Monday, June 30, 2008

Design Workshop Decks, Patios and Porches

Gardening Gone Wild (GGW) sponsors a monthly workshop on design. I posted last month about my stone in the garden. This month's design workshop is on decks, patios and porches. I try to do these posts on the last day of the month, and since tomorrow's post is my monthly 'To Do' list, I will continue with the garden tours on Wednesday and wrap that up this week.

I have a deck, a 'wannabe' patio (in the distant future), and a porch. I will not focus on them all but did want to share a design tip or two dealing with my deck.


My deck sits approximately four feet above the ground, and I am very visible to neighbors when they are on their decks. I used to have neighbors that for me not having privacy from them was a huge problem. I wracked my brain to try to figure out how to solve the issue. I have done everything from building a big arbor, to planting trees, to strategically placing houseplants on the deck. All attempts helped with privacy, but it was not until I figured out how to attach an outdoor blind to my deck that we did finally obtain the full privacy we desired.

The first picture shows the problem side. The picture angle was taken more towards the house, instead of due south where the other house is located. Though the other people have moved and I don't need as much privacy, I left the blind up. My kitchen window is shown in the picture as well. The flowers make a good view, though to be honest I don't really like looking at the blind when it is down. The blind pretty much remains in the upright position now.


I happen to like pipes, plumbing pipes, PVC pipes and copper pipes. Pipes are economical, easy to customize, and work well in the garden. I found some iron pipes in the plumbing section of a local big box store. These iron pipes come in a black or natural iron finish. I chose the black pipes in a 3/4" diameter. I decided I would drill holes in the deck railing in order to install six foot tall pipes (2), a 90 degree elbow (2-one on each end), and a cross pipe across the top. Problem solved. I now had an easy, economical way of securing not only a blind to the deck for privacy, but also a place for hanging colorful hanging plants, bird feeders, and wind chimes.



The blind is a simple, plastic blind you can purchase just about anywhere for about $10. The cost of the pipes totalled about $20. The real benefit of using this method for privacy is that I did not have to perform a major renovation to the deck, it is removable, stable, utilitarian, and beautiful. It is also somewhat unobtrusive and blends in with the surroundings as you can see in the second picture. You almost have to really look for the pipes in the second picture.

Another unique feature of our deck is the two gates we built at the staircases. You can see a gate in the second picture. The gates contain our dogs should we desire to let them out, but don't want them going into the yard. Additionally, the gates would serve to keep small children (like my one year old grandson) from falling down the stairs.

This are my deck design tips for the GGW's workshop for June. If someone else uses these tips, be sure to post about it and let me know how it works for you. I would love to see others decks and am looking forward to the posts on this month's GGW design workshop.

in the garden....

21 comments:

  1. That's nice, all my decks are pretty plain 'cept the front porch has a cover over it from the top balcony. My big deck can be seen from the neighbors. yuck.

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  2. Tina in the second pic, far right, front, rust colored large pot with large plant. What is the plant?

    Dawn, your neighbors are far enough away and woods between that I would not think they could see too much.

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  3. What great ideas. I especially like the pots on the pipes. We do not have a roof over our back deck and it is like 4000. to get it done. So no time soon on it, but this would be easy and cost more in our range.

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  4. Creative idea!

    My in-laws had a similar problem with neighbors viewing them. They installed framed-in lattice to a nice height and plant morning glories to trellis. Works like a charm...

    Rainfall jumped right over us again yesterday! Argggg….

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  5. I have a deck in front and back, just typical decks. But I want a new deck...one that surrounds a swimming pool!

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  6. Your solutions seem very logical, Tina - and your deck seems like an extra room.
    We had a deck at the last house and made similar gates ... partly to keep visiting children in, and partly to keep deer from climbing the steps and visiting my deck plants!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  7. Hi Tina --pretty good weekend. Hubby and I went to Metropolis for his birthday. My mom watched the kiddos. He was pretty happy --didn't win anything but it was cool to break away. That area is so pretty --lots of trees, lush green fields and plenty of wildflowers on the ride up. Work awaits me at the house --t-ball tonight and scouts. See you all later!

