When creating or remodeling an outdoor living space, bear in mind the architectural style, aesthetic features and outdoor setting of your home pre-project. You must consider more than the features or materials you want to incorporate into the finished product.  

The owners of this 1960's cottage in Medina faced this very conundrum. The home, built on the shores of Lake Washington, was intended to be a vacation property. Its greatest feature was its view. The current owners wanted to update and enhance the deck and the outdoor living space, thereby making the lovely view more accessible.

The lion's share of the deck space was consumed by a hot tub that was rarely used by the couple and presented too much of an attractive nuisance for their young children. The area below the deck was equally uninviting for use by the family, consisting of an unfinished concrete area with uneven piers and open eaves through which the rain and debris fell from the deck area above.

The challenge was to integrate the areas above and below the deck to create a family-friendly outdoor living area. In order to meet the budget, and to stay consistent with the cottage-like feel of the house, the deck itself was not expanded.