Terrace Ideas and Designs

My Houzz: Full-Tilt Reinvention for a 1950s Ranch

Heather Merenda

Project 1

Boyd & Sons Construction

Ballard Outdoor Living Space

Sawhorse Design & Build

Nice combination of glass, metal and ipee, iron wood decking for northwest living. Beautiful backyard retreat

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Roof Deck Sectional

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Bruns Architecture

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Serota Home (For South Bay Magazine HOME Edition

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A chicago garage roof deck with synlawn, fire pit, built in grill and lounge seating perfect for an afternoon with the family.

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Sarah Greenman

Old Naples

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Archadeck of Central Iowa

Greenlake 2013

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Private residence - Toronto, Canada

RetractableAwnings.com Inc.

The architect requested an architecturally unique poolside guest retreat using a one span, 2-post waterproof patio cover system. The plan was to have rainwater drain in to the front beam and then through the internal invisible downspouts (in the posts) and exit through one small hole on one side of the unit. The purpose of the project was to design and cover a space adjacent to the architect client’s swimming pool, which can now be used year round as an outdoor guest retreat. Working with award winning designers Powell & Bonnell our contractor completely transformed a 1950s dilapidated summer pool side Cabana into an upscale modern all season guest house.

LED Outdoor Lighting

Paul English Landscaping

Led lighting adds hours of enjoyment to this landscape design/install project. photo by Kingmond Young, light fixtures from FX Luminaire and Urban Farmer Store

Ocean Bluff-Winner Santa Barbara Beautiful 2013

Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Ipe deck with Stepstone, inc. concrete pavers and patio furniture makes a great contemporary outdoor living space. Holly Lepere

Pagoda

Otoniel Solis Inc.

Terrace Ideas and Designs

There’s nothing quite like an outdoor space with a view and if you’re elevated up high then there’s more chance of getting that view. Even if you’re not blessed with a natural view from your home, an elevated space outdoors will at least give you the chance to survey the land in front of you; whether that’s a few square metres or whole acres! A terrace is one way of achieving this as it gives you the flat surface of a patio but elevated; either on a flat roof, as decking in your garden, or extending out from your house at ground level or higher. Whether a terrace is your only outside space and you want it to function as a garden or you’ll be using it as a dining or seating area, there are all sorts of design ideas, furniture, plants and accessory options to think about.

How do I decorate or design a roof garden?

UK homeowners are resourceful when it comes to outside space and will make the most of anything they can get their hands on, so it’s no wonder that in urban areas and cities we look to the roof for a place to get some rays. A roof terrace can work in just the same way as a decking area, but you just may need a few extra elements to make it more comfortable – a way of shading an area from the sun, perhaps a parasol or sun shade, a touch of green to break up the stark nature of a roof, and a drainage system that will stop rain water collecting in colder months. If you want to create a whole garden on your roof you’ll be a little more restricted than when on ground level. Plants may have to remain potted, but you can find companies that design and install green roofs – systems that allow plants to be planted into the roof surface. However, green roofs can be costly and tricky to install, so stick to pots and raised flower beds if you want to stay on the safe side. Loungers, deck chairs and rattan chairs are great pieces of roof garden furniture as they’re portable and can be moved around your rooftop garden easily; perfect for sun chasers. However, if you want to create a larger sense of space for your roof terrace design, think about built-in benches or seating around the sides or a corner of your roof garden.

What to consider when designing garden decking

A decked garden area may look simple once finished, but there are so many factors to consider when it comes to putting together decking ideas. You’ll need to think about the materials you want to use, the balustrades or railings you might choose, whether you will have a raised deck and decking steps, and whether you want decking lights.

Which decking material is best?

Composite decking is a popular choice for outdoor deck material because it offers a combination of practicality and style. The boards are made of wood and plastic fibres so that the classic wooden look is kept but the plastic fibres mean they will be much more durable and easier to maintain than traditional hardwood. If you can’t resist the natural look and feel of hardwood decking boards, then yellow balau, iroko and ipe decking are suitable outdoor boards that will give you the classic feel of a traditional wooden deck. Remember, with hardwood decking you will regularly need to treat the wood to keep it clean, waterproofed and to maintain the colour. As wood is usually more of an investment than composite or plastic decking, it’s a good idea to speak to decking specialists or timber merchants because they will be able to advise you on the best wood for your design and how best to treat it. You may find that different decking materials are better to suited to different types of terraces; whether that’s on a roof, in the garden or on a balcony. Whether you are designing a terrace, balcony or decked garden area from scratch, or just looking to decorate what you already have, take a look through the photos on Houzz to find terrace and balcony ideas and inspiration.

THOMAS residence

User

Doug Wagner

Ireland

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