Deck Design: Think Outside The Box
More and more Toronto homeowners are moving outdoors for the precious weeks of summer. With the popularity of all-weather furniture, cushions and carpeting, decks and patios are becoming outdoor rooms. Add an affordable patio heater or outdoor fireplace and you can extend outdoor living on cool nights and well into the fall.
Decks are a practical, low-maintenance way to extend your living space beyond the back door. Today’s deck designs go beyond the rectangular, to complement a home’s landscape and the owner’s lifestyle. The design options are many, but there are a few basic starting points:
Wraparound – A small house with a flat lot or gentle grade can be enhanced with a wraparound deck. Not only will it make the house seem larger, it allows access from more than one room.
L-shaped – An L-shaped deck is a natural addition to an L-shaped house. It can also put unused side yards to use, and can be accessed from more than one room. A pond or fountain is an ideal fit for this type of deck.
Pocket Patios – A small deck or patio tucked off in a corner can serve as a quiet, backyard retreat. Incorporate the pocket patio into an arbour or surround it with a pond or rockery, to create a natural focal point in your yard.
Multilevel – Building varying levels into your deck design adds interest and flexibility. A multilevel deck is also ideal for sites where there are changes in elevation. Hot tubs and gazebos can be included in a multilevel design.
Whether you decide on a deck, an interlocking brick patio or a poured concrete patio, you need a level space as a base for your outdoor living room. Consider adding raised garden beds and self-contained garden boxes to act as attractive dividers and to define areas of a large deck, patio or yard.
Adding an enclosure is another way to help define your outdoor room. It can be free-standing or attached to the exterior wall of the house. A free-standing shelter offers the best of both worlds, enabling you to keep the expanse of a deck or patio while creating a cosy conversation area with shelter from the wind and rain. A retractable awning on the roof allows the sun to shine in while offering protection from the rain. Lattice-work panels are perfect for cutting the wind while providing an attractive backdrop for trailing or climbing vines and flowers.
If you are planning on an al fresco dining area, allow an area of at least 12 to 14 feet to comfortably accommodate a 48-inch round table.
The summer is all too fleeting in Toronto, but with a bit of planning and creativity, you can create a beautiful spot for summertime living, while extending your enjoyment of the season.
Courtesy: Homeservice Club