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Backyards with Style!
Design an Outdoor Space Everyone Can Enjoy
By Amy Carey Bowman
Every family needs a place to hang out: somewhere to play, entertain and catch up with each other. What better place than your own backyard? Making the most of your outdoor space means focusing on your family's favorite things. Here's how to create an action-packed space for all to enjoy.
Start your backyard with a functional and fun deck. "Decks can be made of either wood or wood alternative products," says Beryn Hammil, owner of Beryn Hammil Designs in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you choose wood, the most popular options are cedar and redwood, which naturally resist decay and termites. Pressure-treated pine is a less expensive option. All types of wood need proper sealing and maintenance to survive rain, sun and snow exposure. Wood alternative products, which are made of recycled plastic, virgin vinyl or a composite of recycled sawdust and plastic, are a bit more expensive than traditional lumber, but require less maintenance and are attractive and durable.
The deck itself is your launch pad for all the activities you enjoy in your backyard. Make this the refreshment station that provides everything from sizzling barbeques to a quick snack between soccer games. "A trend in the design of [newer] homes includes an outdoor kitchen area that has not only a barbeque range, but a full prep area and even a sink and small refrigerator," Hammil says.
Every kitchen needs plenty of seating, too. "When designing a deck for entertaining, make sure you allow for adequate seating for guests," he says. "Built-in benches that double as storage space are useful."