outdoors yyiNG
Underfoot, flooring boasts indoor-worthy beauty. The
Nielsens chose ipe hardwood decking (secured with a
hidden fastening system, so no screwheads are visible)
that not only looks great but also is nearly indestructible
—important to Chip, who didn’t want to be saddled with
a lot of maintenance.
The crowning touch comes from a stone fireplace
that provides the deck’s visual and social focal point,
especially on crisp fall evenings, when the warmth of the
fire exerts a seemingly irresistible pull. “Friends drop
over, and I know what’s next,” Robin says with a smile.
“We head straight outside.”
WHITE THIS WAY
Columns direct
traffic flow and add
architectural interest
while supporting the
white pergola, a
pleasing contrast to
green plants and the
home’s gray exterior.
TABLE FOR TWO
When the weather is
nice, Robin and Chip
often have lunch at
the bistro table.
Cleanup and flower-
watering is no hassle,
thanks to an
underdeck gutter
system that whisks
water away. Chip can
wash the low-sitting
deck without worries
of a muddy mess.
112
SEPTEMBER
2010
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
