Interject An Outdoor Kitchen In Your Deck Design
Amazing Deck, Patio and Pergola Backyard Transformation – 2 Week Project Time Lapse
Photo via Lowes
Love to cook? Create the perfect kitchen area in your deck design where you can entertain both family and friends. Not only is this a perfect addition to your outdoor living space, adjacent from your hot tub, but it keeps you engaged in the conversation without having to run back into the house for something.
Outdoor Cooking At Its Best
©California Redwood AssociationThis compact cooking area sits at the side of the deck. The open-face gas barbecueis designed to vent smoke up and away from seating and spa areas.
On a warm summer’s day when the kitchen feels like an oven, it is a great idea to cook out on the deck. Even when the temperature is “just right,” an outdoor barbecue area is an ideal place for informal gatherings and meals with family and friends. Whether built into a section of the deck or positioned nearby, a barbecue/cooking center functions best when it isn’t too far from the house — transporting dishes and foods can be tiresome — but not so close that smoke and odors can drift indoors. It’s also wise to place the barbecue a distance from overhanging limbs. This will prevent heat damage to leaves and assist in fire safety.
Simple kettle-style units that use charcoal briquettes and built-in masonry designs work perfectly well, but gas-fueled barbecues have become popular alternatives. Regardless of the equipment, though, augmenting the cooking area with counters, shelving, storage, and perhaps even a sink can be a real bonus for frequent entertaining. Even if a deck plan can’t accommodate a mini kitchen, setting aside an area for storing essentials, such as charcoal and utensils, can make cooking outdoors a breeze.
A view of a multilevel deck design that’s geared for entertaining. Behind its doors
Set Your Hot Tub Within A Natural Setting
Photo via Long Island Hot Tub
Water features and backyard ponds are an excellent focal point for any time of year. With the right environment your hot tub can become its own sort of pond or feature. Add some natural boulders and planters around the hot tub to raise the spa up and make the hot tub experience an art form. Tip provided by Bill Renter, Long Island Hot Tub, New York
Key insights:
- This jagged rock faced design is perfect for creating a more natural feel around your hot tub. Mix in some plants and other succulents to make the area pop with color and appeal.
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Raised Decks Float Above Grade
©California Redwood AssociationBlending in with the Victorian style of the house, this raised semicircular deckadds visual interest with a pair of curved stairs that hug the bow of the deck.
For a house that’s built on a virtually level site, gaining an outdoor living area can be a relatively simple matter an on-grade deck that lies flush with the ground or a concrete or stone patio could be just the right deck idea. But few sites are perfectly flat, and the solution invariably calls for a deck that’s raised off the ground on a system of posts. The term “raised” is rather broad since it encompasses nearly all types of decks that are not built directly on the ground. A raised deck can float a foot or so above grade — perhaps just enough to bring the deck floor up to the same level as the threshold of the back door. Or it might extend several feet from the ground to be on the same level as interior rooms, then gradually step its way down a slope. A raised deck can be a freestanding structure out in the yard or a wraparound element attached directly to the house.
Embracing Trees With A Surround
This deck features a tree surround to accommodate a growing trunkyet provides plenty of floor space.
Trees have a special place in the home landscape, supplying privacy, shade, and wind protection while adding color, texture, and natural beauty. Displacing mature trees to make room for an outdoor living area may solve one problem but create another. Fortunately, the flexibility of wood decks to adapt to a variety of sites provides the option of including trees in their design. Unlike many patios, decks can closely surround a tree without interfering with the root system or cutting off its supply of air and water. The opening around the trunk, however, should be large enough to allow for continued growth, especially if the tree is young or a rapid grower.
Benches and tree surrounds seem meant for each other, whether separate benches sit close to the base or a single seat wraps itself all the way around. The surround can also take the form of a low wall elevated above the deck floor, wide enough for comfortable sitting and often tall enough to double as a railing filled with shade-loving flowers and small-scale shrubs — as long as they and the tree require the same soil and water conditions.
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Poolside Patio With Swing
This poolside patio features natural stone flooring, creating an organic look. With its generous size, theres also plenty of rooming for dining, grilling, or lounging, all with the added convenience of overhead fans for comfort.
When it comes to a standout feature, the porch swing is a nice addition. It adds a bit of fun and whimsy without going overboard. As a result, you create a space that people of all ages will enjoy.
Skip The Cost Of Stone And Use Travertine Instead
Photo via Long Island Hot Tub
Incorporate travertine and black stone veneer panels to create a more elegant hot tub look. In this hot tub deck design, Long Island Hot Tub sunk the spa halfway into the ground then built a stone wall around the spa. Tip provided by Bill Renter, Long Island Hot Tub, New York
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Surrounds For Spa Soaking
©California Redwood AssociationThe central attraction of this multilevel deck is an octagonal spa. Benches canbe pulled close to the spa’s edge so people can dangle their feet in the water.
