Voting is Now Open for Archadeck Dream Backyard Makeover
The time has come! Voting is now available for the Archadeck Dream Backyard Makeover Contest. Out of over 2,000 photo entries, we’ve narrowed the field down to six and here’s where you come in. Logon to the Archadeck Facebook voting page to vote for your favorite finalists! Public votes will help us decide who the final winner will be. I can’t wait to announce the grand prize winner in mid-May!
After the winner is revealed, we’ll be keeping everyone abreast of each step of the process, from deck and patio design through construction and the final project. I’m particularly excited to learn more about how the winner envisions using the space and how we can make that a reality through our custom outdoor living design!
Congratulations again to all of our winners. Please visit the contest voting page (available here) to vote for one of these six finalists:
We hired a contractor to rebuild our deck and he did about half the work and abandoned to work sight. After inspection, we found out that nothing was to code and he did not have a contractors license. This was part of our retirement savings and now we will have to wait until we can save up the money to have the deck torn down and rebuilt.
We bought our first house last summer (2012), 3 days after the birth of our first child. It’s the “forever house” where we will raise our family. It’s a great house, but it needs some TLC here and there. One of those places is the backyard. Our house is on a corner lot and the house is situated at such an angle that the backyard is very exposed to the street. This exposure makes the curb appeal for our back yard as important as our front yard! We would love to have a beautiful new backyard to have parties and hang out with our friends and get to know our new neighbors. And when they all ohh and ahh over our awesome back yard, we’ll be sure to tell them that we owe it all to Archedeck! Be sure to leave plenty of business cards because I know we’ll be handing them out to friends and passers-by alike! Pick me! : )
As parents of four kids under ten who, essentially, live outside the majority of the year, we’re in dire need of backyard help! Recently, we adopted two incredible kids from foster care and instantly became a family of six. The addition of these little ones enriched our lives, but shrunk our home! Hence, the move to a larger house with good bones and smarter space but also a need for serious updating. Since the move, we’ve slowly been saving money and fixing up the interior. Unfortunately, the backyard has received little attention as it’s been placed at the end of our long list of to-dos. Despite constant competition from technology, my continual goal as a parent is to keep my kids outside playing, imagining, and dreaming. Currently, we rely on a homemade sandbox, trampoline, a rickety, hand-me-down play-set, and deteriorating, wooden deck. My backyard dream is to give my kids a safe, fun place to play and my husband a space to relax with a beer in one hand and grill tongs in the other, standing next to a Green Egg Grill. All I really want for myself is a comfortable spot to sit and watch it all happen.
My husband and I are brand new homeowners and first time parents to a son…all within the same year. Both my husband and myself never had a private backyard to play in when we grew up (he grew up in the Bronx and I grew up in Queens, NY). So when we saw this house in Greenwich, CT with a private backyard overlooking a pretty pond we overlooked the ugly red, 1968, totally not up to code, beat up porch and thought this could be a great place to raise a family. We had to do a gut renovation of our house but didn’t have the funds to do any work on our backyard. This will be our first summer where our son can really enjoy the outdoors so we would love the opportunity to give him a space that is safe and enjoyable for friends and family BBQs. The photo is of my husband on our porch when we got the keys to our very first home.
We are of family of 8 with 6 kids ranging in age from 2 up to 11. That doesn’t include numerous neighborhood kids that all love to come over and play at our house. They all enjoy the outdoors and we would like to make our backyard a safe and fun place for them all to play as well as a beautiful spot for my husband and I to relax and enjoy. Our home is situated on a hill and the backyard is terraced. The retaining walls, made with railroad ties, are rotting away and our deck is falling apart. We would love to have a sturdy deck that we could sit on in the evenings, grilling out, and serving up a bunch of fun to all the kids.
My family and I are fortunate to live in a wonderful neighborhood surrounded by beautiful trees and great neighbors, but our fixer-upper leaves much to be desired. We recently purchased this home with stars in our eyes, creativity in our hearts, and a shoestring budget. The first words that came out of my husband’s mouth when we were viewing the back yard with our realtor were: “someday this will be the most amazing spot for a deck…” Our dream is magnificent, but our reality is daunting. The current state of our backyard makes me cringe every day when I open the curtains, or chase down my toddler and tell him “No, no – you can’t go back there”. Our dream deck would replace vines, a pile of concrete, construction debris, and other unsightly features that make the space unusable. We envision a tiered outdoor living space where we can grill, unwind, entertain, get to know our neighbors, let our toddler play, and enjoy the natural beauty of our neighborhood. We have a blank canvas on an amazing lot that is full of possibilities. We just need help to turn our dreams for this space into reality!
