Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

When choosing the perfect deck stain, it’s important that the stain does more than just bring the wood back to life. It has to stand up against the wind, rain, snow, sunshine and normal wear and tear. So where do you get started?

If your deck is already the color you want it, choose a transparent stain. This type of stain will protect the deck from weathering, but it won’t change the color of the wood or detract from the wood’s grain. On the other hand, if you want to punch up the color a little bit, choose a semi-transparent stain, which has a noticeable color pigment. The semi-transparent stain will actually enhance the wood.

Semi-solid stains come pretty close to hiding the wood’s grain. This type is perfect for decks that need significant retouching. Even if the old stain is present, a semi-solid will seamlessly cover it up and rejuvenate your deck.

Is it impossible to put a full table, chairs and umbrella on your patio? When you don’t have enough space, you need to improvise. However, Hammacher Schlemmer have done the improvising for you, so you have an option for that small space.

The half-circle umbrella is perfect for smaller patios, desk and even balconies where you have a limited area to work with. There is a half table and chairs set to go with the umbrella, but it can serve as a stand-alone awning. You can setup the umbrella and keep a chair and side table under it.

Other features include an aluminum hand-crank pole with a weather-resistant sunbrella cover. In addition, it has a cast iron base, which can prevent the umbrella from blowing away. Also, it easily separates into two parts, so you can store it away.The umbrella’s dimensions are 8′ high x 9′ wide x 4.5′ deep, and it weighs 12 pounds. The base measures 4” high x 19” wide x 14” deep.

Railings created from unusual materials can add more visual interest to your deck. Using a wooden frame and unexpected elements still makes for a safe railing. Alternatives to wood railing include painted steel or copper tubing, galvanized steel cable, painted steel mesh, acrylic glass panels and welded steel tubing.

If you live in a farm home or enjoy country elements, a wire mesh and wooden framed railing with white columns can mimic this theme. Pipe railing is inexpensive and can be painted any color, and it can give a seaside deck a nautical feel. For more contemporary homes, a railing of tightly spaced horizontal steel cables might reflect the house’s design better.

Another option is to use a transparent balustrade such as aircraft cable. This particular cable can be found at specialty hardware and stair and railing stores. Attaching the aircraft cable horizontally between steel up-rights and a wooden top rail creates a simple and functional design.

There are four types of patio doors: sliding patio doors, center pivot door, in-swinging French doors and sliding French doors. Depending on your space restrictions, it’s beneficial to consider which type of door is right for your patio.

With double-wide sliding patio doors, only one door can open at a time. Pivoting doors rotate a full 90 degrees from the center, so this is a unique option. French doors can either open into a room or swing out onto another room. With swinging French doors, you need to account for the space taken up when the doors open. However, if you don’t want to worry about this, you can opt for the sliding French doors.

Marvin Windows and Doors has the Ultimate Sliding French Door, which is a space-saving version of the in-swinging French doors. Marvin’s design is ergonomic with mulit-point lock and the choice between a raised or flat panel.

A Spanish-style balcony patio off of your bedroom can create a relaxing atmosphere for soaking up the sun during the day and enjoying some gourmet cheese and wine before bed. The main elements would include warm toned patio stones, glass doors with wrought iron inlay and a spiral staircase leading to the backyard.

Patio stones with earthy colors such as brown and orange can provide a warming foundation for a Spanish-style balcony patio. Depending on your taste, the stones can be arranged in any of the following patterns: random with cut pavers, random with irregular pavers, regular rows with cut pavers of equal size or regular rows with cut pavers in varying sizes.

Glass doors can enable you to appreciate the patio even when you’re indoors, and wrought iron detailing can enhance them without taking away from the view. Also, a spiral staircase can create convenience, save space and add drama. Wrought Iron Doors can create custom door, stair railing and balcony railing to meet your needs.

If your deck is a place you want to spend a lot of time, there are plenty of ways to give it extra style and elegance. For instance, a custom deck railing certainly makes a memorable impression and can even enhance a good view.