Whether you think of a soak in a spa as therapeutic or just plain fun, integrating a spa into a deck idea can be accomplished with relative ease. Unlike swimming pools, spas take up little room and can be incorporated into small-space decks tucked into a tight corner or a narrow sideyard. They are most enjoyed when located in a quiet spot not too far from the house, shielded from wind and neighbors.
Although the typical spa lies nearly flush with its surround, it can be designed to rise above the floor, hot-tub style. Despite appearances, spas and hot tubs are seldom supported by the decking itself they usually rest directly on the ground or on a portion of the deck substructure. Since they are not structural, deck surrounds can be laid out in countless ways to create dramatic floor patterns, accentuate the soaking area, or simply echo the shape of the spa.
Patio And Deck Combination Ideas
How to Layout a Perfect Rectangle for Deck or Patio
If you want to enjoy your backyard and use its full potential thoroughly, you should invest your time and money into building a perfect patio and a deck that will suit all of your needs.
However, sometimes choosing the right combination can be overwhelming, especially if many options are available. If you struggle with your outdoor space ideas and dont know where to start, well-experienced can help you.
We can give you guidelines and advice on where to start and help you with inspiration for your new beautiful backyard. Keep reading this article if you are thinking about adding a patio and a deck to your space or renovating the one you have.
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An Older Tudor Gains A New Deck
©California Redwood AssociationThe timber-framed overhead structure mimics the roof shape, defines the stairwayfrom the yard to the door, and helps visually tie the house and deck together.
Consider the style of your home before adding a deck onto it. For instance, in the early 20th century, a number of traditional architectural styles were revived all around the country. Many of these designs were rooted in certain periods of history, both American and European. One of the more popular period styles was the Tudor, usually a simplified version of the Elizabethan house and distinguished by its stuccoed or stone exterior, exposed half-timbers, and small leaded windows.
The redwood deck addition shown here blends handsomely with the picturesque style of the Tudor home. The gabled structure above the French doors echoes the shape of the roof lines, its timber-frame construction also a reminder of the Tudor’s characteristic half-timbers.
Artistically wrapped with a redwood surround, the built-in spa features a curvingbench that also serves as a step for easing in and out of the water.
Neatly wrapped with redwood siding, the well-integrated deck design visually anchors the house to the ground and gives presence to a sideyard that was ignored before. Dark-stained surfaces tie in with the house trim and the shingled upper walls and give the deck a more traditional look.
Large Patio With Fireplace And Bar
The space under this deck is large enough to support several functional areas. First, theres seating next to a massive natural stone fireplace, creating a cozy spot for relaxing even during cooler nights. Second, theres a bar area with seating.
While this bar is mainly serving as a dining space, it could potentially accommodate more. Theres enough room to make it wide enough to add a cooktop or mini-fridge, for example. However, thats purely optional.
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Is Decking Strong Enough For A Hot Tub
When trying to determine if your deck is strong enough to hold a hot tub, its important to get an expert opinion. Talk to your hot tub company and get their advice before you decide on deck designs with a hot tub. However, there are some guidelines to help you estimate what your deck can handle. Usually, a deck that is raised a few feet can handle about 100 pounds per square foot. If the spa youre considering is less than 100 pounds per square foot, your deck will be able to support it.
How Much Weight Can an Elevated Deck Hold?
An elevated deck can usually hold about 50 pounds per square foot. To find out how much weight your hot tub will be, youll need to know:
- Weight of the empty hot tub
- Weight of one gallon of water is 8.34 lbs
- Weight of the average person is 175 lbs
- Width of hot tub x Length of hot tub
Now you can add the hot tubs dry weight, plus the water capacity, plus the number of recommended occupants multiplied by the average weight of each person. This will give you the typical pounds youll need your deck to support.
How Much Weight Can a Composite Deck Hold?
A composite deck can also hold about 50 pounds per square foot. It is one of the best options for a hot tub, since it stands the test of time and can be made to be moisture-resistant.
How To Reinforce a Deck for a Spa
If your deck is not designed to bear the weight of a hot tub, you can reinforce the deck to make it more structurally sound. Here are a few ideas for reinforcing your deck:
Utilize A Stunning Elevated Two Step Design For Easy Access
Photo via Charles Hugo Landscape Design
Accent your spa with an elevated two step design for a more modern feel around your hot tub. The steps around the hot tub are not only excellent to assist you to enter or exit the hot tub, but can be a great spot to place a towel or drink.