2013 Outdoor Living Trends
As Spring is just around the corner, it is time to look at what is hot in the outdoor living category for 2013. Every year we at Archadeck Outdoor Living find our clients asking for different finishes or types of projects that would enhance their outdoor living spaces. The America Society of Landscape Architects, or ASLA, recently released survey results on what is hot for this year. Here are some of the highest ranked projects:
Ninety-seven percent of respondents rated fire pits or outdoor fireplaces as in demand. We’ve discussed the growing popularity in fire features over the last few years. As outdoor living spaces have evolved into true extensions of the home, we see that outdoor fireplaces are being added to include the homey feeling outdoors. Not to mention they allow homeowners to use the space well into the fall. Who doesn’t enjoy bundling up by the fire and enjoying s’mores or hot cocoa? I know I do.
Rated just under outdoor fireplaces and fire pits were grills. Grills have been popular additions to outdoor living spaces for years. When it comes to grills, and outdoor kitchens, the possibilities are endless, but they should also be planned for. We’ve all seen grills that are placed on a deck or patio but don’t really seem to have a place. Even if the grill isn’t built into the outdoor structure, make sure to tell your patio or deck builder to create a space for the grill. When it has a designated space, it increases the flow and design of the space.
Third and fourth on the list were seating and dining areas and outdoor lighting. This doesn’t surprise us at all. For an outdoor living space to be an extension of the home and to be used, it has to have purpose. No one spends time in the empty rooms of their house, why would they outside? When considering adding a deck, porch, patio, sunroom, screened porch or other outdoor structure to your property, make sure you tell the designer how you intend to use the space. You may find that you want separate areas for different purposes: one place to sit and read a book and another to dine with friends and family. And, if you want to use the space after dark, add outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting can be added to outdoor living spaces at any time in most cases, but will be more seamless if you plan to add it while the project is being built.
The trends in outdoor living spaces do change, but as Nancy Somerville, ASLA’s executive vice president and CEO explains; “In this uncertain economy, homeowners want to get more enjoyment out of their yards. They want attractive outdoor spaces that are both easy to take care of and sustainable.”
If you are interested in enhancing your outdoor living spaces, contact your local Archadeck office.
And in case you’ve forgotten, it’s not to late to enter Archadeck’s Dream Backyard Makeover Contest! The first set of finalists will be announced in just a few days. Make sure to submit a photo of your backyard and let us know why your yard deserves the $70,000 grand prize!
Combinations of Outdoor Living Spaces Define Use
One of the first questions our outdoor living designers ask our clients is “how do you intend to use the space?” Without that answer the design won’t be as good as it can be. Answers to that question can vary from cooking with and entertaining friends and family to sunbathing and relaxing. For many of our clients their outdoor living spaces need to multifunctional. If that’s the case, the designer needs to create a project that has a flow that defines the separate spaces for different functions.
Many of our clients choose combination outdoor living spaces, meaning a deck with a pergola, patio with outdoor kitchen, etc. Using different structures is a clear way to define separate areas within an outdoor living area. Here are some beautiful examples from our Archadeck Outdoor Living franchisees.
This project from our patio and deck builder in Boston transformed this backyard into a multipurpose space using a patio, deck and sunroom. The sunroom is a beautiful extension of the home that looks as if it’s always been there. It can be used most of, if not all, year when the cold Massachusetts weather may keep the homeowners off the patio. The sunroom is a great place to sit and relax or have a glass of wine with friends and family. The patio’s main use is dining. You can see that dining area is clearly defined by a circular paver pattern that’s different than the rest of the space. Changing the pattern of a building product, deck or patio, is an easy way to break up a space. Lastly, a small raised deck was added as an entrance into the hot tub.
The homeowners of this project wanted space to eat, entertain, enjoy and escape the sun. Our deck builder in Newton created a space that could encompass all those uses. The bottom patio level is made from brick pavers and is the perfect place to enjoy the sun whereas the screened porch is the best place to escape it. The deck is really two spaces with the pergola creating isn’t own space to the right.
While this project is all one deck in Nova Scotia, its multi-level design break it up for its numerous purposes. On the top level, a custom outdoor kitchen, table and chairs define that space as the dining area, while the built-in bench and fire pit create a great place to sit and relax on a cool night.
