Retrofitting continues to be a fashionable trend and when employed successfully, elevates the appearance of surrounding elements that may have previously been a little stale, such as a boring concrete pool surround that suddenly becomes stylish or a graying deck the moves to the center of entertaining. This Carmel project is a perfect example of that strategy. It also served to expand a cramped outdoor patio and pool lounge area.
COMMUNICATE
Before our intervention, the deck was enclosed with wood spindles and railing and did not “communicate” well with the pool. By installing new premium pressure treated pine (emphasize premium) over the preserved joist system, eliminating the spindles and rail system and opening up the back with 8-foot wide, large tread steps, it suddenly behaves as the elegant living space that was likely originally hoped for.
ARTISTIC
Notice that the deck elevation is coincidentally seat height to the tumbled brick patio we installed to expand the pool lounge area. The natural boulder fire feature artistically nestles in the middle of the new patio space with a corresponding boulder planted on the edge as a seat boulder for ambitious kids to hang out. Adults love the seat boulder look, but find the surface a little uncomfortable after a few minutes of sitting. The mature blue spruce offers a striking color contrast, helps with privacy and is a great sound barrier too.
Living spaces, trends, colors and materials evolve. Products are redesigned, improved and introduced annually. Our lives and objectives change too, sometimes to the detriment of our once fashionable patio and deck. No wonder retrofitting is such a smart and fashionable trend.