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  8. Anonymous, did you stop by Broadbents for some country smoked sausage? Yum, that is always a must stop for me when traveling that direction... No Cha-Ching? Sorry for that loss but glad you had a little break and some Fun with the Hon...

    Annie, the deer will climb the stairs? Did not know that!

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  9. He looks, and he has moved back. Always comments on how over grown the trees are, or how they have filled in I should say. Just a reason to visit though.

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  10. Oh he has moved back? That's too bad. Was it his place that the roof caved in on? Hope he got that fixed!!

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  11. It was, worker's comp settlement, guys only 37 but acts like 73, back injuries. Wants to hire Zack for the summer, help finish the garage, we'll see.

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  12. Thanks for taking the time to participate in the Garden Bloggers' Design Workshop again this month, Tina, and for sharing some good design ideas as well. I hope you get time to enjoy your deck this summer!

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  13. Tina,

    If I had half your energy, ingenuity and talent I would be a much better gardener! Seriously!

    gail

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  14. Gail. Tina is good, but I may be a wee bit prejuduce but I also bet you can hold your own!!

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  15. Great idea. Think I can use it to put some shade where my swing is. Can't sit there as it's on West side of shed---afternoon sun. Arggggg. Another good shower this afternoon. Hard but it's water. Everything seems to be jumping from the rain. That's good. Maybe I will get some squash from the front flower bed where GGS planted his corn. Corn flopped but squash plants are huge. Keeping my fingers crossed.

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  16. I have seen lots of creative items made with pipes of all types. Your configuration is a great fix for privacy and hanging plants etc.

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  17. Hi Tina, your pipe looks great, but a question, how did you make it stand upright? Is it pounded into the ground? You said it is movable so it must not be in concrete. I love metal pipe also, so many uses.

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  18. I love the gate. Your deck looks very nice. Alas, my deck is blah... nothing compared to this.

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  19. No pop up shower with the front but low humidity now! Yeah, I may play in the yard tomorrow! Glad you are getting some rain Lola.

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  20. Hi Skeeter --we didn't stop at Broadbents but we've had the sausage and smoked hams from there --very good:) They also have very good jelly too:0) I wish we'd get some rain here :( The mums are looking droopy now --I have been watering, sprinkler set up in the morning --I just want a tiny bit of rain.
    Hi Tina --are you finishing up your school work? You really do come up with some great ideas --tonight after t-ball I trimmed some bushes and trees (lil suckers were starting to pop up on my crepe myrtles). So, now they look all fresh and new. I have to get the big boys to bed --they were up late with grandma watching them --they trick her into thinking they are asleep and then stay up late playing video games with the volume off, ahhh boys:0) Nighty-night! Lola --glad to hear you will get some squash from the garden --I've never had luck with corn --hubby said you need so much to help pollinate the others --I don't know? Sidekicks watermelon are growing by leaps and bounds.

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  21. What a day! Digging HUGE hydrangeas (will post on it at some point), coming home to a broken computer (though I shut it down and all and it is protected by a surge protector the power supply went out), having to go to geek squad to fix it, lah de dah and NO RAIN this whole weekend so of course now I am watering. Not talking much as the hydrangeas are calling me but wanted to answer a question or two. I was out of town otherwise I would've had a better picture of how the poles stand up straight. Maybe I will add one tomorrow. My deck railing is made from 2x4s for a top and bottom rail, then 2x4 up and down for the cross bars. On top of the top 2x4s are 2x6 for looks. I drilled through all three of these horizontal pieces of wood to insert the pipes, thus they stand up. I looked at another deck today and my method could not work for her because her deck rails are 2x4 on end-the wood would not be wide enough to drill the holes through. Bummer as this may not work for all.

    Nan Ondra, Love the design workshops. I normally post like this anyhow so it is a pleasure to join in.

    Lisa at Greenbow-Welcome and thanks-it only took me like 5 years to finally come up with the idea to provide privacy-like I said (despite most of my family's opinions and friends opinions-I am not always the sharpest tool in the shed for ideas-takes me awhile!:)

    I will talk to everyone tomorrow. Okay? Back to normal and geek squad saved the day-only $40 for 15 minutes of work-Mr. Fix-it and I are in THE WRONG BUSINESS FOR SURE!

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