Welcome to the next project that I am working on. This is the southern facing wall in our home. The big window in the lower left of the wall is currently the window that looks out from our kitchen. It is the spot where I would like to put french doors. Off of those doors I would like to put a big deck. Initially I had wanted a fabulous slate patio but seeing as the space is oddly shaped (there is our gas meter that must be worked around) a deck would be far more esthetically pleasing, not to mention functional. The question now becomes the design of the space. The wall is large and bare, and in my opinion calls for a fabulous pergola running above the french doors and other window to break it up. I would also love an outdoor fireplace to sit by on those evenings we dine outdoors until after dark. The deck must also be large enough to accommodate our long table which seats 8.
So, those are the only parameters at this point. I would love to hear your thoughts on what would best suit this space. It is shady in the evenings which is perfect for dining outdoors in the summertime. I want to be able to enjoy coffee in the mornings, lunch with the boys, and dinners with family and friends in this space. I also love the weathered wood look and really dislike red/treated wood. I would really truly absolutely appreciate any input/thoughts/advice/opinions you can offer.
oh kim, the wheels are turning. i have experience hurray!
is that a car park that i see little of, next to it?
It is a carport- semi-blocked off by laurel. Thank you!!
A deck will look amazing and be so useful. My parents built in some bench type seating on thier deck which is fun for when you have people over – just an idea. I like your idea of a pergola and without a doubt you need an outdoor fireplace. Those are amazing – although I have been told that don’t make them too large or it’s hard to keep a fire going unless it’s massive?
Thank you! Great ideas~ Stay tuned!
What a sweet lil spot you can make!! A mini outdoor kitchen should be easy to build since your gas is already right there outside
XOX
A deck would suit this area best since it looks like its on a raised foundation, plus has a slope to it. You can always tie in the slate on the posts for a pergola and maybe on the face of some built in benches along the backside. Check your salvage yards or demolition companies for reclaimed beams. They would look amazing as a pergola !! What fun
Maybe you need to relocate here while we are in the process – to run the project!
I will check with Trev but I think it’s the cedar decking that you get that nice greyed weather look from. We let ours go natural for a year and then just used a water sealer on it each summer after that. Love love the idea of the french doors and the pergola ~ c’est chic! Check your local codes for fireplaces and decks in your area. It is one of our town bi-laws that any fire pit/fire place cannot be on decks ~ of course I am here with the firefighter too and he has seen first hand what a stray ember can do! Can’t wait to see what you come up with ~ is Dad coming to help?? xo
Why Lori, I don’t know – but I will be sure to mention to “dad” that you thought he really should be here to take part!
thanks lori for getting me involved. i am sure kim would have forgotten about me.
Daddy, I would NEVER forget about you! I love having your expertise here on all projects farm related~
Hi Kimberly ~ we just went through this exact dilemma last summer. I finally pulled the trigger on a rounded terraced |low lying| wood deck that we stained a cape code grey. The only reason I am commenting is that my house looks strangely similar to the photo you posted above. AND I also busted through an exterior wall and added the french doors you mentioned. I have a pic on my phone and will see if I can e-mail to you. Have fun and enjoy your remodeling endeavor ~ it’s bound to be stunning.
I personally LOVE a screened in porch. Lets you enjoy nature, and not get bit by it!
Dearest Mariah, your comment leads me to believe that you live where there are biting bugs…
I grew up surrounded by the buzzing of mosquitos -and knowing the problem was when they “stopped” buzzing that you were in trouble as they were ON you. Thankfully, in the pacific northwest there are so few things that actually bit – we don’t even have screens on all of our doors. However, screened in porches remind me of home (MN) and have such a wonderful feel to them~
How exciting and wonderful…to extend your living space to the outdoors! You (and your peeps)have charming ideas. There are many designs & materials to consider depending upon budget and maintenance? There appears to be a bit of a natural slope to the ground, which may require leveling – be sure to drain/slope AWAY from the house foundation. A natural wood deck would be lovely and a pergola over the entire area would offer character, interest & some shade from the southern exposure. I imagine it covered with roses or other flowering vines? Consider heigth of the deck…you may not require ‘handrails’ and could easily transition to a slate ‘patio’ area (like very frenchy gardens!). Best to check w/your local codes. You can always incorporate a small intimate seating area with slate, just off the deck with your fireplace perhaps(I’m also troubled by the threat of fire) and a wonderful cottage garden planted in wild abandonment all around!
I’m sure we’ll all stay-tuned to ‘see’ what you decide!
Wow Jenny – thanks so much for all of your thoughts. What wonderful suggestions! Regarding the fire/fire threat – we already have a little brick fireplace on the other side of the house but the space it is adjacent to is too small. We use it throughout the summer and it always holds small fires which we make sure are out before we go in for the evening. All large fires are restricted to our fire pit in the upper pasture!
my goodness ~ I love Jenny’s ideas ~ and they sound so perfect for you Kim!
I had a deck that was only about 18″ high and had seating built in around the edge of two sides (benches) with planters in between. Horizontal slats of cedar 2″ wide so very Frank Lloyd Wright/modern. What I liked about it is that it made the deck part of the rest of the yard rather than having it a separate space. It flowed and was great for entertaining.