Key insights:
- Choose your location carefully, considering your access needs, landscape tastes, and lifestyle. One excellent option is to position the spa in a corner on your patio near your home for easy access all year long.
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Use Airstone To Enhance Your Hot Tub Design
Photo via Lovely Crafty Home
Another fun idea to give your hot tub a different look without breaking the bank is using Airstone to add depth. Airstone is a manufactured stone veneer product which is easy to install for both indoor and outdoor projects. Made out of recycled materials, Airstone is an affordable resource to give your patio design a natural, earthy feel.
Modern Fibro Beach Shack
Fibro beach shacks are homemade vacation homes built along Australia’s Gold Coast beginning in the 1920s that are often demolished to build bigger and better versions. Fibro refers to the fibrous cement sheet, of which these small shacks were often constructed.
In a fabulously modern salute to the classic fibro shacks, True North Architects used a combination of weatherboard and hardwood timbers for an interconnected series of decks, terraces, and gardens on a sloping property in New South Wales. Other materials used include steel and corrugated iron, which complement the wood that is allowed to turn silver. A fire deck is constructed of oily tallowwood, a local hardwood.
A wood-framed cover cools things off when the deck warms up at this home in New South Wales. Designed by Luigi Rosselli, who specializes in residential architecture, adaptive reuse, and heritage designs, the deck makes smart use of limited space. That faceless, low-maintenance puppy is by Eero Aarnio for Magis.
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Look behind this covered deck for this Virginia home’s cantilevered roofs, which lift and extend in contrast to the deck’s flat roof. Designed by Moore Architects, the decking is constructed of ipe, while the ceiling is exterior-grade drywall for a smooth, clean look. A double-sided fireplace allows the homeowners to enjoy it indoors and out.
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Landscape With Your Home And Deck In Mind
A large home with distinctive features and large picture windows often calls for an equally impressive elevated deck. Equipped with LED lights illuminating each step of its multiple staircases, this deck also features beautiful stonework. White railings work with the trim of the home, while some of the light-colored stonework of the deck also pulls the look together.
Rather than compete with these beautiful features, keep your landscaping ideas simple. Adding mulch in a brown hue that matches the decking can help prevent overgrowth while forming a backdrop for a few well-placed shrubs that work with the design concept.
Add Planters And Flower Beds Around Your Patio Or Deck
Patio Deck Combo Ideas (see description) (see description)
Planter boxes can be a great way to add plants to a raised deck, and its easy to build your own planter box. You can use large planters constructed from the same type of wood or composite materials to match your deck. These planters can be used to add plants and colorful flowers around your deck. A pergola — as well as graceful climbing ivy — can add interest with minimal maintenance.
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Covered Deck Design Ideas
The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto
A well-designed includes built-ins and features that are added for practical purposes along with architectural elements that enhance the design and materials of the structure. The better the design, the less noticeable it is. Face the truth: it gets hot, and as gorgeously appointed as your fine hardwood deck might be, if you don’t provide shade, everybody will run for cover. A pergola or overhead structure will prolong your enjoyment and use of the deck, all while adding an attractive design element.
Assess what already exists: a deck’s railings, posts, and overhead structure should echo a home’s similar architectural elements in front or other parts of the property. A well-designed cover complements your home’s style and the exterior materials used, especially any wood used elsewhere. Among types and styles of overhead structures to consider:
Consult your planning commission before starting a project of this scope you will likely need to pull permits and follow local codes.
For inspiration and ideas, enjoy this diverse, international selection of covered decks.
Screened In Porch In An Under Deck Patio
Most under deck patios are open on all sides except the overhead. However, this one is different.
The homeowners installed a screen to fully protect the area, leaving only one side open as an entrance. The screen consists of large windows and the transom, enabling the owners to still enjoy the outside view.
The large openings and large windows provide a breathtaking view of the pond behind the home and the wooded area.
It seems that the opening is completed with a sliding door. When the door is closed, this under deck patio is fully enclosed. The homeowners wont have to worry about the insect bites.
According to the designer, this area was constructed below the deck that was built with an under deck vinyl system.
This system collects the water and diverts it to the gutter wrapping the interior of this area and imitating the look of architectural crown molding.
If youre wondering about the screens, those are custom-made Phantom screens. They will completely retract out of sight if not in use, but at the same time will provide protection and enhanced privacy,
With such screens, the owners are able to place comfortable outdoor furniture on this under deck patio. They dont have to worry about the weather-resistant element because this patio is fully protected.
There are also outdoor ceiling fans in this 1o ft ceiling that can bring comfort and a great sense of height and scale.
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