Sausalito, CA / photo: Jay Graham Constructed by 'All Decked Out' Marin County, CA. 384299
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary metal railing and privacy balcony remodel in San Francisco with no cover

click here to see BEFORE photos / AFTER photos http://ayeletdesigns.com/sunnyvale17/ Photos credit to Arnona Oren Photography

This stunning modern patio cover offers both style and functionality, featuring a sleek design with integrated LED lighting and a ceiling fan. Its open, minimalist structure provides a seamless blend of indoor comfort and outdoor beauty, making it the perfect spot to unwind or entertain. The warm wood grain accents contrast beautifully with the clean lines, while the lighting and fan ensure a cozy and cool ambiance throughout the day and night. Ideal for creating a luxurious outdoor retreat, this space combines contemporary aesthetics with practical elements for year-round enjoyment.

Dustin Peck
Home design - large rustic home design idea in Charlotte

The homeowners desired an outdoor space that felt more rustic than their refined interior spaces, but still related architecturally to their house. Cement plaster support arbor columns provide enough of visual tie to the existing house exterior. Oversized wood beams and rafter members provide a unique outdoor atmosphere. Structural bolts and hardware were minimized for a cleaner appearance. Structural connections and supports were engineered to meet California's stringent earthquake standards. Ali Atri Photography

Example of a 1950s wooden straight open staircase design in Seattle

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2015 Houzz
Country brick floor sunroom photo in New York with a standard fireplace and a standard ceiling

The wet bar includes a built-in wine cooler and a highlight in this stunning kitchen renovation is the ceiling hung glass and metal shelving unit that is truly a piece of art.

Living room - rustic living room idea in Denver with a metal fireplace

Ever notice how your iron fence looks worse every spring after another Chicago winter? That slow deterioration is not cosmetic - it is active metal failure that compounds every freeze-thaw cycle until replacement becomes the only option. Windy City Painters works with homeowners across the Chicago North Side and Near West Side to restore original iron fencing on greystones, two-flats, Victorian brownstones, and coach houses before that point is reached. PROJECT OVERVIEW This iron fence restoration involved a classic Chicago residential property with original wrought iron fencing showing surface rust across the majority of pickets, flaking previous paint coats, and localized deep pitting near the base rails. A structural check identified two loose pickets requiring welding before any surface preparation or coating began. Total linear footage fell in the mid-range for a standard Chicago residential lot. MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS Windy City Painters selected Ospho rust converter for chemically neutralizing active iron oxide before priming. Ospho reacts with rust to form a stable phosphate compound that stops corrosion progression rather than simply sealing over it. Sherwin-Williams DTM rust-inhibitive primer was applied to all bare and converted surfaces, followed by two finish coats of Rust-Oleum DTM in satin black. DTM - direct to metal - formulas provide corrosion inhibitors built into the coating matrix, which matters significantly in Chicago's climate. THE PROCESS Step 1 - Structural Assessment and Welding Coordination. Before any surface preparation begins, Windy City Painters inspects every picket and rail connection for structural integrity. Loose or cracked iron must be welded before coating. Paint applied over a compromised joint will fail within one season as movement continues to break the bond. On this project, two pickets were tack-welded by a coordinating welder before prep started. Step 2 - Wire Wheel Grinding and Needle Gun Descaling. All rusted sections were ground to bare or near-bare metal using wire wheel attachments and needle gun descaling tools. This step removes loose scale, flaking previous coatings, and surface contamination that would prevent primer adhesion. Skipping mechanical prep is the single most common reason iron fence paint fails prematurely on Chicago properties. Step 3 - Ospho Rust Converter Application. Ospho was brushed into all pitted and converted areas and allowed to cure fully. The phosphoric acid chemistry converts iron oxide into iron phosphate, arresting active rust and creating a surface that accepts primer more effectively than bare metal alone. Corroseal is an equivalent alternative used on projects with heavier pitting. Step 4 - DTM Primer and Finish Coat Application. Sherwin-Williams DTM rust-inhibitive primer was applied across all prepared surfaces. Two topcoats of Rust-Oleum DTM in satin black followed after full primer cure. DTM finish coats add a second corrosion-inhibiting layer and provide the UV and weather resistance needed for Chicago exterior iron work. CHICAGO-SPECIFIC CHALLENGES Chicago iron fencing faces conditions that accelerate corrosion faster than most US markets. Lake humidity keeps metal surface moisture elevated through much of the year. Road salt splash from winter maintenance reaches fencing along parkways and sidewalk edges, introducing chlorides that aggressively attack iron. Freeze-thaw cycles expand any rust pocket that has formed under paint, lifting coatings from the inside and creating the classic bubbled-paint appearance homeowners notice every spring. WHAT TO EXPECT LONG-TERM With Ospho conversion, DTM primer, and two DTM finish coats properly applied over mechanically prepared surfaces, most Chicago residential iron fences hold 5-8 years before needing significant touch-up. Annual visual inspection for any chips or bare spots, with immediate touch-up using Rust-Oleum DTM, extends that window considerably. PRO TIPS Tip 1 - Address any bare metal spot the same season you notice it. A pinhole of exposed iron becomes a rust bubble within one Chicago winter and a flaking section by the following spring. Tip 2 - Never paint over active rust without a converter step. Ospho or Corroseal is inexpensive insurance against a complete repaint two years early. Tip 3 - Check picket bases at grade level every spring. Ground contact accelerates corrosion at the base faster than anywhere else on the fence. Catching it early keeps welding out of the equation. Contact Windy City Painters at windypainters.com for a project estimate. FAQ Q: What does iron fence painting cost in Chicago? A: Residential iron fence painting with proper rust prep typically runs $300-$900 for standard lot footage. Windy City Painters provides itemized estimates based on linear footage, rust severity, and whether structural welding is required before surface preparation begins. Q: Do you paint over rust or remove it first? A: Windy City Painters always addresses active rust before priming. Ospho or Corroseal rust converter chemically neutralizes iron oxide, and wire wheel grinding removes loose scale - coating over unaddressed rust guarantees early failure on Chicago iron fences. Q: When does an iron fence need welding before painting? A: Loose pickets, cracked rails, or connections with visible movement require welding before any coating work begins. Paint cannot stabilize a structural joint - Windy City Painters coordinates with welders when this condition is identified during initial assessment. Q: How long does iron fence paint last in Chicago? A: With mechanical prep, Ospho conversion, and Sherwin-Williams or Rust-Oleum DTM coatings, properly restored iron fencing holds 5-8 years in Chicago's freeze-thaw climate before needing significant maintenance. Q: Is Ospho better than Corroseal for Chicago iron fences? A: Both are effective rust converters. Ospho is a liquid phosphoric acid treatment suited for moderate rust and pitting. Corroseal is a latex-based converter-primer hybrid better suited to heavier rust profiles. Windy City Painters selects based on site conditions. Q: What finish sheen works best on iron fencing? A: Satin or semi-gloss black is the traditional and most durable choice for Chicago greystone and brownstone properties. Satin hides minor surface imperfections better than gloss while still providing adequate UV and moisture resistance. Q: Can iron fence painting be done in spring or fall in Chicago? A: Yes. Windy City Painters schedules iron fence work in temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit with low ambient humidity - spring and early fall are often ideal windows that avoid both winter cold and peak summer humidity.

