Last month, we decked the halls with boughs of holly. Now it鈥檚 time to think about a different kind of decking, the kind that helps to enhance the enjoyment of our homes and the great outdoor environment beyond.
The work itself might be a summer project, but now is the time to think through what you want to do.
During the past year, House Beautiful has shown readers some spectacular terraces, patios and decks, ranging from a NanaWall cliffhanger on Turgoose Point to a serenely secluded, sun-trapping courtyard on the shores of Saltspring Island.
Some of us turned green when we saw an imaginative rooftop garden in Duncan, or a splendid outdoor kitchen that puts our indoor one to shame.
These pages took readers through a Sthapatya Ved house on Saltspring, which is not only said to be 鈥渓ife supporting鈥� but also has a stunning patio with a golden-green, L-shaped reflecting pool. Based on ancient Indian design principles, it can supposedly improve the health of anyone who lives there and enliven cosmic powers.
Other homes we visited have featured lavish outdoor entertaining, cooking and relaxing areas, expansive verandahs or balconies with invisible railings that allow owners to take unfettered advantage of distant vistas. Generous overhangs and skylights allow residents to enjoy the great outdoors no matter what the season, whether dressed in bikinis or parkas.
Some of the patios we鈥檝e featured are warmed by giant fire-pits, or visually cooled with the serene blues of swimming pools and dazzling water gardens.
For those who plan to build anew or refresh and renovate an older outdoor area, we offer a look back at some of the most intriguing terraces, palatial patios and intimate seating areas of the last year, replete with design ideas and inspiring creativity.
The Greeks worshipped nature 鈥� why not us?
Even the most humble garden can be made more interesting with the addition of a tiny patio.
And such architectural features can greatly add to the value and enjoyment of a house, bringing a seductive atmosphere of warmth and cosiness 鈥� even in winter.
Many West Coast gardens are blessed with interesting rock outcrops, and if a garden doesn鈥檛 have any, landscapers often choose to bring some in for visual drama.
The great British garden writer Beverley Nichols agreed with this notion and said we should be 鈥渕onstrously extravagant鈥� with rocks. Rock walls are a great way to create interest and add warmth to a terrace, as the heavy mass holds the sun鈥檚 heat.
Celebrated gardener Vita Sackville-West believed in creating garden 鈥渞ooms鈥� and filling their interiors with distinctive plants following a theme, such as her white garden, which became highly fashionable in the 1930s. What better way to create outdoor rooms than with terraces or patios outlined in clipped hedges, dwarf fruit trees or planters overflowing with salad greens or herbs 鈥� with arbours and 鈥渄oors鈥� leading to other garden areas to explore.
Sliding glass wall systems or French doors opening onto outdoor rooms help to blur the edges between indoors and out, while such 鈥渞ooms鈥� can have multiple levels 鈥� made of wood, stone, stamped concrete, interlocking brick or tile 鈥� and offer a sizzling array of heating, cooking, grilling and roasting options, from barbecues to pizza ovens.
It鈥檚 always a good idea to think outside the deck, too 鈥� in other words, take care to plan a 鈥渢errace room鈥� with a view that you want to take advantage of, whether it be in the distance or a near corner of the garden.
Here are some tips for an existing deck:
鈥� If you have a table on your terrace, make sure to leave at least a metre of space behind each chair, for push-back room and so people can walk around.
鈥� Consider raising the deck to improve a view.
鈥� Think of a little hit of colour in the form of a fun planter or brightly coloured chair.
鈥� Add visual and audio interest with a fountain. Find one with a recirculating pump.
鈥� An outdoor shower behind a tasteful clump of bamboo is fun and invigorating.
鈥� Hang a chandelier from an overhead beam or branch.
鈥� If your patio is small, think vertically and expand the space by adding an arbour, trellis or other structure that draws the eye up to sweet-smelling roses, grapes or kiwis.
鈥� Create courtyard magic by lighting trees or planters around the patio. There are lots of solar-powered options. LED lights, like white Christmas lights, use little electricity and produce negligible amounts of heat.
鈥� Make the space as comfortable as possible with luxuries. Think of your living room, and make use of similar elements, such as lighting, cushions and side and coffee tables.
鈥� Add curtains to float in the wind.
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When building a new patio, start with a plan:
鈥� The first thing to do is think through exactly how you want to use your deck: Is it for lounging, entertaining, sunbathing, cooking or playing? Do you want to nap, dine, cook or bathe there?
鈥� Ideally, a patio should be located close to the kitchen or dining room.
鈥� Building a wall on one or more sides adds privacy and warmth.
鈥� Glass doors are attractive and Dutch doors work, too.
鈥� 91原创 a deck to your house by using a similar scale or shape, as well as materials or finishes so there is a feeling of flow between the two spaces. Proportion is important. If the deck is too small for the house, or too big for the yard, it will look unattractive.
鈥� In an uneven backyard, a deck that steps down to a series of levels can solve problems of slope, erosion or mowing.
鈥� Think ahead about where you want outlets to plug in a kettle, outdoor lights or a Christmas tree.
鈥� Plan for shade: Pergolas, arbours and beams can support rambling roses, honeysuckle or other sweet shade options.
鈥� Decide where you want to store furniture, cushions and other patio paraphernalia. A nearby outdoor storage area saves time and effort moving pieces in and out of a basement or garage.
