Situated in a neighborhood of grand Victorians, this shingled Foursquare home seemed like a bit of a wallflower with its plain façade. The homeowner came to Cummings Architects hoping for a design that would add some character and make the house feel more a part of the neighborhood. The answer was an expansive porch that runs along the front façade and down the length of one side, providing a beautiful new entrance, lots of outdoor living space, and more than enough charm to transform the home’s entire personality. Designed to coordinate seamlessly with the streetscape, the porch includes many custom details including perfectly proportioned double columns positioned on handmade piers of tiered shingles, mahogany decking, and a fir beaded ceiling laid in a pattern designed specifically to complement the covered porch layout. Custom designed and built handrails bridge the gap between the supporting piers, adding a subtle sense of shape and movement to the wrap around style. Other details like the crown molding integrate beautifully with the architectural style of the home, making the porch look like it’s always been there. No longer the wallflower, this house is now a lovely beauty that looks right at home among its majestic neighbors. Photo by Eric Roth

Edmund Studios Photography. View from the driveway with the stone wall, wrap around deck, and outdoor shower.
Mid-sized coastal gray two-story mixed siding gable roof idea in Milwaukee with a shingle roof

This unique screened porch located in Darnestown, Maryland provides its hard-working homeowner with an abundance of outdoor space. Situated on a vast wooded lot, the views are absolutely stunning. The elevated sun deck wraps around the complete rear facade the home and features unique cut-outs and a sizable screen room. To successfully preserve the lot's lively green view, a delicate SCREENEZE screening system was used in the screened room in conjunction with WOLF vinyl railings and Deckorators Classic Balusters. The 3/4" round balusters, which are also found around the deck's organic perimeter, blend in seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. AZEK low-maintenance PVC decking serves as the basis of both the deck and the top cop on the handrail system. Multiple sliding doors give access to the screened-in porch and deck, and all of the materials used in the build are low-maintenance.

Situated in a neighborhood of grand Victorians, this shingled Foursquare home seemed like a bit of a wallflower with its plain façade. The homeowner came to Cummings Architects hoping for a design that would add some character and make the house feel more a part of the neighborhood. The answer was an expansive porch that runs along the front façade and down the length of one side, providing a beautiful new entrance, lots of outdoor living space, and more than enough charm to transform the home’s entire personality. Designed to coordinate seamlessly with the streetscape, the porch includes many custom details including perfectly proportioned double columns positioned on handmade piers of tiered shingles, mahogany decking, and a fir beaded ceiling laid in a pattern designed specifically to complement the covered porch layout. Custom designed and built handrails bridge the gap between the supporting piers, adding a subtle sense of shape and movement to the wrap around style. Other details like the crown molding integrate beautifully with the architectural style of the home, making the porch look like it’s always been there. No longer the wallflower, this house is now a lovely beauty that looks right at home among its majestic neighbors. Photo by Eric Roth

When Cummings Architects first met with the owners of this understated country farmhouse, the building’s layout and design was an incoherent jumble. The original bones of the building were almost unrecognizable. All of the original windows, doors, flooring, and trims – even the country kitchen – had been removed. Mathew and his team began a thorough design discovery process to find the design solution that would enable them to breathe life back into the old farmhouse in a way that acknowledged the building’s venerable history while also providing for a modern living by a growing family. The redesign included the addition of a new eat-in kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, wrap around porch, and stone fireplaces. To begin the transforming restoration, the team designed a generous, twenty-four square foot kitchen addition with custom, farmers-style cabinetry and timber framing. The team walked the homeowners through each detail the cabinetry layout, materials, and finishes. Salvaged materials were used and authentic craftsmanship lent a sense of place and history to the fabric of the space. The new master suite included a cathedral ceiling showcasing beautifully worn salvaged timbers. The team continued with the farm theme, using sliding barn doors to separate the custom-designed master bath and closet. The new second-floor hallway features a bold, red floor while new transoms in each bedroom let in plenty of light. A summer stair, detailed and crafted with authentic details, was added for additional access and charm. Finally, a welcoming farmer’s porch wraps around the side entry, connecting to the rear yard via a gracefully engineered grade. This large outdoor space provides seating for large groups of people to visit and dine next to the beautiful outdoor landscape and the new exterior stone fireplace. Though it had temporarily lost its identity, with the help of the team at Cummings Architects, this lovely farmhouse has regained not only its former charm but also a new life through beautifully integrated modern features designed for today’s family. Photo by Eric Roth

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 landscaping as possible. The surrounding decks, walls, and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. Upon closer inspection, however, one can see the subtle, yet transformative changes that come together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, and improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of the massive hardscape. 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, by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing, 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 its surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool in 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 rather overwhelming in the space, as well as opening up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive pecan 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 quite possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited to proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks, once again expertly married into the existing, opening the area to house a large dining table and new 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.

