Difficult to work with odd shapes
We moved into our forever home about five years ago and have been doing many DIY projects inside and outside to move it from the '80s into this decade. And this is the summer we have dedicated to taking back our yard.
We are having our house repainted in the next month and the back porch/deck needs a facelift to accompany it. Our fourth child was born seven months ago and it's getting harder and harder with four small kids to do these projects ourselves. We love to entertain and hang out outside with our kids, friends, neighbors and extended family, but due to the deck's odd shape it is difficult to know how to best use it. Plus, there is very little light, no great seating, and it lacks charm. Please help!
Design Northwest Metalcraft
Expert: Nikki Bjorgo, www.nwmetalcraft.com
Budget: $10,000 or more
Your deck appears to be in good condition but there is a lack of good seating, entertainment or relaxation space.
Suggestions
• Yard seating. To increase the functionality of your outdoor living space, we suggest a backyard fire pit with some Adirondack chairs placed around. This will give you more seating options and the kids will love roasting marshmallows around the fire! We have more than 40 fire pits on display starting at $1,500. You can choose from several wood fire pits made with copper by Jatex, gas fire pits made from retired wine barrels by Vin de Flame or more than two dozen gas fire pits that match their respective outdoor furniture sets.
• Patio table. In order to best utilize the narrow layout and bring the same "look" from the fire pit up to the deck, we would recommend balcony height Adirondack chairs and either two smaller tables or one larger table. You can get a good dining set for $2,500 to $4,000. This outdoor design would give you a beautiful and unobstructed view of your yard!
• Relax. A chaise lounge chair and end table in the corner near the window would be the perfect place to read a book and put your feet up!
• Ambience. For entertaining in the evening or just hanging outside with the kids, we suggest patio lights either underneath the upper deck or along the railing. For added charm, you could add railing flower boxes.