The deck pictured below was designed and crafted by woodworker Ryan A. Baird, who uploaded his pictures to Taunton Press’s Fine Home Building Gallery. The images show that outdoor deck railings can be just as intricate and elegant as a custom-built staircase inside the house.

Made from mahogany, the mortise-and-tenon balisters and newel posts were custom turned, and accent carvings were added to the posts.

While all the handwork doubtlessly made this deck upgrade expensive, if you’ve got a million dollar view, then it makes sense to invest in a high quality deck that will last for a long time to come.

Most new houses come with decks, but unfortunately most new houses also come with neighbors who are practically on top of you. With more people being born every second, we’re probably stuck with Small Lot Syndrome, but with some creative landscaping and outdoor structures you can at least achieve the illusion of privacy.

Privacy screens, for instance, can be integrated into your deck to protect you from peeping eyes (especially nice if you have a hot tub out back and sometimes “forget” to put a bathing suit on). In addition to keeping others from looking in upon you, a privacy screen can also keep you from having to look out at a less-than-appealing view (messy yards next door, water towers, etc.).

You can use anything from portable folding panels to espalier fruit trees to create a privacy screen, but sometimes permanent solutions that can be built right into the deck work the best.

If you’re in the brainstorming ideas process, you can check out the outdoor privacy screen pictures below:

Privacy is created here by using wooden lattices. The screening and the deck is the work of Absolute DreamScapes.

Somewhere between privacy panels and fence, these screens do a thorough job of blocking the view. From Canadian-based Decks, Etc.

For something a little different, try a privacy screen with a picture on it. Instead of looking at that water tower, gaze at a tropical beach or serene mountain landscape. These “oasis” privacy screens are from Balcony Vacations.

If you want to enjoy your outdoor living space while beating the summer heat, a canopy can keep the sun from blazing down on your patio.

Awnings and canopies can be made from many materials, but simple weather-proof fabric can do the job, and it can be removed and stored compactly at the end of the season.

There are several fabrics that are suitable for the job. Examples include:

• Woven Acrylic — Ths patio canopy fabric is water-repellent and colorfast, so it’ll stand up to rain and sun. It’s available in a variety of rich colors, so you can find something to fit the style of your house.
• Vinyl-coated — Known for being especially durable and waterproof, this fabric can be a smart choice in an area where heavy summer storms whip through.
• PVC Mesh — This option filters sunlight while allowing breezes through. It allows for good outward visibility, so if you’ve got a great view you don’t want to shut out, PVC mesh could make sense.

Deck tiles, which we’ve talked about before, are catching on in popularity.

The snap-together square boards are easier to install than traditional decks that must be built by hand, and their modular nature makes it easy to create patterns, add on later, or change out damaged pieces without having to replace huge chunks of the deck itself.

Of interest for the green folks out there, many of the deck tile options are made from eco-friendly woods harvested from sustainably managed forests.

The wood for the decking tiles from Hardwood Home is “purchased through certified sustainable forestry programs including lumber providers that carry FSC certification.” They also use industry ’shorts,’ which means “pieces typically discarded from the furniture and decking industry are utilized to make [their] products.”

Another green feature inherent in using deck tiles is that they can be installed over existing surfaces (concrete patios, old decks, balconies, etc.), so there’s no demolition material that needs to be carted off to the land fill.

Exotic hardwood floorings have been growing in popularity for a while, but now (for those who can afford them), the boards are also available for outdoor decks.

Some of these tropical woods such as tigerwood (AKA Goncalo Alves, Brazilian Koa, and Muiracatiara) are gorgeous and good at holding up to the weather. Tigerwood is naturally resistant to rot and decay, making it a smart choice for even damp climates.

While it might not be quite as maintenance free as a composite decking material, the aesthetic purists will appreciate the beauty of real wood. Tigerwood is reputed to be a very durable hardwood as well, and the Tigerwood Decking Company promises their boards have a 25+ year lifespan without preservatives.

You can get tigerwood that is sustainably harvested and while exotic hardwood decking isn’t cheap, this species may actually be more affordable than teak.