This balcony deck features Envision Outdoor Living Products. The composite decking is Spiced Teak from the Distinction Collection.
Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard second story deck remodel in Other with a fire pit and no cover

Old world Spanish Villa with deep, thick plaster walls and groin vaults. Arches are plentiful, along with views of the Thousand Oaks and Westlake valley. This comfortable home is designed for a wonderful, fun family with two children. The place of many gatherings of friends and family, it radiates a warmth and love of good times with great friends. Deep rich blues, aqua and terra cotta colors throughout this home, with travertine versaille patterned floors. Deep loggia and patios all around the home take advantage of all the mountain and valley views, while keeping the family and friends warm in cooler times. The entire sprawling villa is wrapped around an inside patio with a fountain and hand made Malibu Tile pots. All furniture is hand made, from distressed and rustic tables to custom upholstery in jewel tones. A built in bar for entertaining in the great room, a very large family room with deep blue fabric wrap around sofa, hand knotted rugs in the living room, master bedroom and family room. A master suite with light creamy white walls, a plaster fireplace and a metal poster bed looks through a sitting room with turquoise accents. The home has 6 fireplaces, of which three are outside, some carved in limestone, others in spanish plaster. Designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more. Patrick Price photography Spanish style home loggia patio and colorful Moroccan style furniture, blue, Catalina tile fireplace

One of our most popular outdoor designs. This space includes wrap around stairs that connects the deck to the screened porch underneath.
Inspiration for a large craftsman beige three-story wood exterior home remodel in Kansas City

Example of a huge trendy backyard ground level metal railing deck design in Detroit

Edmund Studios Photography. A view of the outdoor shower on the wrap around deck.
Mid-sized beach style backyard outdoor shower deck photo in Milwaukee with a pergola

Michael Hsu
Inspiration for a large transitional backyard deck remodel in Austin with no cover

http://www.dlauphoto.com/david/ David Lau
Entryway - large coastal entryway idea in New York with a dark wood front door and green walls

Craig Westerman
Example of a large classic backyard mixed material railing deck design in Baltimore

This multi-level deck in WOLF Rosewood PVC decking. The unobstructed dining level with its wrap around stairs flows into the lower lounge area providing an open feel and additional seating. The African Bluestone landing and wrap-a-round cascading steps and walkway add to the texture and variety of color. The semi-sunken hot tub is fully accessible from one side and almost hidden from the deck perspective. The duel sets of stairs give access to the driveway as well as the yard itself. The custom rails are black powder coated aluminum. Black PVC skirting, finishes the base of the deck. a nearly 5ft wide rolling barn door gives access to the excavated dry space below which serves as storage and with 6 foot of headroom is a fully functional 450sf of storage space - Large enough to drive into with a ride-on mower . The door had to be hung using powder coated steel hardware to carry the size and weight of the door The design detail of the hardware itself adds to the architectural interest of the overall project.

This one story home was transformed into a mid-century modern masterpiece with the addition of a second floor. Its expansive wrap around deck showcases the view of White Rock Lake and the Dallas Skyline and giving this growing family the space it needed to stay in their beloved home. We renovated the downstairs with modifications to the kitchen, pantry, and laundry space, we added a home office and upstairs, a large loft space is flanked by a powder room, playroom, 2 bedrooms and a jack and jill bath. Architecture by h design| Interior Design by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers| Photography by Versatile Imaging

This primary bedroom exudes calm and sophistication with floor-to-ceiling drapery featuring both blackout and sheer layers, allowing for flexible light control. The wrap-around headboard with a wood back and upholstered front creates a cozy focal point, complemented by wood and white nightstands and a wooden bench with butterfly joint details. Pendant lights provide soft ambient lighting, while a shaggy white area rug over wood floors adds warmth and texture. Flush trim and recessed baseboards enhance the clean, modern lines, and a blue throw blanket adds a subtle pop of color, completing the layered, serene design. Photo by Thomas Kuoh.

Wrap around deck with composite facia.
Mid-sized minimalist backyard ground level deck photo in Other

This one story home was transformed into a mid-century modern masterpiece with the addition of a second floor. Its expansive wrap around deck showcases the view of White Rock Lake and the Dallas Skyline and giving this growing family the space it needed to stay in their beloved home. We renovated the downstairs with modifications to the kitchen, pantry, and laundry space, we added a home office and upstairs, a large loft space is flanked by a powder room, playroom, 2 bedrooms and a jack and jill bath. Architecture by h design| Interior Design by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers| Photography by Versatile Imaging