Decks and Porches
As we travel this gorgeous land on our relentless mission of decorative beautification, we’re constantly inspired by an army of outdoors devotees and by the work they undertake to ensure porches and decks (not to mention patios, gardens and terraces!) become as attractive - and practical - as possible. We’re thrilled to see a growing commitment to improving exterior space and, as devoted fans of al fresco entertainment, we can only imagine the fun hospitality that takes place. Summer, after all, is just ‘round the corner so what better time to prepare for relaxing afternoons or casual, balmy evenings with the barbecue at full tilt! And we speak from experience - we’re currently working on the transformation of our own Toronto roof terrace which, at 39 floor up, faces all manner of assault from Canada’s climate.
Creating the perfect first impression
As much as we see many wonderfully tended terraces and decks, however, we still see lost potential in certain quarters. We see homes with fair external order - well painted doors and windows and patiently tended plants and flowers - but neglected design and final dressing detail. Chances are your neighbours and passers by are gossiping about your lost potential. Or, in other words, grumbling about their view… to yours. So, whether green thumbed or not, isn’t it time you got it together? It’s amazing what you can do, with even just a little expense, to make the great outdoors… even greater!
Getting the best from your space
So how do you add that all important – yet often strangely elusive - design factor? Well it’s actually not that difficult! A porch or front step, for example, should serve as a welcoming stop off point as you fumble for your keys. It should provide visitors with somewhere to wait as they shelter from the elements as you make your way to greet them. Porches allow you to spend time ‘en dehors’ even if the weather is bad and, if properly shielded from side winds via roll down all weather blinds or screening, they can be enjoyed well into autumn. Add a (supervised) shiny steel patio heater – they’ve come right down in price over the years - and you could find yourself savouring al fresco hot chocolate even as winter takes hold. Bliss!
Finding inspiration
As you plan how to dress your patio or veranda, think about how its furnishings will relate to the rest of your exterior. Plunder the detail of your home’s architectural character - roof lines, eaves, posts and rails, etc - and mirror these in your additional propping. Modern exteriors can be successfully dressed with funky modern pieces but a traditional exterior looks best when dressed with wicker, wood or rustic detailing. Okay, so a little mixing and matching can be fun… but it’s good to respect your home’s ‘vernacular’!
Maintenance
Before thinking of furniture and accessories, make sure that the area in which it will be sited is well maintained. As the new season dawns, it makes great sense to tackle a little DIY. Here are our top five pointers that should help you on your way…
Tidy up!
One of the worst things you can do is treat your garden zone, porch or deck as a storage area. A front stoop used as a stop of point between kitchen garbage tin and local dump is SUCH a turn off. If you’ve nowhere else to store refuse, then at least remember the environment - sort into re cycling boxes and ensure that the right things go to the right department! Tip - buy colour coded crates, stash them neatly together and make sure they don’t over flow!
Set dressing
A collection of terracotta pots planted up with brightly coloured flowers and foliage will add a welcome dash of drama to even the dullest exterior. And due to their portable nature you can move them around as and when required. And don’t panic; you don’t have to be an expert horticulturist to achieve good results. Many plant genus these days are bred specifically to challenge even the most difficult weather conditions, whether hot OR cold! Choose hardy plants to act as decorating ‘accents’ against neutrally painted siding, pillars or walls.
Finding extra function
The list of purposes your outdoor areas can serve is endless. On TV, and in private commission, we’ve dressed many gardens as comfy dining areas and we’ve attired others as secondary warm weather living zones. If you install safety gates to enclose young kids, decks and patios make fabulous playrooms as long as constant supervision is considered - particularly at the front of your home. Tip - Hanging baskets are a great way to pump up the style stakes, though remember that these can dry out in as little as an hour on particularly hot days.
Top 10 Tips – in a nutshell - to help create the perfect deck, patio or terrace
In essence, it really isn’t that hard to make your garden, yard or deck a positively welcoming and exciting haven. This year, as our TV calendar rolls ever faster, you’ll see us tackle more outdoor spaces than normal. We suppose we’re all by now familiar with the term ‘bring the outdoors in’ but perhaps these days, in light of how the gardening market has blossomed (if you’ll excuse the pun) maybe it’s finally time… ‘to bring the indoors out’! Trowels at the ready? Enjoy!