This expansive outdoor space has a little bit of everything. Trex decking, cedar shade arbor overhead, a sunken hot-tub, two fireplaces, an outdoor kitchen area as well as overhead lighting and overhead infrared heaters for those chilly evenings.

Garage getaway

Chicago Green Design Inc.

This small but quaint Chicago rooftop allows the family to enjoy the outdoors in the city. With ample shade, a dinning area, play area for the kids, a kitchen and a small garden to grow some veggies/herbs in. Photos by: Don Maldonado

Hilltop Custom Build

Stonewood, LLC

Spacecrafting

Historic Lakeshore Property

Chicago Roof Deck & Garden

This outdoor space is on the roof deck of a historic building on Lakeshore Dr. in Chicago. The space features multiple seating areas, two grills, firepit and pergola.

The Deck That's Tiny

Paul Lafrance Design

The Chantilly

Holloway Company Inc.

Curved Deck Project with full EPDM 100% dry space under deck: Shows Trex Transcends decking (Spiced Rum center with Vintage Lantern border) with Trex Transcends curved rails (Vintage Lantern rail with black aluminum balusters & white Trex Artisan composite post sleeves) Special features on this project included a sunken kitchen faced with Trex Vintage Lantern Trim & natural blue stone counter. Kitchen features 42" Twin Eagles Gas Grill, Fire Magic Outdoor Fridge, & Twin Eagles Trash Drawer. Sunken kitchen also features benches that double as a bar top for the kitchen level. Above the kitchen there sits a white PVC pergola.

Patio and Multi-Level Deck

J. M. Bryson Construction Management Inc.

Lower level deck and dining station

Completed Projects

DeJesus Industries

This 5,500 square foot estate in Dover, Massachusetts received an ultra luxurious mahogany boarded, wire railed, pergola and deck built exclusively by DEJESUS.

Bernal Hill

Kelly Condon Design

Modern Farmhouse Makeover

Lighthouse Contracting Group

Sweetbriar Outdoor Kitchen

Neil Kelly Company

The main objective for this project was to create a beautiful outdoor cooking and entertaining space. The clients wanted the new space to have an open concept while being protected from the elements year round. Stylistically they wanted the design to have a Pacific Northwest feel, to blend with the existing house and work well among their natural, forested backyard. We needed to include a BBQ, smoker, sink, refrigerator, gas fireplace and wall mounted heater as well as a large screen TV. The details were going to be a main focus for the design process, as we knew this would ensure the cohesive blend of function and aesthetic appeal. One of the main challenges was working with the existing deck. The 1000 SF deck needed new decking and guardrails as well as some framing repair. We were worried that the existing deck structure would not support the weight of the new construction. Another challenge we faced was designing the roof planes to aesthetically blend with the existing house. The layout of the first and second floor had us working through multiple design revisions until we landed on the final stepped roof structure. We designed the new roof to be supported by the house and columns set directly on the ground, thereby minimizing weight added to the existing deck. This allowed us to use the deck to support the lighter components, including the kitchen and BBQ area. Oversized beams, exposed raw wood rafters, and sealed car decking worked well with the new cedar deck surface. Stainless steel cabinetry and appliances are accented by solid surface countertops and small mosaic backsplash. All colors were selected to fall within the natural hues of the seasonally changing foliage surrounding the clients’ property. Maintaining the same footprint of the existing deck, we used the angles to our advantage and created additional seating with a custom built storage bench. New powder coated posts and cable guardrails were topped with an LED lined wood handrail. A decorative chandelier and subtle metal pendants provide ambient light. An electric heater mounted to the inside of one of the beams as well as the gas fireplace provides ample heat for colder months. The clerestory windows between the two roof planes provide additional light to the space while protecting against the elements. The gas fireplace and cultured stone wrapped chimney is a visual anchor and centerpiece for the deck. The chimney provided an opportunity to hide one of the supporting columns as well as a protected space for the wall mounted TV and soundbar. The cabinetry layout was selected to offer plenty of storage and special features including a pull out garbage and recycling center, drawers for dishes and utensils, and a concealed paper towel holder.

Phase 2 of 3 - The Backyardigans.

Eurodale Developments Inc

New privacy screen and built in bbq and beverage centre, located on a large deck with pergola and privacy screen, perfect for entertaining in class and comfort. Mix of painted and natural woods and concrete counter with metal and glass bbq and dining furniture creates a durable and upscale aesthtic

Mosca Project

Timberline Patio Covers

Gable style patio cover attached to the house and equipped with full outdoor kitchen, electric heaters, screens, ceiling fan, skylights, tv, patio furniture, and hot tub. The project turned out beautifully and would be the perfect place to host a party, family dinner or the big game!

South Philly Roof Deck Kitchen

Airy Kitchens

Hayfield Covered Patio & Pool

Gasper Landscape Design and Construction

Rob Cardillo

This outdoor kitchen is equipped with a beverage cooler, sink, stainless steel range, 36" BBQ, pop up outdoor TV, patio heater and an 11' x 19' skylight in the roof. All cabinets, columns, beams and privacy screen are vertical grain fir, sourced locally. The decking is Garapa.

