Some 25 years ago after we finished renovating our home, we decided we needed something outside of the family room where Tif and Jon could play. We also wanted a large area for hosting parties.
We used to have a lot of fun having parties at our house.
Art took a lot of time to design just what we wanted. We wanted tables for all the food and lots of sitting areas. We wanted lots of play space. We wanted a table right outside of the kitchen window so we could pass food right out to the deck.
Art actually wanted to put down a brick or stone flooring, but friends told us a raised wooden deck would be better since it would be an extension of the house. You could step right out of the family room without dropping down a step or two.
So this is what Art did.
HOWEVER, there are some problems. Skunks, opposums, chipmunks, racoons love having this nice basement apartment for their own. It's miserable keeping them out. Keeping the deck nice looking requires painting every 3-4 years. Carpenter ants weakened one of the benches and it had to be replaced.
The other unfortunate thing is that once Art finally finished the deck, I'd gone back to work teaching and no longer had the energy to host larger parties.
It's very nice to see that Tif and Ed are now able to happily use the deck for their parties. It sure makes Art happy!
We used to have a lot of fun having parties at our house.
Art actually wanted to put down a brick or stone flooring, but friends told us a raised wooden deck would be better since it would be an extension of the house. You could step right out of the family room without dropping down a step or two.
HOWEVER, there are some problems. Skunks, opposums, chipmunks, racoons love having this nice basement apartment for their own. It's miserable keeping them out. Keeping the deck nice looking requires painting every 3-4 years. Carpenter ants weakened one of the benches and it had to be replaced.
The other unfortunate thing is that once Art finally finished the deck, I'd gone back to work teaching and no longer had the energy to host larger parties.
It's very nice to see that Tif and Ed are now able to happily use the deck for their parties. It sure makes Art happy!
Excellent job. Just out of curiosity, is there a ledger board attaching the deck's framing to the house? (That's where bolts or lag screws tie the inner rim joist of the deck to the house framing). Or is it a 'free-standing' deck with legs around the inner perimeter. Lol, you probably won't be able to remember. Not important.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful deck! I wish my patio were functional. It's too close to the neighbors so there is no privacy. Some guests like to sit out there when they find the a/c in the house too cold.
ReplyDeleteDuring the 1990s, I used to host parties for 50 people. I even threw 2 concerts featuring Honolulu Symphony musicians! What fun! Nowadays, however, I prefer smaller gatherings, where I can converse with each guest -- not possible when I invited 50 people.
With all your backyard problems, it still looks like a paradise on earth.
ReplyDeleteKay -- You DO realize don't you, that Mr. Art is one of those rare, multi-talented husbands, and seems he has been for a long time. Looks like you built a bit of a Hawaiian lani on the Illinois homestead. Great design! DrumMajor
ReplyDeletehow nice your family can use such a nice area...
ReplyDeleteWhat a great job he did. To me a great patio is a huge selling point.
ReplyDeleteSkunks beneith ones feet could be a problem.
Art did an awesome job on the deck. Glad Tif and Ed are using it!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful and functional. Too bad you didn't get to use it much, but it's certainly getting plenty of use now, including by the wildlife, it seems! :-)
ReplyDeleteExcellent idea and positioning. When the first completely non-maintenance house comes along I'm buying one!!
ReplyDeleteJust a beautiful house and property. The deck certainly adds another dimension. Little wonder your daughter and son in law chose to live in their parent's former home...besides the wonderful memories that can continue to live on in this home, knowing the home improvements was done with so much love and care is priceless. Which is one of the reasons I love the home I live in (yes even in Waianae), my dad built it himself (with the help of my uncle) when I was a little girl. Oh the memories.
ReplyDeleteL.
It looks wonderful. Art sure is a multi-talented guy, and I know he is a very nice person as well. You definitely lucked out in the husband department, LOL.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, the deck is great, and now KC can enjoy it. It reminds me of one my brother built. When they sold the house, many friends exclaimed "How can you leave that deck behind?" and it's true, it was very much an extension of the house, and a definitive part of their lives.
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
yeah, that does sound familiar from last time we had one, and yet, it's like childbirth, isn't it? even being told about it, I can't remember it distinctly and want to do it again.
ReplyDeleteGreat design and a good idea. I can relate to that concept and we built one very similar behind our house. We also have the visitors beneath our feet. We don't use it much anymore and I now think a stone patio would have been a better approach for us. It must be great to have your children and grandchildren enjoy your past home.
ReplyDeleteThe design of that deck is excellent, and you must have had many a convivial event on those wonderful summer evenings you get out there, tho maybe not as many as you would have liked.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that the deck has lasted so long. I guess you and your daughter and SIL have maintained it well.
Lovely deck idea. The benches and table all around make for a good time. Dianne
ReplyDeleteRon: It is free-standing with a whole lot of legs sitting in cement around the outside perimeter and on the inside . Art set the legs deep into the ground. There's a rule about that on the mainland because of the ground freezing. An inspector came out and checked the leg supports before Art could continue. I remember Art saying the deck was not going to move at all once he put it in.
ReplyDeletethat's a beautiful entertainment area you've passed on to the next generation!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great deck! That Art is mighty handy!
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe all that Art is capable of accomplishing!!!
ReplyDeleteL.: Your dad built the house with your uncle? Wow! That is REALLY impressive.
ReplyDeleteJust a thought, Kay .... 25-years ago, there were no pneumatic nailers, darn!
ReplyDeleteRon: I don't think he used all nails. He used a lot of screws so he'd be able to lift the deck boards more easily if he needed to.
ReplyDeleteYup, and several homes on our street as well, but my parents owned only the one we're living in. Imagine, my dad built their home on the weekends and completed it in less than a year. He built it as a real estate investment (he miscut some lumber, so ended up buying it), but my parents decided to keep the house when they couldn't sell it for a small profit back in the 60s. I'm glad they kept it. Too bad I cannot understand my dad when he talks, his hands and an eye for perfection says all he cares about...I know he also was hired to do the woodwork at several churches in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteL.
Splendid job ! Lucky you ! Out here it is so dusty that it would be very hard to maintain a deck like this .Envy you.
ReplyDeleteL: I'm so sorry your dad is having problems now communicating. How fabulous that he built all those homes. He must have been a super contractor! We could have really used him for our construction too.
ReplyDeleteoops...funny how I don't make myself clear. My father built so many homes in one development not as a contractor but as a one man crew carpenter working for his contractor uncle in law (not my uncle that helped him build the home we live in)...lots of good old memories building this house as a family project, and even I had to do my part cleaning up. This convo spurred me to want to chronicle all the public buildings my father worked on (even if we have to drag it out of him, he doesn't like to be asked the same question over and over, yet because he has very poor hearing, he doesn't speak to be heard)...since his woodwork will last past my lifetime, I feel the need to take some pictures and describe what he did so our grandchildren will know.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kay for your comments.
L.
still looks solid!
ReplyDelete