NW Backyard Blues #1
Everyone gets the blues. Even backyards and decks.
Such was the case with the backyard deck and yard, at this beautiful home in NW Portland. After a beautiful, overall house renovation, the backyard deck didn’t get much attention initially. That’s where we came in.
The existing back deck, off of the main kitchen and gathering space, was configured as such that in order to get down to the cozy backyard, one had to go down a short flight of steps to the driveway (in the wrong direction), and then walk around everything to get to the yard space. Hence the owners never felt invited to go down to the yard from their house. The dog went down there for business purposes. So there was our problem to solve. Invite us down. Everyone likes to be invited.
Our simple solution – we kept half of the upper existing deck for the bbq, and dissolved the rest gracefully down into the yard. A board formed concrete landscape planter sets the fulcrum point about which everything is organized, and the resulting ambiance, and invitation for the owners unveiled itself naturally. The new lower tiered deck, provides a lovely spot for summer outdoor dinners, without being on display for the nearby neighbors. The new deck is skinned with a mix of dark red Meranti, a beautiful hardwood, and mahogany. The existing perimeter privacy fence was re-skinned as well to bring the band together. New, simple paver patio, plantings, white noise water feature, and we are ready for summer cocktails.