Designer’s Thoughtfully Redesigned Deck Supports Aging in Place
An outdoor space in Washington state with a kitchen, bar and dining area hosts peaceful mornings and lively gatherings
Designer Molly McCabe and her husband share a love of grilling, entertaining and watching wildlife from their deck on Washington’s Bainbridge Island. For decades, the cedar deck — built by the couple from trees felled on their pond-side property — served as a grilling spot and an outdoor play area for their children.
After their kids left home, the couple set out to reimagine the space for a new chapter. McCabe designed the new deck with aging in place in mind, while also shielding it from the rain that often put a damper on their grilling plans. The result is a fully covered outdoor kitchen, a separate bar and dining area and a seamless, accessible transition between indoors and out.
After their kids left home, the couple set out to reimagine the space for a new chapter. McCabe designed the new deck with aging in place in mind, while also shielding it from the rain that often put a damper on their grilling plans. The result is a fully covered outdoor kitchen, a separate bar and dining area and a seamless, accessible transition between indoors and out.
After: The new composite deck has stainless steel railings that keep views of the surrounding woods and wildlife as open as possible. McCabe, who had previous experience catering large fundraisers, drew on that knowledge to lay out the space. “Getting people to circulate in a social environment is really important,” she says. She placed the outdoor kitchen in a corner and a separate beverage station against the house, with a dining table between them to encourage movement.
“The policy in our house is that you pour what you want,” McCabe says. The self-serve bar has a beverage fridge with a built-in ice bin, a sink, an ice maker, a paper towel drawer and a trash and recycling pullout. The bar’s proximity to the home’s existing plumbing lines also helped with its placement.
Decking: Coastline series, AZEK
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“The policy in our house is that you pour what you want,” McCabe says. The self-serve bar has a beverage fridge with a built-in ice bin, a sink, an ice maker, a paper towel drawer and a trash and recycling pullout. The bar’s proximity to the home’s existing plumbing lines also helped with its placement.
Decking: Coastline series, AZEK
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Before: When building the original deck, the couple designed it around a spectacular cedar tree.
After: Because McCabe extended the deck over the former stair area, it now wraps around the tree on three sides. The larger footprint also makes room for a dining table that can be extended with a leaf to accommodate bigger gatherings.
“We set the deck for intimate groups and large-scale dining,” McCabe says. “My husband and I eat at the bar or the smaller version of the table when we’re alone. We recently seated 30 people comfortably for my best friend’s daughter’s wedding breakfast.”
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“We set the deck for intimate groups and large-scale dining,” McCabe says. “My husband and I eat at the bar or the smaller version of the table when we’re alone. We recently seated 30 people comfortably for my best friend’s daughter’s wedding breakfast.”
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An outdoor kitchen topped the couple’s wish list. “We entertain a fair amount, and I found that I was spending a lot of time in the kitchen putting things together,” McCabe says. The new setup allows her to be part of gatherings while she cooks, and a cover protects the space from the rain.
A pond off the left side of the deck draws the most wildlife action, which the couple can observe while they’re cooking, dining or enjoying morning coffee at the island.
They upsized to a 36-inch gas grill — it comes in handy when their son, a commercial fisherman, brings home crabs for a boil. A double-burner gas cooktop and plenty of countertop space also help keep McCabe outside and in the social mix while she cooks and preps. Power outages are common here, so she had a gas line run to the outdoor kitchen. This was also an aging-in-place consideration. “Slinging 5-gallon propane tanks was not something we wanted to do anymore,” she says.
Cooktop and grill: Crown Verity
What to Know About Adding an Outdoor Kitchen
A pond off the left side of the deck draws the most wildlife action, which the couple can observe while they’re cooking, dining or enjoying morning coffee at the island.
They upsized to a 36-inch gas grill — it comes in handy when their son, a commercial fisherman, brings home crabs for a boil. A double-burner gas cooktop and plenty of countertop space also help keep McCabe outside and in the social mix while she cooks and preps. Power outages are common here, so she had a gas line run to the outdoor kitchen. This was also an aging-in-place consideration. “Slinging 5-gallon propane tanks was not something we wanted to do anymore,” she says.
Cooktop and grill: Crown Verity
What to Know About Adding an Outdoor Kitchen
The 10-by-7-foot structure over the kitchen echoes the midcentury architecture of the house. “We wanted to keep it as simple as possible,” McCabe says. Streamlined yet well appointed, the space features marine-grade stainless steel cabinetry with rollout drawers that provide lots of storage for utensils, platters and citronella candles — and will stand up to the salty air from Puget Sound.
The island base combines two materials. One is a composite that matches the ceiling, and the other is a Japanese ceramic tile that complements the surrounding foliage and the home’s exterior.
Lighting was an important aging-in-place consideration. Ceiling fixtures, sconces and integrated lights in all the stair-riser lights provide ample illumination for safety, while dimmers throughout allow the couple to shift from bright lighting for cooking to a softer glow for enjoying the night sky. McCabe also notes that the cooktop dials light up, making them easier to see after dark.
Cabinets: Nyman Construction; countertops: Works Granite & Stone; sconces: Kuzco Lighting; ceiling lights: Eurofase Lighting
The island base combines two materials. One is a composite that matches the ceiling, and the other is a Japanese ceramic tile that complements the surrounding foliage and the home’s exterior.
Lighting was an important aging-in-place consideration. Ceiling fixtures, sconces and integrated lights in all the stair-riser lights provide ample illumination for safety, while dimmers throughout allow the couple to shift from bright lighting for cooking to a softer glow for enjoying the night sky. McCabe also notes that the cooktop dials light up, making them easier to see after dark.
Cabinets: Nyman Construction; countertops: Works Granite & Stone; sconces: Kuzco Lighting; ceiling lights: Eurofase Lighting
Overhangs on two sides of the island create a natural gathering place for small groups and a favorite spot for the couple to dine and catch the wildlife action around the pond. McCabe had the island set on retractable industrial casters, allowing it to roll easily under the cover during inclement weather. A built-in ballast keeps it stable and prevents tipping.
Sustainability was also a priority. McCabe salvaged the polished quartzite countertops from a remnant and repurposed a standing-seam metal roof that had been purchased for another project but was damaged.
Sustainability was also a priority. McCabe salvaged the polished quartzite countertops from a remnant and repurposed a standing-seam metal roof that had been purchased for another project but was damaged.
Before: Leveling the main deck and creating wheelchair-accessible entries from the sliding doors and the yard were key priorities.
After: McCabe designed a 60-inch-deep platform off the sliding doors, providing ample space for a wheelchair to pivot (if needed in the future). A path on the right provides direct access to the yard, and a portable aluminum ramp can be placed over the steps next to the handrail.
For safety, the designer had lights installed in the stair risers off the platform. A custom planter subtly marks the change between levels and brings hydrangeas and lavender plants to the deck.
The couple now start each day sitting at the island in their outdoor kitchen. “We love to sit outside every day and have coffee here,” McCabe says. “It’s such a peaceful place.”
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For safety, the designer had lights installed in the stair risers off the platform. A custom planter subtly marks the change between levels and brings hydrangeas and lavender plants to the deck.
The couple now start each day sitting at the island in their outdoor kitchen. “We love to sit outside every day and have coffee here,” McCabe says. “It’s such a peaceful place.”
More on Houzz
Read more landscape stories
Browse outdoor photos for ideas
Find a home professional
Deck at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Molly McCabe and her husband
Location: Bainbridge Island, Washington
Size: 864 square feet (80 square meters); 36 by 24 feet
Designer: McCabe By Design
Builder: Superior Construction
Before: The existing deck had served the family well, but it was rotting and lacked a roof to protect the grilling area from the elements. Another part of the project replaced the wide stairs that led down to the yard on the left with an extended section of deck.