A New Connection to the BackyardThe homeowners assembled a team of design and build professionals, including project managers Chris Magliozzi and Larissa Cook, to re-imagine their deck and transform their outdoor living space. Improving the deck’s functionality was key, according to the project managers. The new deck, Magliozzi says, “is much more connected to the backyard.” Along with the existing access from the house, a second level and new stairs were added to improve the flow to the newly landscaped backyard.
How the Family Uses Two LevelsUpper level use: The upper level, with its close proximity to the house, serves as the perfect serving and dining area for the former chef. “We tied the deck into the kitchen,” Cook says, because “he does a lot of cooking.” Near the side door on the upper level, an overhang attached to the home provides a natural place for the grill, which can be seen in the first image. “Even in what we call the shoulder seasons here, where it’s not really warm enough to sit outside but it’s not bitter cold, they grill outside a lot,” Magliozzi says.Browse outdoor dining furniture
Second level use: The level farthest from the house is designed for pre- or post-dinner entertaining. “The lower level is more informal, for socializing, hanging out and lounging,” Magliozzi says. With its comfortable furniture and warm palette provided by designer Vani Sayeed, guests can easily relax and feel at home.Finding Sustainable LumberFor the homeowners, another important aspect of the project was using environmentally sustainable lumber. Magliozzi and Cook worked with a local Massachusetts supplier, Sterritt Lumber, to select sapele hardwood as the primary deck material. “It’s an African wood species, so it’s very similar to mahogany,” Cook says. Unlike mahogany or redwood, sapele was readily available. “Besides being sustainably harvested and having all the characteristics of mahogany, we could also get it in the variety of products and profiles so that when it was altogether, the color and the grain would match,” Cook says. Deck floorboards: sapele; deck frame: southern pine, pressure treated; lighting: Bryson ElectricYour turn: How do you use your deck? Tell us in the Comments.MoreWhat to Know About Adding a DeckSee How Outdoor Seating Areas Can Inspire You to Get Out...
Photos by Nat ReaDeck at a GlanceWho lives here: A couple and their childrenLocation: Chestnut Hill area in Newton, MassachusettsSize: Existing deck: 224 square feet (20.8 square meters); new deck: 288 square feet (26.76 square meters)Designers: Chris Royer Architects and Vani Sayeed StudiosProject Managers: Chris Magliozzi and Larissa Cook of FBN ConstructionThe backstory: The homeowners, one of whom is a former chef, were looking to create an inviting outdoor space for sharing meals, entertaining friends and enjoying their backyard. Previously, this 1920s era home included a smaller, one-level deck that was disconnected from the then largely neglected, overgrown backyard.
Q