This blog page provides background information on the “Family Style” article in the October/November 2010 edition of Welcome Home Des Moines magazine. The article features a project by Archadeck of Central Iowa.
Over the course of the late summer months of 2007, I worked with Ruth and Scott Meyer to develop a design and plan for an enhanced and expanded outdoor living space that incorporated their vision for their outdoor living spaces, including:
- A covered area (open porch) over of their west-facing deck…but at the same time having some open, sunny space as well
- An outdoor kitchen, integrated with a small bar/countertop/seating and cooking area
- More usable and dry space under their deck on the lower-level of their home where their hot tub resides
- A more integrated flow of the space and traffic between all these outdoor living spaces, at both the upper and lower levels
- Low-maintenance decking and railing…which they already had but wanted to continue having
- Plenty of outdoor living space for the family to enjoy, with a particular eye towards their first high school graduation open house in 2009
Meyer's Original Deck and Patio Space - July, 2007
I first met with Ruth and Scott in July of 2007 to begin assessing their project desires and ways to incorporate them into a new outdoor living space.
Meyer Project Design - Plan View
Meyer Project Design - 3D Sketch
By mid-September, we had a design in place and the Meyer’s deck, open porch, patio and outdoor kitchen project was slotted into our construction queue to start later into the fall.
With demolition completed and structural framing underway, we poured the new colored concrete patio in late October.
Colored Concrete Patio Install
At this point I should interject…in case you’re wondering…we do build year-round. In fact, we prefer 30-degree temperatures for building to 90-degrees. But, at 30-degrees (and lower) any precipitation and weather-related delays can take on any number of forms. But, the benefit of “off-season” (if there really is such a thing in this business) building is that your enjoyment of your new outdoor living spaces is not necessarily delayed; you’re likely going to be enjoying your new space (as opposed to swearing at your old space) that first nice evening or weekend in spring…as opposed to just starting your project then…and waiting out (and swearing at) the spring rains. So, if you want early spring enjoyment of your new outdoor living spaces (weather and scope permitting), consider designing and building “off-season.” Otherwise, think: call early…maybe May (weather and scope permitting).
Deck Levels Completed - Thanksgiving, 2007
2007 was the last “mild” winter I remember; the last 2 have been…”brutal” is a good word. So, we were able to continue slow but steady on Meyer’s project (as well as a couple of others) through the winter. By Thanksgiving, we had the structure completed and the composite decking going down, the lower-level deck was completed as was the aforementioned concrete patio.
Open Porch Taking Shape - February, 2008
By late February, 2008, with the composite decking all laid and with the roof now on, the open porch had taken shape. All that was missing was some sun and some heat…and some railing…among other things.
The installation of the stone (Cultured Stone) for the structural post bases, upper rail posts and the stone incorporated into the outdoor kitchen is temperature sensitive. So, it was May before our finishing touches were applied.
Ready to Get Stoned - May, 2008
But when they were, we had something.
Nearly Complete - June, 2008
Something that was missing something, though. Ruth and Scott had always planned to do some landscaping around their new space. And that’s where Nate and Leah Hutchins of Stone Creations came into the picture. Ruth and Scott worked with Stone Creations independent of our involvement in the project…which is fine…we always appreciate folks who make our spaces, rooms and accessories look better! Nate and Leah’s beautiful hardscaping and waterscaping put the real finishing touches on an awesome outdoor living space.
Outdoor Living Spaces, Rooms & Accessories by Archadeck of Central Iowa
Beside’s Welcome Home’s feature and photos, I’ve put together two other ways to see more of the Meyer’s project; check these out for more views of the outdoor living spaces, rooms and accessories we created with the Meyer’s:
- Facebook – Archadeck of Central Iowa’s Facebook page includes an album entitled “Family Style – Welcome Home Feature, Oct/Nov 2010”
- YouTube – Archadeck of Central Iowa’s YouTube channel includes a video entitled “Family Style Deck with…” that features the Meyer’s project. For fun, view the video as if from their dog, Molly’s, eyes. You’ll then better understand why, as noted in the article, Molly “…loves bounding up and down the steps to the deck, as well as cooling off in the water feature.”
Thanks again to Sherry Failor and the staff at Welcome Home for featuring our projects. Thanks to Ruth and Scott Meyer for selecting our design/build services for their project…for putting up with our extended presence there over the “off-season” of 2007…and then some…and for participating in this feature.
Go outside and play! Family style.
An Outdoor Living Space - Patios, Porches, Sunrooms, Pergolas, Decks in Des Moines 