Consider a retractable awning that is motorized as well.
Thanks for the suggestions Sandra – I love the idea of it all flowing together!
This looks like a great project. I’ve been waiting for two years for a patio as well, and then as soon as the flowers start coming back in I realize how green and nice it is. I can’t wait to see the final result for you, maybe a pergola would be nice in that space over part of the patio you’ll build? Might make the back portion of the house balanced? xo
Hi Kim,
I do “interventions” like this for clients all the time. Your ideas for deck with pergola and fireplace are all achievable and would look fantastic. You could certainly do a cedar deck that will weather grey. However, I’d recommend Ipe (tropical hardwood) which will also grey if not sealed and will last for decades with no maintenance, whereas cedar needs replacement after 15 years or so. I also have designed decks where we used lovely 18″ or 24″ square masonry pavers (many styles, colors, textures) instead of wood for the deck surface. I have pictures if you’d like me to show you one in construction right now. No maintenance! You could also incorporate a fireplace more easily this way, using fireproof framing materials around the fireplace to meet code (unseen below)
You can have what you want and it wouldn’t be that hard. The south side of the house definitely *wants* a space like this! Email or call if you want to chat more. I’m swamped right, but coming up for air in May and June and would have time to work on it if you needed a consult or need a design for permitting in Woodinville.
contemporary spaces design by san francisco architect Mahoney Architects & Interiors
Hello Kimberly – I so like to take the graph paper and sketch it out…
we’ve added a pergola covered deck, sliding glass doors and all new windows to our farmhouse (built in the 1920′s)
So here’s my questions to you:
1) are you wanting to connect your gardens with your new deck? if so, how?
2) creating an outdoor fireplace/brick oven is a terrific idea, and would be best suited facing that side of your grounds that slopes downwards….a beautiful local rock fireplace (check)…hiding the necessaries of that gas meter (check) – you could even do a new wall of that same stone around your deck…that would be stunning
I know you like being in France, and I’m sure you have many pictures you are working off of for inspiration, and it sounds like you are on the right track with natural materials…
being that Jason (my husband) is a carpenter by trade, I can vouch for him when I say use top quality wood to make it last and if you want the upkeep of painting every 3-5 years then paint, but otherwise, let the wood go natural or use a nice eco-friendly stain (a great option instead of paint…it weathers so much nicer)
Simply cannot wait to see your finished product…and yes, please put in French doors, throwing the doors wide to guests and family alike!
xo+blessings,
Anne Marie
p.s. link your garden with pea gravel paths lined with lavender
Oh Anne Marie – your place sounds wonderful! I will have to come see it one day~ I do love France and am hoping to create a bit of a “French” feel on our little piece of paradise. Lavender is a great idea – as is pea gravel – I love it but much of our property is sloped so we can’t use it in those spaces. As for my love of weathered wood, someone suggested a great gray stain that I would love and that would protect the wood. Great idea on placement of the fireplace – I want it to be set out from the house for safety. However, I look forward to having it for those cool mornings and evenings when it would be nice to sit outdoors and have a bit of heat from it! Thanks so much for your thoughts, xx
Hello there my friend. If memory serves me, isn’t there a deck around the corner on the front-ish side of your home? Would it be feasible to connect the two of them? Just thinking out loud. I love the french door idea and the pergola. Make sure you make it big enough to incorporate an outdoor kitchen with an existing barbeque or new. I would also suggest putting a cover on that as well for grilling in the rain (which we do a lot around here). I can’t wait to see what you come up with. As soon as we get my Studio moved and re-situated, we are starting on a new and expanded deck. Can’t wait!
I can’t wait to see it Patricia! Are you doing the work yourself or having it done? As for the other deck, it is on the other side of the carport so it wouldn’t be possible to connect them – great idea though!
I would let a jasmin climb your pergola and a banksia rose lemon scented, plant also some olea fragrans bushes, the apricot colour one has a sweeter scent, you’ll be surprised in september by an intense profumo coming from almost invisible flowers, I would like wood slices layed down one near the other with grass inbetween as floor of this living space to enjoy
good luck and take it like a play not a work to be done in short, once it’s finished, you must have another dream
ciao maddalena
Maddelena, thank you so much for the planting ideas. I LOVE anything that is scented and can’t wait to have something for me to grow beautifully scented vines up it! Please keep in touch as I would love to talk to you about plants once the project is built~
I am thinking of ways to extend our back patio. I want a long breezeway type patio with columns as the support. I just saw a photo today. I think it was on YummyMummy’s blog. She went to this spa south of Santa Barbara. The patio was just what I am envisioning and perhaps something like could work for you. Basically, it was large thick concrete columns to give it a heavy European type look. Then, to keep it casual, a rustic looking pergola was was used as the top cover. Everything was muted greys and browns but then they wove bougainvilla or wisteria, etc. to make a canopy over the top. Does any of that make sense? I’m in love with it possibly for our back yard. I’ll go to YummyMummy’s blog to see if I can find it…
O.K., here is the link. It would be too grand and formal for us but I was thinking of scaling it down to a more simplistic but European look. http://www.yummymummykitchen.com/