Talk about a multi-purpose space! This project from our patio contractor in Macon has it all! The custom outdoor kitchen has a large eat in bar to sit or stand at while cooking and the fire pit is clearly defined with a different colored paver. The large patio surrounds a pool where everyone can sit and relax.
If you are interested in learning how a combination project can enhance your outdoor living space, contact your local Archadeck Outdoor Living office.
Happy Labor Day from Archadeck Outdoor Living
Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of the summer. Kids will be going back to school and the nights will start to get longer. At Archadeck Outdoor Living, we don’t think the cool fall nights should force homeowners indoors. Instead cozy up around a custom fireplace or fire pit.
I grew up in a home where family time was spent around the fireplace. I loved it. As an adult, I had to have a fireplace when we were looking for a new home. And as we were looking to update our backyard, my first idea was to add a fire pit. Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and finishes so they don’t look like an afterthought but a natural extension of the home.
Our Archadeck Outdoor Living franchisees design custom fireplaces and fire pits that are sure to enhance your outdoor living spaces. Do you need an edge around the pit for food and drinks? No problem. How about storage along the side of your fireplace for wood or accessories? You got it. Your outdoor project will be designed with you, your home, your tastes and your budget in mind. Take a look at some of these beautiful Archadeck fireplaces and fire pits:
If you are interested in learning more about custom fireplace and fire pits, please contact your local Archadeck Outdoor Living office
Invite Friends and Family Outside with an Outdoor Structure
Archadeck of Augusta’s manager, Tom Leonard was recently interviewed by Columbia County Magazine. While the piece focused on gazebos, pergolas, ramadas and arbors, it was Tom’s quotes that stood out to me; “outdoor structures are a way of drawing people into the yard…they might offer people a different view of their yard or give them a reason to use a certain part of their yard.”
I couldn’t agree more with this notion. Friends of mine bought a home with a large back yard last year. They bought it in large part due to the yard’s size. They saw the potential, but when they bought it, there wasn’t much to the outdoor space. They would host get-togethers where some drinks and food would be outside, but their guests were always indoors. The reason? Besides the food there wasn’t an inviting space outdoors that you would want to sit down and relax in, just grass and dirt. Gradually, our friends have updated their outdoor living space with a large patio off the back of the house that’s perfect for al fresco dining and a fire pit further in the yard. Now when they have people over, their guests are on the patio, out towards the fire pit and everywhere in between. No one is ever inside.
At Archadeck Outdoor Living, we view decks, porches, patios and other projects as more than just structures. They are outdoor living spaces that increase your home’s useable space. When designing a space, “homeowners need to look at the function” of their outdoor living space, says Leonard. Is it a dining area, living area or just a place for you to curl up and read a book? Whatever the function, the size, structure and layout of the space has to mirror its primary use. If completed well, you will want to spend time in it.
A few years ago I visited one of Archadeck of Central Virginia’s clients. They had this beautiful porch off the back of the house which led down to a nice deck. The size of the porch was perfect. Just big enough for an outdoor couch, chairs and space to move around. Sheer curtains were added to the backside of the porch for added privacy as well. Their goal in building the space was to have a homey area outside where they could host friends and family. Trust me, if I was visiting that home, I would want to sit on that porch. And while sitting there, I could take in the beauty of the property (this particular homeowner had quite the garden).
If you are researching the best way to enhance your outdoor living space, take a look at the Archadeck Design Guide. It will ask you all the important questions for you to consider while you are in the planning and designing phase.
Low to Grade Patios – attractive and affordable
My husband and I have a small deck off the back of our family room that offers a nice spot to sit outside with guests and grill out when the weather is nice. We’ve been thinking about updating the space since it’s pretty basic and is now showing its wear (it was there when my husband bought the house years ago). When talking about our options, we thought we’d be hampered by budget, but interestingly enough, our space is perfect for a low to grade patio, which is attractive and affordable.
Located in Charlotte, NC, this low to grade patio is a beautiful space to sit back and enjoy a fire outdoors
A low to grade patio is a patio that doesn’t have large level changes and is close to the ground. In my case, there is a less than five inch difference between the deck and the yard around it. Because leveling will be easier while building a low to grade patio, it can be an affordable option to updating your outdoor living space. Additionally, railings may not be required if the patio is low to the ground (make sure to ask your patio contractor about code specifications), saving you money on railings and posts.
Low to grade patios are not only affordable in comparison to higher level patios, but are also extremely attractive. Paver patios come in a variety of colors, sizes and finishes. At Archadeck Outdoor Living, we show homeowners which options would look best with their home’s architecture and finish to make everything work together seamlessly.
