Deck

NW Backyard Blues # 1

Cedar louvers increase privacy and shade on the second-floor deck, where Carole and Duane relax with granddaughters Natalie and Allison and their friend Katherine.

The outside deck, made of local celery-top pine, welcomes both humans and the natural landscape further into the house.

#outdoor #rooftop #table #dining #Summer #chair #Brooklyn #tabletop Photo by Paul Barbera

Thanks to Matthew Hufft, their envelope-pushing architect and longtime friend, Hannah and Paul Catlett have a new home in southwestern Missouri that’s a fresh, unconventional take on the traditional farmhouse.

For a bit of elevation in the overwhelmingly horizontal compound, step onto the deck of the Stealth Barn. A strip of mowed grass delineates a path between the two structures; otherwise the grasses grow wild.

Near the house, Cooper clustered lush, big-leafed plants philodendron, purple heart, and flowering canna. Farther out, vegetable gardens sprout in raised beds, and thyme and mint thrive beneath citrus trees. Native California silver wild rye and matilija poppies bind the slope, bordering the low “snake wall” that winds around the yard, narrowly ducking beneath a big ficus tree with just enough clearance for a sprinting kid. Wide stadium steps connect the garden levels, turning the steep hillside into amphitheater seating.

Evoking both nature and the nurture of relaxation, this rooftop deck by Pulltab Design shows that roof gardens and entertaining spaces don’t have to be mutually exclusive. For this roof, Earth tones and wood are key components to achieving a spa-like atmosphere. Photo via Oliver Yaphe.

The outdoor sunken kitchen is a surprise feature, sitting beneath the elevated home.

A dated midcentury dwelling in Santa Barbara is transformed into a bright, airy abode—perfectly suited for contemporary living.

The recessed area in the wooden deck can be used for a fire pit or a vegetable garden.

Custom sliding doors extend the living areas to the outdoors.