outdoors HY

ING

IN GOOD COMPANY

Intimate furniture groupings within the open

floor plan make the deck work whether the

gathering is just family (Chip, Robin, and their

dog, Baxter) or all their friends.

S

ure, Facebook can be fun, but for Chip

and Robin Nielsen, nothing beats face

time—especially when enjoyed along

with a little fresh air and flowers on the

deck of their Cincinnati home.

“We wanted a simple gathering area,”

Robin says. “Not a lot of little nooks, but

an open space.” Their inviting ground-level deck fills the

bill, its low profile seamlessly extending the living space

of the couple’s ranch-style home. Cozy seating groups

rather than walls delineate dining and relaxation zones.

And it’s all crowned by a pergola that furthers the feeling

of being inside a true room—without blocking light or

views of the surrounding garden.

n o

SEPTEMBER

2010

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