Michael Hsu
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AZEK Deck's Silver Oak® offers warm, vibrant wood tones with natural color variations. Subtle streaking to mimic exotic wood gives Silver Oak some of the most natural aesthetics in capped PVC decking. Silver Oak(R) has the aged look of teak with the rich personality of weathered wood.

©StevenPaulWhitsitt_Photography Side view of the rear deck. At the rear of the house, the client's need for a new entertainment space was met by a tree-like structure to support a multi-level deck. The glass rail and abstract trees and branches of the deck enhance the relationship to natural setting as well as create an extension of the living and dining spaces. The glass deck rails provide uninterrupted views of the pond beyond.

Inspiration for a transitional backyard deck remodel in Dallas with a fire pit and a pergola

Photo by Kay Kim/Rill Architects
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The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call "tweeners"; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area. This was done by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing portion of the patio, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished, limestone-colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into it's surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool with their bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge, Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls (which were overwhelming in the space) and also opened up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive Pecan tree at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited for proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks added, and once again expertly married into the existing decks, opening the area to house a large dining table and a newly built-in BBQ area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property. Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscape as possible. But, the surrounding decks, walls and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. However, upon closer inspection, one can see the subtle-yet-transformative changes that came together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, as well as to improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of this massive hardscape.

Released in 2015, the AZEK Deck Vintage Collection is upping the ante in the decking industry. With rich colors and classic style, the Vintage Collection represents a complete game-changer within the capped PVC decking category. Its unprecedented natural, classic looks are designed to completely reinvent the category of low maintenance PVC decking. The Vintage Collection, which must be seen to be appreciated, consists of three natural shades that have the definitive look of freshly stained wood. But forget the work as these boards will maintain their beauty and richness without the need for applying stain. AZEK Deck’s Vintage Collection striking color options are: Mahogany, a mid-brown with hints of red and dark streaking; Cypress, a light, sunny, reddish hue; and Dark Hickory, a deep, rich gray with lighter streaking.

This co-op roof deck for a large apartment building in Midtown East, Manhattan is made for large groups of people to enjoy at one time. It features composite wood decking and fencing, as well as white concrete pavers on pedestals. White fiberglass planters are contemporary looking and provide a nice bit of contrast to the brown deck and fence materials. A white fiberglass pergola is lightweight and easy to maintain. Sling furnishings don't require cushions, which makes them a very low-maintenance choice for a communal space. The plantings include hardy hornbeam trees, coralbark maples, crape myrtles, maiden grasses, Knockout roses, boxwoods, hydrangeas, bamboo, and arborvitaes. Read more about our projects on my blog, www.amberfreda.com.

We built this bench onto the side of the deck for a client. It provides a great seating area when hosting friends or family!
Inspiration for a large timeless backyard deck remodel in Other with no cover

Woodridge Deck & Gazebo Co.
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Few materials can match the natural beauty of a newly installed wood deck and fence, which were a dramatic transformation for this small backyard patio. A paraffin treatment brings out the rich colors of ipe, a hardwood with a 30 year life expectancy. We gave the fence a contemporary twist by running the boards horizontally and varying the width, gradually thinning them as they go up. The bluestone pavers add a bit of contrast and visual interest on the patio floor. In order to save space, our clients asked us to build the planters into the fence itself, rather than resting any free-standing planters on the patio floor. This backyard is located in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. See more garden design photos at www.amberfreda.com.

Example of a small classic backyard deck design in Seattle

custom decking, outdoor living space, outdoor seating, iron rails
Inspiration for a timeless deck remodel in Portland with no cover

Few materials can match the natural beauty of a newly installed wood deck and fence, which were a dramatic transformation for this small backyard patio. A paraffin treatment brings out the rich colors of ipe, a hardwood with a 30 year life expectancy. We gave the fence a contemporary twist by running the boards horizontally and varying the width, gradually thinning them as they go up. The bluestone pavers add a bit of contrast and visual interest on the patio floor. In order to save space, our clients asked us to build the planters into the fence itself, rather than resting any free-standing planters on the patio floor. This backyard is located in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. See more garden design photos at www.amberfreda.com.

A free-standing roof structure provides a shaded lounging area. This pavilion garnered a first-place award in the 2015 NADRA (North American Deck and Railing Association) National Deck Competition. It has a meranti ceiling with a louvered cupola and paddle fan to keep cool. (Photo by Frank Gensheimer.)

This space (called the Grotto) below the upper deck provides a place to relax and entertain friends. Move the table under the cover for a waterfront dining experience. The lumber is tight knot cedar with a Penofin finish.

SJC Dramatic Remodel
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