An Outdoor Space Goes from Drab to Delightful

New homeowners bought a property with the intention of turning a drab backyard space and deck into an outdoor and porch living area. It was all part of the plan. To make that dream a reality, they brought in Michael Nash Design Build.

“Living space is now much more than just the inside of a home,” says Sonny Nazemian, master designer/ remodeler at Michael Nash. “People want the flow in and out of the indoor living space and want options for utilizing the entirety of the property. With the right design and thought, we can create multiple areas to enjoy with different feels and for different activities and completely transform a home’s use.”

With an old deck barely hanging on and leveling issues, the team needed to bring in lot-clearing and excavation and ground compacting equipment to level the property and give the multi-level exterior the right foundation. Concrete was poured and a large flagstone patio was laid including lighted seating walls and a wood burning fire pit. Veneer stone complemented the look and feel. Concrete was also used as flooring for the storage space under the screen porch, and large river rock stones were used under the deck and surrounding the area for a natural look.

The first flight of stairs lead to an octagonal deck wrapped with built-in benches and a gas burning fire pit in the center… the perfect spot for fall nights or family time roasting marshmallows. Five steps lead from the fire pit area to the main deck (all showing the multi color Trex decking with a dark border for design pop).

“The main deck is just incredible,” says Sonny. “We have basically added a 16-foot full outdoor kitchen complete with a 6,000 lb. pizza oven, a 42” gas grill and hood, and a 20” burner cooktop. The owners have an Italian background so the pizza oven was a must-have and from a design perspective we wanted to bring in the ledger stone look and feel that was also used to wrap the chimney on the outside of the house. We’ve added a middle-seating island with sink and beverage center. All of this gives the space the natural connection to being outdoors.”

This top level can be accessed from the indoor family room through French doors. You immediately walk into a 16x16ft. screened porch with porcelain tile floors, a linear gas fireplace (covered with ledger stone), a beaded grain ceiling and a large ceiling fan. A large television is mounted above the fireplace. A large swinging bed was hung from the ceiling for lazy days enjoying the breeze or watching a game. Eze-Breeze window panels make this indoor/outdoor space usable in all seasons.

“This space has made a world of difference to us,” says the homeowner. “We are living it up with friends and family and we feel like we have the jewel of the neighborhood.”