Isn't it a great feeling to step outside, breath in the fresh air? Whether it be floral scents from a favorite garden in bloom or the smell of salty air from the ocean, the body knows when you are treating it to nature's delights! Renewal has been a great topic of concern this past year, and as an Interior Designer my aim has been to bring this same sense of renewal into the home. It is a passion/profession of mine to create harmonious environments for others all while honoring the earth to the best of my abilities.
This Fall I am a Guest of the One Room Challenge, which promises to be challenging, with the many product and service delays in an overburdened construction industry. But I will undertake the task, and work through the anticipated delays and possible mishaps that may occur.
To refresh your memory, the One Room Challenge is an event originally created and owned by Linda Weinstein. She is the woman responsible for enthusiastically bringing this event to the Interior Design community online, where now thousands of room transformations have taken place. It is also a very supportive community so please check out the other transformations over this 8 week challenge as well!
The Project
Aged from 17 yrs. of care taking and constant decaying from the elements, is my outside open deck! From parties to casual barbecues, it has seen it all. The maintenance and upkeep hasn't been an easy one either. Originally constructed with the house, it was made from pressure treated 'builder' grade lumber. Over the years I enlarged it and added on to it's rather boring square design. Because of the leech lines for the septic system in the yard, I created a funky triangular shape that definitely added some interest! I've stained, and stained, and stained over the years with a darker cedar shade of water transparent stain and two-toned the posts and pickets in a sage green to blend into the environment and coordinate with the house's colorways.
The Layout:
For the reasons I love my current deck, are the reasons I need to preserve a newly constructed design that will be sustainable for however many years I remain in this home or carry it over to the next homeowners and that it may become a sort of 'steward' to our backyard woodlands. I hope that when that day arrives, others may enjoy the natural environment from the inside of their home as well as when they step onto that deck to breath in the fresh air that the trees emit from the canopy that protects and cools us from the harsh sun's rays--
The Vision:
What I love about this space is its expansiveness! It captures the density of the woodlands and beyond and brings all the natural elements into focus from inside and outside. It is what brought us to this current place originally. While North Carolina has an abundance of natural wildlife right outside ones door, I have seen many wonderful creatures pass by mine as well----species of birds, deer, raccoons, opossums, lizards, snakes, turtles, foxes, coyotes, and the occasional neighboring feline (not to leave out the many insects too numerous to count!:) Yes life in the suburbs can be naturally diverse, which is why I would like my NEW deck to withstand ALL the natural elements. Some of the harsher elements it needs to withstand would be the 45" average annual rain that downpours onto it, not to mention all the mold and mildew that a beautiful forest can shed onto all exposed surfaces daily. And even though Fall is my favorite time of year, our deciduous forest can overwhelm if not prepared.
For this renovation, I am anticipating a much more contemporary deck. Perhaps something with a more modern, farmhouse, industrial easthetique. A cool CHIC vibe!!
Here are some fabulous deck designs that I am in love with and perhaps I will be able to incorporate some of their design elements as well:
Courtesy of TimberTech, Inc.
Coutesy of TimberTech Inc.
HGTV Smart Home
One of the tours I recently took was the "Smart Home" Tour this past year in the beautiful scenic town of Wilmington, N.C. It showcased a charming coastal cottage with a relaxed lifestyle with some modern appointments. Take a look-
Courtesy of Trex, Inc.
Courtesy of Trex ,Inc.
Well as you can see, I certainly have my work cut-out for me to transform my tired chic deck into an Earthen*Chic splendor!!
The Plan
- Shop, compare, and order materials
- Contract carpenter or handyman
- Disassemble existing deck
- Rebuild deck
- Shop, compare, order and reuse existing furnishings
- Create concept boards, floor plan and renderings
- Install lighting, plant-scaping, furnishings and decor!
Follow me along for 8 weeks on the this Fall's ORC of 2022 ! I promise it won't disappoint!!
...from the light of my home to yours,
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