A low to grade patio was added off this deck in Columbus, OH
In previous posts, we have discussed the benefits of staged building, where you build different components of your outdoor living space at different times until you have the backyard that you’ve always wanted. Low to grade patios are a great option to include in a multi-structure outdoor living space as they can be the perfect add-on to a deck, porch, sunroom or screened porch. Furthermore, with all of the finishes available, you shouldn’t have a problem finding an outdoor kitchen or fire pit that complements it flawlessly if you want to add that later.
If you would like to see how a low to grade patio (or deck) can be incorporated into your outdoor living space, feel free to contact your local Archadeck office.
Archadeck uses creative hardscaping to build functionality and style into our designs
Belgard hardscape seating wall incorporated into surround of this retaining wall
When thinking about building a memorable hardscape such as a patio, outdoor fire pit or outdoor fireplace or even an outdoor kitchen, it is the details and subtle nuances present in the design that make it a cut above the rest. Seeking areas to add design oriented touches and beauty can not only make your hardscape a pleasure to look at, but sometimes adding these touches can also add to the functionality of your structure as well.
This hardscape seating area is an ingenious and beautiful addition to your fire pits enjoyment
We like to call these nuances and design details, creative hardscaping. Thinking outside the box when it comes to creating a backyard hardscape takes experience, and design expertise. One example of creative hardscaping is creating a seating or relaxation area with little more than an idea and additional hardscape material. For example, you can create a seating area to complement an outdoor fireplace or fire pit by incorporating a roomy hardscape ledge or hardscape bench seating. With this added seating area, there is no longer a need to bring in outdoor furniture for a place to sit while the fire pit is in use.
The little ones in your family would enjoy a modernized "sandbox" area like this one shown incorporated into your hardscape patio design
Using hardscape materials in an innovative manner is not exclusive to fire pit designs. There are endless possibilities of ways to use hardscapes to enrich and expand your outdoor living enjoyment through design. A simple patio can become a place of enchantment for a child by extending the patio area to include an area that shines new light onto the typical playful sandbox of yesteryear. An outdoor kitchen and grilling area becomes an outdoor bar perfect for entertaining with just a little imagination.
Have a round of style, with a custom hardscape bar area designed to compliment your outdoor kitchen or grilling area
If you are planning an outdoor structure with hardscapes in your near future, contact Archadeck to plan, design and build a hardscape that uses the art of creative hardscaping in each and every design. Not only will you be the envy of the neighborhood, but the functionality it will add to your backyard enjoyment will astound you as well. To find an Archadeck location close to home visit our locations list, located on our website.
See more stunning hardscape designs by visiting our patio and hardscapes gallery also located on our website.
Put a little holiday in your step with a new deck by Archadeck
This gallery contains 2 photos.
Archadeck focuses on the joy of the season with this “Christmas deck” by Archadeck of Greater Atlanta, which is truly a deck for all seasons packed with functionality and style. A deck like this can be yours with Archadeck.
Archadeck of Chicagoland gives us two different patio designs, both breathtaking in terms of beauty and function
Archadeck of Chicagoland has an eye on artful design with this multi-level patio in Libertyville, IL.
It all begins with an image in the homeowner’s mind. Excited homeowners who have decided to add to their back yard look to us for guidance and to design the outdoor structure they have been dreaming of. Every outdoor structure is different – as different as each of our customers that incorporates their individual style, and intended function into the design. This week we take a glimpse into two very different patio designs by Archadeck of Chicagoland, and see the way the hardscapes can be designed to suit the individual owner’s needs.
This Libertyville, IL patio flows beautifully with the natural grade of the backyard.
We are featuring two stunning hardscape patios for customers in Wheeling, IL as well as Libertyville, IL. Each of these homeowners were looking to benefit from very different functions in their new outdoor structure and Archadeck of Chicagoland was able to deliver all their needs, wants and desires into two patios that will make both homeowners the envy of their neighborhoods. Here is a glimpse into some of the gorgeous hardscape patio designs from Archadeck of Chicagoland…
First we take a trip to Libertyville, IL where David Berryhill and his talented design staff were able to create an area that made the homeowner’s existing backyard more accessible and easier to view since this is where the children’s play set is located. The homeowners were only initially looking to have Archadeck of Chicagoland build a deck and create more access to the rear of the yard. We were able to deliver a functional hardscape structure that met all of their needs. The patio is more conducive to the grade of their lot so they created a multi-level patio that followed the natural grade of the landscape and provided flow to their children’s play set area. The patio is constructed from a combination of Brussells block pavers by Unilock and Brussells block dimensional stone for the curvilinear walls.
