Each week Mansion Global tackles a topic with an elite group of designers from around the world who work on luxury properties. This week we look at how to design your home’s deck .
More than simply a space to put a barbecue, a deck functions like an outdoor living room of sorts.
“It expands the usable square footage of a house in a way that brings the outside in and the inside out,” said Greg Roth, senior designer for Home Front Build, an architecture, design and building firm based in Los Angeles.
It’s also a wise investment. “With property at such high values, it makes sense to utilize the land your home is built on,” said Joe Berkowitz, founder and designer at JAB Design Group in Philadelphia. “New home buyers will see added value to their purchase if the home has a beautiful outdoor living area,” Mr. Berkowitz said.
To deck out your space with the perfect outdoor area, follow these tips from the pros.
Select Furniture With a Purpose
“People want their outdoor furniture to feel more like indoor furniture. Designers are moving away from the wrought-iron look and mixing materials like wood, rope, outdoor rattan, metal and stone to create a balanced and refined look.
“When we design furniture layouts for projects, we focus on clean tones and add bursts of color and character through accessories like throw pillows and tabletop décor. One of the most popular trends we’re seeing is the addition of fire tables. It’s a unique talking point and can help to warm up the space on cooler nights. People are also drawn toward our single-block teak side tables that also double as stools. The pieces are hand finished and untreated, so you see lots of unique cracks and changes happening to them over time.
“Sun lounges with stone-top side tables, sectionals, such as our modular outdoor sofa collections, and extendable dining tables are great options. Sunbrella and Ferrari Batyline are the best outdoor fabrics for their price and longevity.
“We generally recommend teak furniture for salty environments. Our aluminum products are rust proof, but they generally tend to age better in drier environments. Aluminum sofas and tables are also generally lighter than teak, which is something to consider for high wind areas.
“Another trend we’re seeing are woven ropes. Our Avalon and Hamilton collections use an Olefin rope that is artfully wound around the frame.”
Consider Form and Function
“Our go-to decking is wood—either redwood or Douglas fir—and preferably salvaged. Natural wood always offers a warm, inviting materiality, particularly when stained, but also when painted. However synthetic wood materials, like Trex, are durable choices, especially in areas that might get a lot of moisture or be more prone to the effects of weathering.
“Decks can be tricky areas to integrate, as you try to bridge that gap between interior and exterior spaces. Commonly, decks are used as secondary outdoor dining spaces, and we usually look at locating the deck in convenient proximity to the kitchen or to the dining room. Alternatively, if your home has amazing views, but you only access them through the frame of a window, a deck offers a prime opportunity for maximizing the value that a beautiful vista affords. Not only do you create space that adds appreciable value to a home, but you get to enjoy your view in a more expansive, al fresco way.
“The deck has to start level with the interior, which facilitates an ease of flow from inside to outside, but how the deck integrates with the remaining yard and hardscaping or view should be part of the experience.
“If you intend to use the deck as a dining area, you’ll need to plan for enough space to accommodate a table and chairs, serving area and, importantly, the flow of circulation. You should allow at least 36” of space between a dining table and other objects (wall, buffet), so that people can easily walk around the table when the chairs are occupied.
“We tend to take cues for the design from the architecture of the home. For a modern, streamlined home, it makes sense to go with a more pared down, linear aesthetic. For a traditional or Spanish-style home, details such as decorative-carved corbels, oxidized-iron fasteners and weathered finishes can add to or complement the existing architecture.
“Whether it’s colorful graphic pillows, an outdoor rug, potted plants, a woven wicker basket filled with blankets or candle-glowing lanterns, there are countless touches that help to make your deck space cozy, welcoming and unique.
Allowing for Multiple Functions
“I like to have multiple functions to my decks. We try to designate a cooking area, dining area and lounging area with several seating groups and different types of seating. The shape is often determined by the home. Some properties can only handle a long straight space that runs parallel to the home, while others have room for expansive angles and curves.
“Different areas can be separated by level, furniture pieces or planter boxes. The style can be very open and contemporary with no obstructions, or more cozy and bohemian with a trellis, privacy screens and colorful plantings in custom boxes or a collection of unusual ceramic vessels.
“You can certainly use treated lumber, from basic timber to high-end mahogany, for a real-wood look and feel. This needs the most maintenance, though, and can require refinishing yearly depending on your climate. I prefer composite materials such as Trex and Timber Tech. They are made from plastic and wood fibers which hold up extremely well and need no maintenance. Railings can be fashioned from the same product, or for an eclectic look, aluminum rails are a decorative option.
“Great lighting can add a world of charm at night. This can be in the form of indirect lighting built into the floor, railings or stairs, as well as strands of bulbs suspended from a trellis. Music and speakers are always preferred, and a small water fountain can add a spa-like effect. An outdoor kitchen or bar, as well as an exterior TV, adds character and style.”
Source: – https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/how-to-design-a-distinguished-deck-204130
