Original deck: This home is located in the Ashbrooke neighborhood on the west side of Carmel, and was built in 1992. The homeowners were ready to replace the existing deck. “We had two reasons to remodel the deck. First, it was falling apart and we were piecing it together. Second, we had just renovated the kitchen, knowing that we will stay in the house longer. We wanted to be able to enjoy the deck area, too.”
Budgeting decisions: The design team presented three different levels of upgrade. “Once we discovered the cost of our original vision for the deck, we realized it was out of our budget range. The final design gave us the space we were looking for within our budget. We were originally talking about multi-levels and mixing stone and wood. In the end, we felt that the multi-level Trex decking made the most sense for us.”
Working around existing trees: “It was important to keep the trees. Having to work within the parameters of the trees made it challenging, especially with the root systems and the shape of the existing bushes. I felt if we removed bushes and trees, I was not going to enjoy the deck as much. So, the design worked within the existing landscaping.”
Deck details: The deck was constructed with Trex Transcend decking with “tree house” as the main color and “vintage lantern” as the perimeter trim color. A Trex railing system was also installed, including powder-coated aluminum balusters. Trex low voltage riser lights were also installed on each stair riser. A concrete stoop at the garage door and a niche for the garden hose were also part of the final construction.
Favorite features: “My favorite part of it is just sitting on the couch and looking into the trees. It is so peaceful. I also love the lighting. Dusk to dawn, they automatically come on, which gives the deck a very professional look. We wanted unique touches. I believe it will help sell the home when it is time.”