This hardscape seating wall gives these Wheeling, IL homeowners the perfect place to relax while they roast marshmallows over the fire.
Our second spotlighted patio by Archadeck of Chicagoland is located in Wheeling, IL. The homeowner’s wish was for a patio, a fire pit and an area outdoors to dine and be able to grill. Their answer was to build a patio that had separate areas for dining, and a separate grill and cooking area, and of course a stunning custom fire pit complete with a custom hardscape seating wall built right into the curves of the patios grand design. For this patio we used Cantebury pavers and Brussells dimensional stone .
If you and your family are looking for the perfect outdoor builder to bring your dream to life, contact Archadeck today. We can meet with you and prepare a design rendering that will capture the very essence of your wants and needs, and then we can begin bringing it to life. In the Chicago area contact Archadeck of Chicagoland at (847) 359 – 8002
(630) 505 – 7688
n.chicagoland@archadeck.net
For more awe-inspiring patio and hardscapes visit our photo galleries on our website.
Archadeck of Chester County provides these Kennett Square, PA homeowners with a little less deck and a lot more action
This photo shows how the details use of stone combined with outstanding design work perfectly together to create an outdoor oasis for these Kennett Square, PA homeowners.
It is time to turn the spotlight on another Archadeck location that is doing spectacular outdoor living designs that are not only beautiful but functional as well. This creation by Archadeck of Chester County includes a sunroom, deck, outdoor kitchen and a custom fire pit located on the lovely patio. It also includes a stone trimmed built-in spa, not to mention a gorgeous pergola for the icing on the proverbial cake. This combination of outdoor structures gives new meaning to the term “stay-cation” because with a outdoor living area as well-appointed as this, who needs to leave the comfort of their backyard home to renew and relax?
This view of the sunroom shows the intricate stonework and fluidity of the entire design
When Juan Cardona and the design team at Archadeck of Chester County met with these homeowners in Kennett Square, PA, which is known as the mushroom capital of the world, to create this masterpiece in outdoor design, they had an existing deck that was in dire need of replacing as well as an open deck at the rear of the home with an unsightly concrete slab patio under the deck. The homeowners wish was to create an outdoor area that incorporated a sunroom, less deck and a patio on the lower level. They also wanted to include a built-in cooking area, spa area, and a custom fireplace or fire pit to accommodate their desire to have room and suitable entertaining areas for larger gatherings down below as opposed to having an all-open deck on the second level. The obstacle that had to be overcome was the fact that their yard was on a rather severe slope. In order to deliver the outdoor oasis the homeowners desired, we would have to install some retaining walls to make it happen.
This design offers less deck and a lot more action
Archadeck of Chester County, PA teamed up with a professional stone mason and together, they quickly put together an integrated plan to totally re-build and re-structure the entire rear of the home. The extensive use of stone walls was used to match the overall look of the existing home, since the entire front of the home was already finished in stone. The suggestion of using stone within the new design offered a dramatic look that harmonized well with the existing property.
This image shows the details of the sunroom and pergola and how it harmonizes with the home and landscape.
The deck was constructed using low maintenance TimberTech XLM in Mountain Cedar which harmonizes perfectly with the old world appeal of the stone used throughout the project. Archadeck of Chester County used black Fortress iron railings on TimberTech posts for continuity and fluidity in the deck’s design. On the interior floor of the stunning sunroom they used IPE tongue and groove flooring. The exterior of the room was finished with a stone veneer to match the rest of the patio which includes stone retaining walls, an outdoor kitchen and a custom fire pit. The sunroom also includes Anderson windows. Under the sunroom there is a built-in custom spa also trimmed with stone. The finishing touch to the project was the addition of a maintenance-free pergola of AZEK composite that was painted to match the decking color. The whole design flows effortlessly from structure to structure and looks and feels original to the existing home, which requires perfection in the design and the execution of the design in order to achieve.
If you are ready to turn your backyard into an orchestrated oasis of beauty, style and relaxation, contact Archadeck today and you will be on your way to creating beautiful harmonies within your own little slice of heaven. Schedule a free design consultation or contact us by calling 804.353.6999 or emailing us at info@archadeck.netto locate an Archadeck near you to get started.
See more awe-inspiring images of before and after completed jobs by visiting our web site photo galleries
This image shows the progression of the construction from start to finish.
