No longer just bland squares of pressure-treated lumber nailed to the backs of houses, today’s decks are incorporating new shapes, materials, and a host of decorative and functional features. In this collection of designs from Taunton’s Deck and Patio Idea Book, you’ll find ample inspiration to move beyond the “wouldn’t be nice” stage to start work on your personal place in the sun.
Jane Gitlin is an architect in Westport, Connecticut. She is the author of Updating Classic America: Capes and Fore Places, both published by The Taunton Press. Julie Stillman is an editor and book packager based in Vermont.
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N95 Respirator
Standard Marking Chalk
4-Gallon Piston Backpack Sprayer
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Angled off the face of the house to capture the best views, this unaffected yet well-conceived deck was shaped to form a protected corner for the table and chairs, while leaving a clear walking path from the back door to the steps and pathway. Built-in benches provide casual seating and good protection from an accidental step-off. Photo by: Brian Vanden Brink
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Building curves into a deck takes more time and labor, and thus costs more, but the results can be spectacular, as witnessed by this multilevel redwood deck. The decking is 2×6 redwood boards, and the serpentine railing is made up of thin strips that can be bent easily. Photo by: Andy Engel
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This commodious and curvy deck made of ipe seems to set sail into the landscape, offering a much more interesting silhouette than a straight deck would. The sinuous railing—with a balustrade of wrought-iron panels between rhythmic posts—accentuates the shape of the deck. Photo by: Carolyn Bates
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This spacious, raised deck is perfect for entertaining, with its multiple lengths converging in the circular seating and eating area, which is further distinguished from the rest of the deck with an eye-catching, concentric decking pattern. Photo by: Brain Vanden Brink
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A multilevel deck offers privacy and shade below and a view and sun up top; although the decks have separate accesses, a staircase connects them for maximum ease and utility. Upper-level decks require drainage considerations, and in this well-designed deck, rainwater flows between the planks onto the underlying roof, which is gently pitched to capture the runoff in the gutter system. Photo by: daviddunkanlivingston.com
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Trex is a popular synthetic composite decking and railing material made of recycled plastic and wood fibers. Splinter-free and moisture-resistant, it comes in several colors, and because it curves more easily than wood, it can be a good material to use for building curved decks and railings such as this one. Photo: Courtesy of Trex Company, Inc.
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Built-in planters and benches furnish this outdoor room under an open-air ceiling. As an extension of the living room, this deck mimics the layout inside with a planter serving as the outdoor alternative to a corner table flanked by wooden sofas. Photo by: Charles Miller
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Lyrical limbs fill in the balustrade of this railing, and the shapes between the branches create unusually framed views of the trees and water. Peeled branches should be sanded to avoid splinters and sealed to maintain their original color. Photo by: Brian Vanden Brink
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Natural wood railings would look too heavy and create too much contrast with this whitewashed home, so they’ve been painted. Cedar or pressure-treated lumber is typically used for painted railings, and maintenance is key; you don’t want water to stand on painted wood, so slant the top rail a little (as was done here) if it is made of a single plank, or shape the top of the rail to shed water. Photo by: Robert Perron
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The alternating rhythm to this railing must be planned in advance so that the design fits into the length of the railing; an abrupt ending in the middle of one of the H-shaped panels would look like a mistake. This holds true for any deck that has a row of individual panels. Photo by: davidduncanlivingston.com
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Going beyond strict geometric shapes, this raised deck undulates above a supporting stone wall, forming pockets to stand within and view the terrain below. The sinuous railing echoes the deck’s curve but is given further architectural interest through the profile of the balusters, which undulate vertically. Photo by: Robert Perron
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Bringing the conversation pit from the living room to the deck is a great idea for an outdoor room. This brick fire pit was built into a sunken deck enclosure. The semicircular built-in bench is made up of short, straight planks cut to form the curve. Photo: Courtesy of California Redwood Association
