This Trex Composite deck spans the length of the house with two different levels for entertaining and a pool/hot tub dividing the spaces. Built by Jenkins Custom Homes.

Ground level deck with railings and PVC decking material with hidden fasteners
Inspiration for a large backyard ground level metal railing deck remodel in DC Metro

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Epei benches warm the platinum gray concrete benches and the Firepit will warm legs and bodies as some will eventually sink into the rattan couch or chair which sits squarley on the stamped concrete Sandstone pool deck.

Five residential-style, three-level cottages are located behind the hotel facing 32nd Street. Spanning 1,500 square feet with a kitchen, rooftop deck featuring a fire place + barbeque, two bedrooms and a living room, showcasing masterfully designed interiors. Each cottage is named after the islands in Newport Beach and features a distinctive motif, tapping five elite Newport Beach-based firms: Grace Blu Interior Design, Jennifer Mehditash Design, Brooke Wagner Design, Erica Bryen Design and Blackband Design.

We re-used the homeowners existing Aluminum pavillion roof system, which worked out really well.
Example of an island style deck design in Baltimore

Example of a small arts and crafts backyard deck container garden design in Los Angeles with a pergola

Inspiration for a huge modern backyard deck remodel in Other with a fire pit and a pergola

The two sided fireplace is above the bathtub in the bathroom and at the foot of the bed in the bedroom. The wall is tiled on both sides and the archway into the bathroom is tiled also. A traditional looking faucet with a hand sprayer was added. The drop in tub is classic white and the tub deck is tiled.

re-designed multi-level deck provides ample space for dining, lounging, barbecuing, and entertaining while connecting the living space to the forest beyond. Sheri Brown Dion

Thomas Hayes
Deck - traditional deck idea in Atlanta

This secluded single-family home in Great Falls, had a beautiful backyard setting. The owners recently built a gorgeous pool and surround deck on the right side of the house in their backyard. They inherited a rundown deck off of the kitchen patio doors. Our team designed a two-story outdoor living addition which offers the family everything that they can hope for in outdoor living. Our massive plan required excavation to make the lower level patio both attractive and functional for all kinds of outdoor activity. We excavated down two feet to create a nine-foot high patio, cut concrete walls to add French doors from to dark and unused side of the basement bringing improved use for the basement. The entire back wall was covered with matching brick veneer to entire front and side elevations. The roof of this patio was covered with EPDM roofing rolls to make the lower patio stay dry and protected. Steps away from pool sun deck, this flagstone covered patio turned into a prime space for entertainment. The built-in middle bar equipped with under counter beverage fridge and beer tab to make gatherings more exciting. The side steps built in with matching solid stone threads offered access to driveway and the second floor covered porch. The second floor is finished with porcelain floor tiles, stain grade ceiling panels, wrought iron rails, decorative recessed panel columns, hanging gorgeous ceiling fans steps away from the kitchen. Just outside of this covered porch, there is a deck with the same tile floor facing the pool area offering a breath taking view. Carefully selection of soft toned wood looking plank porcelain tiles compliment the knotty soft grey stain ceiling panels making this project one that shines even on rainy days. The custom-made spiral rod iron staircase offers an elegant second set of steps so that the upper level deck can reach into backyard and pool deck.

This spacious Timber Tech low maintenance deck was built to give the homeowners a place to enjoy the view of their yard while giving them different areas to enjoy different activities. The round aluminum pickets on the rails open the view while creating a sleek look. This multi level deck was custom designed and built in Aurora by Archadeck of Chicagoland.

Large two tier, picture framed composite deck with custom railings, led lights, spiral staircase, composite paver patio, under deck rain system and built in shed with custom barn doors

We completed this exterior renovation just in time for our clients to enjoy the last days of summer. In order to bring new life to this backyard, we built a multi-level deck using Trex composite decking. The home-owner wanted a bit of overhead protection for the upper deck so we had a local glass company install a frameless lami-glass canopy, which we supported with fir beams. They completed the design for the upper deck with side-mounted glass guard rails for a cleaner look.

