Deck Designs for Contemporary Homes

Introduction

Thumb through a book about traditional houses and you will notice a strong emphasis on the front of the house. Fast forward to any of the dozens of magazines devoted to modern housing and the focus more often than not will be on the back of the house and backyard activities.

Decks are a relatively recent architectural innovation. Many traditional house styles featured a covered porch at the front entry, which welcomed visitors and allowed the residents a platform for observing the passing scene. Today, the traffic outside the front door is less pedestrian and much noisier. We prefer the quiet and privacy of a backyard deck. Decks can be designed to suit almost any house, but the simplest deck projects match contemporary house styles just as they meet contemporary life styles.

A new back porch

This deck on a contemporary lakeside house combines the shelter of a traditional covered porch with the expansiveness of a deck. With the roof as a linking element and the same stain used throughout, the deck blends right in. Steps unify the porch and the various levels and provide informal seating for gatherings.

A deck that connects

Smartly placed decks make excellent transition spaces. Here a well-placed fenced deck adds a private, shady space between the house and the most public space of a sun-filled patio. Plantings help blend the deck and patio structures and add bursts of color.

Wraparound deck

This commodious deck wraps around the back and side of a California cottage-style home. Location is everything: This deck overlooks a big, lush yard. Both kitchen and master bedroom open onto this sweeping space that's big enough to accommodate the owner's frequent outdoor dinner parties. This type of house-embracing deck replaces walkways around the house and readily copes with large gatherings, welcoming visitors with open space.

A front yard deck

This front-of-the-house deck was built on a lot described as one only a mountain goat could love. The deck not only adds contemporary simplicity to a traditional style home, it provides access to a front veranda, sunny sitting space, and even parking space. Unobtrusive as a grassy front yard, the deck is a significant improvement to the house.

When planning your deck, think of it as an outdoor living room, not simply a blank helipad. Mentally add the items that could make your deck more livable and more enjoyable. Consider all of the options for seating, shading, lighting, eating, cooking, playing, and relaxing. You may not be able to incorporate all the things you'd like, but with planning it's possible to unobtrusively pack in a lot of features.

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A new back porch This deck on a contemporary lakeside house combines the shelter of a traditional covered porch with the expansiveness of a deck. With the roof as a linking element and the same stain used throughout, the deck blends right in. Steps unify the porch and the various levels and provide informal seating for gatherings.
A deck that connects Smartly placed decks make excellent transition spaces. Here a well-placed fenced deck adds a private, shady space between the house and the most public space of a sun-filled patio. Plantings help blend the deck and patio structures and add bursts of color.
Wraparound deck This commodious deck wraps around the back and side of a California cottage-style home. Location is everything: This deck overlooks a big, lush yard. Both kitchen and master bedroom open onto this sweeping space that's big enough to accommodate the owner's frequent outdoor dinner parties. This type of house-embracing deck replaces walkways around the house and readily copes with large gatherings, welcoming visitors with open space.
A front yard deck This front-of-the-house deck was built on a lot described as one only a mountain goat could love. The deck not only adds contemporary simplicity to a traditional style home, it provides access to a front veranda, sunny sitting space, and even parking space. Unobtrusive as a grassy front yard, the deck is a significant improvement to the house. When planning your deck, think of it as an outdoor living room, not simply a blank helipad. Mentally add the items that could make your deck more livable and more enjoyable. Consider all of the options for seating, shading, lighting, eating, cooking, playing, and relaxing. You may not be able to incorporate all the things you'd like, but with planning it's possible to unobtrusively pack in a lot of features.