Creative Decks

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Framingham, MA

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Decks

Easy Elegance: The Enclosed Deck

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When the world’s a stressful place and you just want to chill out, having a comfortable, private space to relax with your family, friends and favorite people is just what the doctor ordered. Let’s talk about enclosed decks, the easy, elegant setting that makes outdoor living super simple and lots of fun.

The Enclosed Deck: Why?

Most of us are familiar with the traditional outdoor deck, which consists of a platform, some railings, and perhaps some stairs to make enjoying the backyard easy and simple.

The traditional deck can be a lot of fun, but it does have a few drawbacks. No roof means your family is out in sun, which can get hot, uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. Enclosed decks have the benefit of shade. Having a cool, comfortable place to relax is great news for little kids, pets, and older family members.

Another issue will be instantly familiar to anyone who has small children or pets. The traditional deck’s railings don’t do much to keep fast, active kids contained. A safer option, particularly if you’ve got multiple small children to care for, is an enclosed deck area where access to the outdoors can be safely controlled by an adult.

Many Framingham area families report that their enclosed decks give them a sense of privacy that they really enjoy. This is especially true in locations where the deck is visible from the street. Neighborhood traffic doesn’t have to distract from your enjoyment of the great outdoors.

Enclosed porches add usable living space to the home in a very cost-effective manner. Choose a three-season porch to maximize your ability to use this space; screen porches can be enjoyed from the early spring through the early fall.

To get the maximum return on investment from your enclosed deck project, work with your local deck builder to make smart design choices. Composite decking is available in a variety of colors, which means your enclosed deck can be bright, cheerful and inviting.

The Outdoor Amenities That Matter Most

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When you’re renovating an upscale home, the exterior matters every bit as much as the interiors. That’s just the way it is, especially when you live in an appearance-conscious neighborhood like Framingham. With that in mind, we’re going to talk about the outdoor amenities that matter most to families right now.

The Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor living is more popular than ever. A big part of the appeal is the ease of entertaining – whether you’re up for a family friendly barbecue or want to have adult beverages with your favorite friends, the deck is the place to do it.

An outdoor kitchen can be as simple or as upscale as you’d like it to be. As decking specialists in the Framingham area, we’ve built outdoor kitchens that range from the simple essentials to the full gourmet experience. Cooking surfaces range from the traditional grill, flat top grill and outdoor range; some outdoor kitchens feature refrigeration, running water and more.

The Outdoor Bath

Whether you’ve spent all day on the water, in the pool, or just playing outside with the kids and animals, it’s nice to get clean in a luxurious setting. Outdoor showers, hot tubs and baths are becoming increasingly popular in the Framingham area. Privacy screening and other design features mean you can enjoy this luxury without worrying about anyone seeing you.

The Screen Room

One of the biggest challenges of outdoor living is dealing with biting insects. Not only are they annoying, but mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects can carry dangerous diseases. Many Framingham area families have screen rooms built on their decks in order to have a comfortable, shaded place to escape from the bugs and relax in comfort. This is also a great feature to have if you’ve got very young children or family members who are getting older.

The Zen Deck

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Zen is the practice of understanding life directly, without confusing thoughts or language to distract the mind. Many people enjoy the calm, restful feelings they experience in a beautifully-designed space that incorporates design principles used throughout Asia in contemplation and worship spaces.

Those same design principles can be used to create a beautiful, relaxing Zen-inspired deck for your Metrowest home. Here’s some ideas you may want to consider:

Shakkei – Key to Zen philosophy is the understanding that all beings are connected and that no one lives in isolation. In design terms, that means being ever mindful of the view. Your creative deck designer will work with you to take advantage of your yard’s best features when positioning and designing your deck.

Mizu – Whenever possible, a Zen garden will incorporate a water element. Water is representative of purification and cleansing. Its reflective nature is said to support a contemplative mindset. There are a number of ways to incorporate a water feature into your deck, including deck ponds, fountains, and even waterfalls. Your deck designer can help you find the option you’ll love.

Tenkeibutso – Technically the word for lantern, Tenkeibutso refers to the concept of illumination and how important it is for relaxing spaces to be well-lit. Be prepared to spend a little time with your deck designer choosing and deciding where to position your lighting features. It’s a critical component that helps you get the maximum amount of enjoyment from your deck.

Ishi – Ishi is the word for stone. Stone and other natural materials, including wood & carefully selected live plants, are central to Zen design. Some families choose to incorporate a Zen rock garden into their deck design – a unique look that makes a subtle yet profound statement about the family who lives in the home. Other ways to incorporate rocks into your deck design include placing larger rocks as contemplation focus objects – it’s very traditional to put these near the entrance of a garden as a sign of welcome.

Great Decks in Small Spaces

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One of the challenges of living in Metrowest MA is the fact that great houses sometimes come with fairly small lots. If you want to spend more time outdoors, but don’t really have a large yard, a smart small deck can be the answer.

The Design Makes the Difference

While a deck may be small in terms of square footage, it doesn’t have to be small in terms of functionality or family fun. The key to great small decks is great deck design. You want to work with experienced professionals who can help you make the most out of the space you have.

Creative deck design can mean having a deck that’s not the traditional elongated rectangle shape. It can also mean having a deck that’s more than one level, or even an elevated deck that leads off of a second-story entrance.

Maximize Your Outdoor Living Season with 3 Season Porches & Sunrooms

One of the advantages of working with an experienced local deck contractor is you can have a truly unique deck, designed and built to suit your family’s needs. This means you can have the features you truly want – such as a space for grilling or built in seating that doubles as storage – within the confines of the available space.

If you’d like to maximize your enjoyment of your yard, talk to your local deck designer about ways you can have a lovely outdoor living space you can use through most or all of the year. Popular options in the Framingham area include three-season porches and sunrooms. Custom design means your three-season porch or sunroom will complement and enhance the appearance of your home and provide a comfortable, useful living space the whole family can enjoy.

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Making Summer Super: Family Friendly Decks

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“All of my favorite memories from when I was a kid center around our family’s deck,” Stephen said. “It was home base for all of the neighborhood kids. We hung out together there. My Mom would barbecue for us – hot dogs and corn on the cob – and we’d eat outside. I don’t think we went indoors all day long. That’s the type of summer I want my kids to have.”

Creating family fun starts with smart deck design. You want a deck you can enjoy – not one that you have to spend all summer cleaning, staining and sealing. That means choosing a deck made out of composite decking. This PVC like material stays strong, colorful and durable through all four seasons of Massachusetts weather. It doesn’t need any maintenance beyond a quick spray with the hose when things start to get a little grungy. Best of all, mold, mildew, insects and animals aren’t interested in composite decking.

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Other features that are essential for the family friendly deck include an outdoor kitchen and a screen room. Outdoor kitchens can run the gamut from the extremely simple – think a designated area for your bbq grill and coolers – to over-the-top sophistication. Built in grills, cooktops and smokers, as well as outdoor refrigerators and sinks, can make preparing exquisite meals for your guest super simple.

Screen rooms are ideal for families who want to enjoy the great outdoors without sunburns or insect bites. This is especially important for families with very young children, elderly family members, or anyone with health issues who needs to be protected from mosquitoes, ticks, and other troublesome insects. Be aware that you can have a screen room built on your porch, or if you already have an existing screen room that you’d like to get more use out of, you can have it converted into a three or four season porch.