The homeowner wanted to create an enclosure around their built-in hot tub to add some privacy. The contractor, Husker Decks, designed a privacy wall with alternating materials. The aluminum privacy screen in 'River Rock' mixed with a horizontal wood wall in a rich stain blend to create a privacy wall that blends perfectly into the homeowner's backyard space and style.

Built to last! Custom kayak rack made out of Epay wood from Brazil. This tropical hardwood will not rot or splinter. Designed and made in our shop. Photo by Mo Fitzgerald

This lower level deck features Trex Lava Rock decking and Trex Trandscend guardrails. Our Homeowner wanted the deck to flow to the backyard with this expansive wrap around stair case which allows access onto the deck from almost anywhere. The we used Palram PVC for the riser material to create a durable low maintenance stair case. We finished the stairs off with Trex low voltage lighting. Our framing and Helical Pier application on this job allows for the installation of a future hot tub, and the Cedar pergola offers the privacy our Homeowners were looking for.

Overlooking the pool is a stylish and comfortable Trex Transcends deck that is the perfect spot for poolside entertaining and outdoor dining. The black horizontal metal railing, extra-large cedar deck steps and deck skirting add the finishing touches to this relaxing and inviting Atlanta backyard retreat.

Fall may be rolling into winter here on the East Coast, but the cooler weather doesn’t mean we stop our deck replacement services for the season. In fact, we keep going right through winter so that our customers have their brand new decks ready for warm temperatures, especially when there is a pool involved as is the case with our customer in Moorestown, New Jersey. They won’t be wasting a single summer pool day next year waiting for the deck to be completed. Our deck replacement team removed the original decking and replaced it with Trex Transcend Tropics grooved decking in Island Mist along with white RDI Finyline railings. Instead of using lattice to enclose the underside of the deck, our homeowner chose to have our team install Trex Enhance Basics grooved decking in Clamshell. We love the streamlined look it gives to the deck, and we hope our customers enjoy when they spend next summer out on their new deck.

The pergola provides an opportunity for shade and privacy. Another feature of the pergola is that the downspout of the house runs through the pergola in order to drain into this integrated pond. The pond is designed with an overflow that empties into an adjacent rain garden when the water level rises.

A great addition to a small Bay Ridge yard. We created a custom built-in seating area with usable storage space on top of Trex decking. Also in this project, we installed Smart LED Deck Lights.

Coline A. Wenker @surlaroute_

Small decking in Toorak, Using Ironbark decking and stainless steel screws. Transforming this area into a usable space.

Photo: Roy Aguilar

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo