A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROJECT
During our very first phone conversation, prior to visiting the property, the homeowners shared their interest in creating an exterior design that would align with planned interior renovations, particularly in the basement. It was important to them that the outdoor space felt like a natural extension of the updated interior.
At our initial site meeting, we walked through both the interior of the home and the surrounding property to gain a full understanding of their living environment and how the two spaces could connect more cohesively.
Existing Conditions
The main level of the home included the dining room, kitchen, and living room. Just outside was a multi-level deck that was in need of updating.
The basement, a walkout level, consisted of a storage room, a home office, and a basic television room. Sliding doors from the basement led to a small gravel patio area beneath the existing deck. On either side of this patio were two deteriorating timber retaining walls that framed the space.
Project Goals
We spent time walking the site and having an in-depth conversation with the clients to clearly define their goals. Together, we established the following priorities:
- Interior Elements (Basement) – Maintain the existing storage/ utility room, Make changes to the office and living room to have larger windows and doors to allow for better views to the exterior, Create a larger, more inviting basement entertainment space for television, gaming space and bar area, & Develop more appropriate storage.
- Exterior Element (Lower Level) – Integrate a hot tub space with open views to the sky and easy access to the basement entrance of the house, Develop a patio area off the back of the house and beneath the proposed deck, Design the hot tub space to disguise the overwhelming look & size of the tub, Hot tub will be used year round, & Consider options for a natural wood fire pit at this lower-level patio.
- Exterior Element (Mid-Level Patio) – Assess and revise the existing mid-level patio area only as needed understanding this space is pretty good as is, patio mostly used for a small fire pit space and also allows the owner to transition from the upper deck to the lower patio.
- Exterior Element (Upper Level) – Re-design the deck to be one level and integrate a new railing system that was sturdier and safer for kids, Integrate a new set of stairs off the deck where appropriate and that allows for easy access to the mid-level patio area as well as the lower patio space, Design for a new retaining wall at the corner of the house replacing the existing rotting timber, & Provide a waterproofing system for the underside of the deck to create a protected lower patio.
Construction & Installation
The construction phase began with the demolition of existing elements, including the old fence, deteriorating timber retaining walls, outdated deck, and gravel patio.
The new design introduced two boulder retaining walls, one forming a cozy, private nook for the hot tub, and another at the north end of the property to protect the buried septic system.
A Belgard patio was installed using a 3-piece pattern of Laffit Rustic Slab in Danville Blend, bordered with a Sailor Course of charcoal Holland Stone. This patio extends beneath the raised deck, wraps around the hot tub area, and leads to granite slab steps that connect to the existing brick patio.
From the newly finished basement home office, the homeowners can step directly onto this inviting patio and easily access the hot tub. Approximately half of the 600-square-foot patio is sheltered by a 370-square-foot raised deck, allowing the space to be used comfortably in all weather. A Trex RainEscape waterproofing system with integrated gutters was installed beneath the deck and finished with a white beadboard ceiling, brightening what could otherwise be a shadowed area.
Above, the new deck features Island Mist Trex decking with a picture frame border, hidden fasteners for a clean, seamless appearance, and is completed with the Transcend railing system for both safety and style.
Once utility trenching and electrical work were completed, the hot tub was installed on a concrete slab base, framed by decorative gravel and carefully selected plantings to soften the space and enhance its visual appeal.
SPECIAL OR UNUSUAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED
- There was an existing septic system within approximately 30 from the foundation of the house. We had to make sure that no development happened on or near the system.
- The clay soils of the property required additional patio preparation to make sure that the patio would not heave or shift because of winter frost.