MasterPlan Outdoor Living
Bear Creek Village | 5 weeks
Halis Residence
Preserving the view from the house to the stream in the woods was a top priority. The homeowners wanted an integrated, open outdoor space for entertainment and grilling. It had to look great from the inside of their home and offer the feel of a private wooded retreat; yet be functional.
Designer Comments
We were up for the challenge! First we removed the old painted wooden deck and stairs. It was far too much maintenance for our homeowners. They were searching for a solution that permitted a fully functioning, low maintenance, outdoor living space. It had to be outfitted with a place to cook, eat and relax with a good book. Since the area was reasonably sparse and flat it provided the ideal area for us to create an intimate elevated retreat.
Next we designed the paver entryway to include one step leading to the main deck with LED ground lighting that illuminates some of the native trees. We were able to construct the new deck almost to the edge of the woods, designing the centrally located C-shaped stone bar as the focal point for entertainment. This made good use of the downward-sloped terrain without having to rework it. We repurposed the existing garden bed and utilized the hollow of the C-shaped stone bar by planting a vase shaped Zelkova tree and Carex “Bowles Golden” grass. This allowed us to integrate nature into the deck.
Lastly, we added a low voltage LED lighting system, combined a fine black texture aluminum and stainless steel cable railing and bumped the surrounding deck out past the bar. This offered the illusion of an even larger deck area while protecting the stream view. By using materials such as stone, aluminum, stainless steel cable, and composite decking we significantly tapered the maintenance required leaving more time for our homeowners to entertain with family and friends. The result was an expansive multi-level deck that visually brought the first floor space outdoors, providing a welcoming and cozy look year round.
Client Wish List
- New patio or deck
- Outdoor kitchen with seating for cooking and entertainment
- Evening illumination
- Railing that would not block the view of the stream
- Colorful landscaping
"We couldn’t be happier and look forward to many years of entertaining and enjoying. It will be our pleasure to work with you again on future projects!"
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“We are so very fortunate to have found you to build our deck. It is not like anything we had imagined, it is much better!! We appreciate how you listened to our minimal initial requirements and crafted them into a beautiful “deckscape” that enhances and extends the living space of our home. The design is functional and practical, while interesting and detailed.
You took care to maintain an unobstructed view, design well placed lighting, and complete the picture with landscaping that is beautiful and manageable. The craftsmanship is superb. We were able to open the grill and make dinner on our fully completed deck just minutes after the final work vehicle left our property. It was such a pleasure to have a finished area just waiting to be used. The entire property was left in pristine condition.
We couldn’t be happier and look forward to many years of entertaining and enjoying. It will be our pleasure to work with you again on future projects! All the best to you.”
