, a patio or deck may be the perfect spot to experiment. It's usually separate from the rest of the garden, so a different style isn't as jarring.
Get some breathing space. Spending time outside in the fresh air is healthy and relieves stress. Whether you have a postage-stamp-size balcony or a sprawling yard with an incredible view, make the most of it by arranging the space with care. If you do have a great view, position a few lounge chairs so you can enjoy the vista while relaxing. If your view is of the next-door neighbor’s house, use planters to create a buffer and provide something lovely to look at.
Consider how it will look. When adding a deck, it’s best to consider the style and architecture of your house so that the addition either blends in with or at least complements your home. A trained professional will be best suited to make recommendations on deck style, materials, color and more.
How will you access the deck? If you currently have a door that leads outside to where you’ll want your deck, then congratulations — you’re in good shape. But if you’re adding a deck to a portion of your house that doesn’t have a door, then you’ll have to add an opening, which can increase costs drastically depending on whether you’re planning for a door in a load-bearing wall or not. If you’re using your deck for dining (which you should), you’ll want it located as close to your kitchen as possible. “You don’t want to have to climb a bunch of stairs just to go back in for some salt,” says Clemens Jellema, who runs Fine Decks and has been building decks for 20 years.
What do you want your deck to do? Typically, people want a deck that’s multipurpose, with areas for eating, cooking and hanging out. But, as with most things, the sky is the limit. So depending on your budget, consider things like an outdoor TV, a fireplace, a fire pit, a hot tub, a kitchen, a water feature and more. Figuring out what you want your deck to do will also help determine its size, safety measures and traffic flow. Do you host a lot of parties, or is it just you and a partner? Do you have a lot of kids? The last thing you want or need is a deck that’s too small or too large for your needs. Also consider privacy on your deck. If you don’t want to feel like you’re on a stage performing for your neighbors, you’ll want to think about adding an arbor, a pergola, latticework or something else to create privacy.
Add storage. Creating ample storage around the home is a challenge for most of us, especially when it comes to our yards. Just like indoors, the underside of a deck or staircase is a perfect space to convert into storage; use it for items such as garden tools, empty pots and outdoor recreational equipment.
Create wide steps with a run of 1½ feet or more. By doing so, you’ll lessen the angle of descent, making them safer as well as creating an inviting place for casual seating.
Extend steps the entire length of the deck. By extending the steps the length of the deck, you not only will successfully hide the underside of the deck, but you’ll also create an open, graceful transition from the deck to the garden beyond.
Soften the edges with plantings. If you don’t feel the need to completely obscure the deck’s underside, try surrounding it with plants. They will soften the deck’s edges and in the absence of railings will act as a natural barrier to keep people from stepping off into the surrounding bed. Tip: Be sure to include some evergreens so there will be screening year-round. Agaves surround this Australian deck.
This outdoor getaway is separated and enclosed by an inexpensive bamboo screen.
Make a Wall If you don't have an enclosed space, create one with a screen, a curtain or a row of plants.
To avoid the effects of weathering and decay, consider building with manufactured plastic lumber made from recycled bottles, plastic bags and wood scraps. It comes in standard lumber sizes, connects with screws and doesn’t rot, making it ideal for rooftop getaways.
Decking. A contractor friend of mine calls wood decks “dry rot in slow motion.” He’s pretty spot-on. Traditional wood decks, regardless of how much waterproofing sealant you apply each year, will eventually succumb to nature’s forces (or termites). But if you’ve got a sloping property, need a level surface for outdoor entertaining and want to avoid the expense and disruption of building retaining walls, decking is the way to go. Since you’re not likely to add on to the deck once it’s built, now is the time to decide how it will be used and make space for all the furnishings you want.
Ipe Pros: This very dense tropical hardwood has become popular in recent years as a longer-lasting alternative to commonly available woods. Ipe can be sealed to maintain its deep reddish color, or it can be left untreated, in which case it will turn a brownish gray over time. This material is said to last 25 years or more. Cons: You will pay more for this material. Also, the wood is so dense, it can burn out drill bits quickly.
Sam Crawford Architects SaveEmail Shelter an outdoor space. Outdoor rooms in the backyard are wonderful ... when the weather cooperates. But having a covered space next to the house is also welcome. Add comfy seating and perhaps even a fireplace, and you can watch the rain from the comfort of your cozy perch.
The versatility of it doesn’t end there; the architect has also created a vertical rhythm of support columns in discreet places. Here the wall screening provides privacy for an outdoor shower; a lack of slats in the overhead plane permits light into the shower area. The simple modular system used for this pergola transition zone is infinitely adaptable based on the requirements of the nearby spaces.
DIY: Jellema says 65 percent of all decks are built by homeowners trying to save money, but he warns that these structures are often done without permits, and that can come back to bite homeowners when they go to sell. “You go to sell your house and have a home inspection, and in the end you’ll have to fix your deck that isn’t up to code before you can sell your home,” he says. While a deck can certainly be a DIY project if you’re confident enough in your building abilities, keep in mind that a lot goes into a deck to make it look right and stay level. Again, because deck additions can recoup around 80 percent of their cost when you go to sell your home, it’s often worth it to invest in a skilled professional. Permitting and codes: If your deck is more than 200 square feet, you’ll likely need a permit. If your deck is more than 30 inches off the ground, you’ll need a permit. If you’re doing retaining walls that are higher than 3 feet, you’ll need a permit. Higher than 5 or 6 feet and you’ll need an engineer. Plus, every county has different building codes for decks. Some places allow cable railings; others prohibit them. If you’ve got a septic tank or well on your property, tha...
Who to hire: A professional deck designer-builder is recommended for this project. A pro will meet with you, take measurements and photos of your site, and talk with you about your needs. He or she can make suggestions on blending the deck in with your existing home, and is knowledgeable about local building codes and obtaining the proper permits. “We set up decking with lasers to make sure it’s level; we use the right nails and the right screws,”
Shade. If it’s too sunny or raining, you won’t be enticed to use your new outdoor space unless you have some shade or some sort of covering. There are endless options here, from large umbrellas and retractable awnings to pavilions, gazebos and screened-in porches. Of course, the more elaborate, the more expensive it will be. You can have a deck porch with finished ceilings, fans, TVs, heating and A/C, fireplaces and more. “Projects can get so elaborate that it’s almost like building a house
Composite boards. Composite boards, seen here, are engineered products that are a mixture of wood fibers and plastic; a lot of the material comes from recycled plastic grocery bags. Some companies use old shredded carpets for wood fillers. Newer composite boards are wrapped in a thin plastic layer so they won’t stain or fade. These are more expensive than wood boards but often come with a warranty of 20 to 25 years, are low maintenance and can be made to look almost identical to any species of wood out there. Plus, they stay the same color as the day you installed them. “A lot of contractors have had problems with composites in the past, but they’re getting pretty good now,” Jellema says. Composite is about 40 to 50 percent more expensive than real wood, but because you don’t have to keep restaining it and paying for upkeep, the cost over time can be equal to or less than real wood. To clean composite decking, just rub some detergent on it and hose it off.
Deck. A deck is a platform with decking boards, usually made of either wood or a composite material. A deck is ideal for sloped yards where you want a flat area. It’s also good for homes that sit high above the ground or atop a basement, because they can be built as high as you need. If your home sits higher than about 14 inches off the ground, a platform deck is probably for you.
When the pergola structure got to the large oak we notched it around the tree. We replaced the single entry door with twelve feet of glass to connect the inside to the outdoors and make the small living room feel bigger. PHOTO: Ignacio Salas-Humara
Q