This home is built into a hill with a walkout basement that has one heck of a view! Not only that, but right next to their walkout basement is the entrance to their two-story, enormous deck that can host parties for years to come!

This home is built into a hill with a walkout basement that has one heck of a view! Not only that, but right next to their walkout basement is the entrance to their two-story, enormous deck that can host parties for years to come!

For this couple, planning to move back to their rambler home in Arlington after living overseas for few years, they were ready to get rid of clutter, clean up their grown-up kids’ boxes, and transform their home into their dream home for their golden years. The old home included a box-like 8 feet x 10 feet kitchen, no family room, three small bedrooms and two back to back small bathrooms. The laundry room was located in a small dark space of the unfinished basement. This home is located in a cul-de-sac, on an uphill lot, of a very secluded neighborhood with lots of new homes just being built around them. The couple consulted an architectural firm in past but never were satisfied with the final plans. They approached Michael Nash Custom Kitchens hoping for fresh ideas. The backyard and side yard are wooded and the existing structure was too close to building restriction lines. We developed design plans and applied for special permits to achieve our client’s goals. The remodel includes a family room, sunroom, breakfast area, home office, large master bedroom suite, large walk-in closet, main level laundry room, lots of windows, front porch, back deck, and most important than all an elevator from lower to upper level given them and their close relative a necessary easier access. The new plan added extra dimensions to this rambler on all four sides. Starting from the front, we excavated to allow a first level entrance, storage, and elevator room. Building just above it, is a 12 feet x 30 feet covered porch with a leading brick staircase. A contemporary cedar rail with horizontal stainless steel cable rail system on both the front porch and the back deck sets off this project from any others in area. A new foyer with double frosted stainless-steel door was added which contains the elevator. The garage door was widened and a solid cedar door was installed to compliment the cedar siding. The left side of this rambler was excavated to allow a storage off the garage and extension of one of the old bedrooms to be converted to a large master bedroom suite, master bathroom suite and walk-in closet. We installed matching brick for a seam-less exterior look. The entire house was furnished with new Italian imported highly custom stainless-steel windows and doors. We removed several brick and block structure walls to put doors and floor to ceiling windows. A full walk in shower with barn style frameless glass doors, double vanities covered with selective stone, floor to ceiling porcelain tile make the master bathroom highly accessible. The other two bedrooms were reconfigured with new closets, wider doorways, new wood floors and wider windows. Just outside of the bedroom, a new laundry room closet was a major upgrade. A second HVAC system was added in the attic for all new areas. The back side of the master bedroom was covered with floor to ceiling windows and a door to step into a new deck covered in trex and cable railing. This addition provides a view to wooded area of the home. By excavating and leveling the backyard, we constructed a two story 15’x 40’ addition that provided the tall ceiling for the family room just adjacent to new deck, a breakfast area a few steps away from the remodeled kitchen. Upscale stainless-steel appliances, floor to ceiling white custom cabinetry and quartz counter top, and fun lighting improved this back section of the house with its increased lighting and available work space. Just below this addition, there is extra space for exercise and storage room. This room has a pair of sliding doors allowing more light inside. The right elevation has a trapezoid shape addition with floor to ceiling windows and space used as a sunroom/in-home office. Wide plank wood floors were installed throughout the main level for continuity. The hall bathroom was gutted and expanded to allow a new soaking tub and large vanity. The basement half bathroom was converted to a full bathroom, new flooring and lighting in the entire basement changed the purpose of the basement for entertainment and spending time with grandkids. Off white and soft tone were used inside and out as the color schemes to make this rambler spacious and illuminated. Final grade and landscaping, by adding a few trees, trimming the old cherry and walnut trees in backyard, saddling the yard, and a new concrete driveway and walkway made this home a unique and charming gem in the neighborhood.

Built-in seating adds function and heightens the visual interest of this ground-level deck. With its close resemblance to exotic hardwoods, Fiberon Horizon Decking in Ipe amps up dramatic appeal. The finished look is clean and contemporary, but far from ordinary.