Raised Deck above Patio (Outdoor Kitchen detail)

Decks by Kiefer LLC

Modern Outdoor Kitchen

Michael Norpell's Wall To Wall

Photography by Linda Oyama Bryan

Chelsea Creek Penthouse Roof Terrace

Aralia: Innovation in Landscape Design

Chelsea Creek is the pinnacle of sophisticated living, these penthouse collection gardens, featuring stunning contemporary exteriors are London’s most elegant new dockside development, by St George Central London, they are due to be built in Autumn 2014 Following on from the success of her stunning contemporary Rooftop Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012, Patricia Fox was commissioned by St George to design a series of rooftop gardens for their Penthouse Collection in London. Working alongside Tara Bernerd who has designed the interiors, and Broadway Malyon Architects, Patricia and her team have designed a series of London rooftop gardens, which although individually unique, have an underlying design thread, which runs throughout the whole series, providing a unified scheme across the development. Inspiration was taken from both the architecture of the building, and from the interiors, and Aralia working as Landscape Architects developed a series of Mood Boards depicting materials, features, art and planting. This groundbreaking series of London rooftop gardens embraces the very latest in garden design, encompassing quality natural materials such as corten steel, granite and shot blasted glass, whilst introducing contemporary state of the art outdoor kitchens, outdoor fireplaces, water features and green walls. Garden Art also has a key focus within these London gardens, with the introduction of specially commissioned pieces for stone sculptures and unique glass art. The linear hard landscape design, with fluid rivers of under lit glass, relate beautifully to the linearity of the canals below. The design for the soft landscaping schemes were challenging – the gardens needed to be relatively low maintenance, they needed to stand up to the harsh environment of a London rooftop location, whilst also still providing seasonality and all year interest. The planting scheme is linear, and highly contemporary in nature, evergreen planting provides all year structure and form, with warm rusts and burnt orange flower head’s providing a splash of seasonal colour, complementary to the features throughout. Finally, an exquisite lighting scheme has been designed by Lighting IQ to define and enhance the rooftop spaces, and to provide beautiful night time lighting which provides the perfect ambiance for entertaining and relaxing in. Aralia worked as Landscape Architects working within a multi-disciplinary consultant team which included Architects, Structural Engineers, Cost Consultants and a range of sub-contractors.

Deck Design Ideas with an Outdoor Kitchen

Decks are synonymous with Australian and New Zealand outdoor living. It’s out on your deck that you can read the Sunday paper, have a barbecue with neighbours or host a party – and come summer, Aussies and Kiwis swarm to them like mozzies to a bug zapper! Decking is also a popular flooring choice for patios, pergolas and pool surrounds, as well as balconies and verandahs. As an extension of your living space, outdoor decking needs to be ripe for relaxation, handle harsh weather and high foot traffic, and suit the style of your home, too. We are, however, spoilt for choice when it comes to decking options, especially regarding the choice of hardwood, which can make deciding on the right timber decking for your needs tough. Before you start building a deck, browse Houzz photos for design inspiration and check out the Stories section for more ideas. Once you're ready, you may want to hire a Landscape Architect or Gardener to help you complete your project.

How do I determine my deck design?

Decks can be customised to suit your home and landscape, so be open to a variety of designs. On this page, you’ll find the likes of balcony, verandah and patio decking, as well as breezeway decks, low-slung decks (barely raised off the ground) and master bedroom decks, just to name a few. If you have a contemporary home, you might prefer a mixed-materials deck with concrete stairs, for example, or rather a more simple party deck, complete with built-in seating and a barbecue. Decks can also wrap around garden features, like a feature tree, or curve through your garden. If you want to tame a slope in your backyard, a raised deck or platform deck can help with backyard access. It can be covered or left uncovered, but if choosing the latter option, try to add structure to the space with planting. Multi-level decks are also great for sloping lots, and can help zone areas within your backyard. If you want to highlight or make more use of your backyard, consider a freestanding deck, which, complete with an outdoor dining set, seating, a gazebo or umbrella, can be used for entertaining or simply unwinding under the sun. Boardwalk decking is a great way to guide people through your yard, add structure and can help add a sense of design.

What hardwood decking should I use?

Price, appearance and overall maintenance will dictate your choice of hardwood decking. Spotted gum, teak, blackbutt, grey ironbark, jarrah and merbau are all popular hardwood varieties in Australia and New Zealand, while composite decking – a combination of wood and plastic – is becoming increasingly popular, too. Hardwood looks more natural, but does need to be stained and weatherproofed frequently. Spotted gum is one of the most attractive decking materials – it has a lovely grain and requires minimal staining. Teak is the best performing hardwood, but comes with a hefty price tag. If you’re after a red-coloured hardwood, consider merbau, which can handle the harsh Australian climate. Merbau decking will, however, leach tannins, so it’s best avoided near other light-coloured hardscapes. Composite decking is a more low-maintenance option than hardwood decking, as it doesn’t require resealing. It’s also more environmentally friendly: it won’t fade, rot or warp with time, meaning you can maintain the same deck for longer. If you live in a fire-prone area, it’s also less of a hazard.