Espaliered witch hazel on welded wire mesh creates a dynamic view across from the kitchen. Viroc herb planters line a breezeway with pavers set in gravel. Two serviceberry trees lit from below punctuate the end of the garden space.

Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in Los Angeles

A West Village bachelor pad inspired by classic mid-century modern designs, mixed with some industrial, traveled, and street style influences. The space was a pre-war one bedroom that had certainly withheld the test of time, and we wanted to highlight the architectural elements that the space offered (such as the molding details, windows etc.). Our client took inspiration from both this travels as well as his city (NY!), and we really wanted to incorporate that into the design. In the foyer we turned a photo that we had taken of a nearby graffiti wall into a removable wallpaper, that we inset into the picture frame style moldings. In the entry we found large metal vintage letters that fit perfectly into the recess, to add interest to what was a long, boring hallway. Photos by Matthew Williams

The Chase loft bed is Minnesota-made from durable, natural steel and is hand-welded for extra strength. Chase's clean, versatile design gives you the flexibility to tuck a twin bed, reading nook, desk or study spot underneath the loft. Because this loft has a ladder design on both ends of the bed, you can position it anywhere in the room. Our Chase loft bed meets or exceeds all U.S. requirements of the CPSC and the voluntary standards of ASTM.

A dynamic great room space! The classic white shaker style kitchen is revolutionized with warm accents on the island, a modern glass panel back splash in a copper finish, and oil-rubbed bronze hardware. The custom curved fireplace wall is covered in a textural tile from Porcelanosa to accentuate its form. Two concave niches for artwork, a modern gas fireplace, and built-in t.v. make this a one of a kind feature. The staircase was modernized with dark wooden treads and a custom aircraft cable railing with welded iron posts to complement the large iron post supporting the eating bar fastened to the kitchen's island. The adjoining guest bathroom was remodeled with sleek modern finishes to flow with the design of the great room. Photo Credit: Nar Fine Carpentry, Inc.

Farmhouse porch idea in Cleveland

The 6 Pc. Coronado Wicker Bar Set by Sunset West (2101-7B-6Pc) is the perfect set to make your patio or poolside bar area feel complete. The set includes a club chair with an ottoman and side table to go along with three bar stools. Of course, like all sets in the Coronado collection, this is one that is easy to customize or expand with additional pieces to your liking. The synthetic resin wicker with a driftwood finish makes the set not only stylish but also durable enough to be a staple of your patio summer after summer. The cushions in the set are made with your choice of many Sunbrella brand fabrics, which offer unmatched comfort, lifespan, and protection against the elements. This Wicker Bar Set Includes: three bar stools, a club chair with matching ottoman, and an end table. Construction separates Coronado from the other patio sets offered by big box stores. The highest quality Sunbrella® fabric is used for all of the cushions seen in this sofa set. All of the resin wicker is made from scratch for each set, and is both resistant to the fading effects of UV rays, and weather resistant. The aluminum in these frames has the highest purity rating in the business, and all of the frames are spot-welded for extra durability. This is true outdoor furniture, made to reside outside whether rain or shine. Features at a Glance: Dimensions: Club Chair: 35"W x 35"D x 35"H (2101-21) Optional Coffee Table: 48"W x 32"D x 20"H (2101-CT) Ottoman: 32"W x 24"D x 18"H (2101-OTT) End Table: 22"W x 22"D x 22"H (2101-ET) Bar Stool: 19"W x 22"D x 30"H (2101-7B) Premium resin wicker in our new Driftwood color Cushion fabric treated to be resistant to stains, water, and oil UV Ray protection on wicker for increased longevity Pictured cushions are included - customizable cushions currently not available

Example of a beach style patio design in Other

Example of an arts and crafts home design design in Other