Columbus Decks, Porches and Patios by Archadeck

A Columbus Online Magazine for Outdoor Living

Category Archives: Retaining Walls

These Washington Courthouse, OH homeowners get the outdoor structure of their wildest dreams by Archadeck of Columbus

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This composite deck by Archadeck of Columbus is a virtual fantasy of relaxation and elegance.

If you were to imagine the backyard of your dreams, what would it look like and what functions would it address for you and your family? Imagine being able to soak in the hot tub on your custom hot tub deck on a cool autumn evening while listening to the crackling of a fire burning in your own outdoor fireplace. This outdoor structure takes advantage of mingling two of nature’s most mesmerizing elements – fire and water.

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Archadeck of Columbus has created a masterpiece of design with this multi-level deck complete with an outdoor fireplace for the ultimate in backyard enjoyment.

This outdoor living area flows effortlessly in a carefully planned series of functional vignettes that make the structure a joy to use for these Washington Courthouse, OH homeowners, and indeed a feast for the eyes as well.

When we began to plan and design the structure we were given a blank canvas to work our magic on because the home was brand new. The landscaper had completed the landscape design and brought us into enhance the home and landscape for the homeowners with an outdoor structure design that would bring out the best of every attribute of the  stunning home and the landscape. The homeowners were looking for a design that would be great for entertaining on a grand scale with plenty of room for a crowd as well as the capability to play on the structures ability to create intimacy in a way that would be comfortable for a smaller crowd. Another crucial design element the homeowners wanted is a planting area incorporated into the deck.

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Here is an awe-inspiring view of the entire structure from the backyard of the Washington Courthouse, OH home.

Archadeck of Columbus went to work on the design and came up with a deck with a surround of stunning stone retaining walls, custom stone planters, a hot tub deck with a custom pergola and privacy wall, grilling area, and plenty of room in between for dining and conversation. At one end of the deck there is an outdoor fireplace flanked as well by custom stone retaining walls and plenty of room for seating upon an elevated section which surrounds the outdoor fireplace.

In order to achieve complete harmony in relation to the home the color selections played a huge role and tied everything together. We matched the brick used on the outdoor fireplace to the brick on the home. We also chose a color for the large composite deck that would blend beautifully with the stonework and columns and pillars that were used to create this magnificent outdoor structure. We even matched the lanterns that are used throughout the structure atop the caps on the retaining walls to continue the neutral, rustic feel that is present throughout the design of the entire structure.

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This image shows the beautiful colors and the realistic wood grain of the composite decking used on this fabulous deck.

We chose to use composite decking material on the deck. Composites are ultra low maintenance and don’t require staining or sealing. Composites are also scratch and stain resistant, and many are impervious to insects, mold and mildew as well. They are also long-lasting and cannot be damaged by the moisture which is present when you use the hot tub. With this particular deck, using composites gave us the freedom to install the decking boards on a beautifully interesting angle which only adds to the appeal of the deck.

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Notice how the design and placement of the hot tub deck, pergola and privacy wall offers shade and intimacy for the homeowners when the hot tub is in use.

The pergola which is placed above the hot tub to add character and offer some shade in deflecting the suns rays is made from vinyl by Mt. Hope Fence, Ltd. The privacy wall which matches the pergola,  is also constructed of vinyl as well. Vinyl is a durable material which offers many of the same attributes of composite decking in that it is durable, maintenance free and won’t succumb to rot, insect damage and decay like wood can. The choice to use vinyl alongside the composites means this deck and the details used within the deck will give these Washington Courthouse, OH homeowners many years of carefree enjoyment without the worry of painting or staining in the future.

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Careful attention was paid to every detail from the columns to the paver border used on this entrance into the home from the deck.

The stone surround and retaining walls were constructed using Celtic retaining walls by Belgard. The retaining walls gives strong concrete elements and uses the aspects of old stone to create an elegant old world appeal.  By using this high quality innovative retaining wall system by Belgard, Archadeck of Columbus was able to facilitate the creation of curves within the retaining walls surrounding the deck that would not have been possible by using  natural stone or other materials.

Archadeck of Columbus paid close attention to every detail within the composite deck and accompanying structures. From the color choices made to paint the columns and pillars that help frame the beauty of the deck’s entrances into the home, to the use of custom paver borders used to outline and enhance the grill area. No stone was left unturned in terms of the use of cohesive design within this structure. The pairing of stone, composites, vinyl, and detailing truly creates a match made in heaven for this home in Washington Courthouse, OH.

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The perfect place for a backyard barbecue.

We were able to create a masterpiece of beauty, design, functionality and enjoyment with this outdoor structure. The homeowners continue to enjoy their new deck and all it’s amenities more and more each day. This is truly the outdoor oasis of their dreams, and they get to live the reality each day, and for many years to come as well.

If you have a dream of creating an outdoor oasis within your backyard, contact Archadeck of Columbus to turn that dream into a reality. Call us at (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net to learn more.

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

Visit our Composite and vinyl decks photo gallery located on our website for more picture perfect composite decks.

To turn up the heat on design inspirations you can also visit our outdoor fireplace and fire pit gallery, also located on our website.

Color Choices and Trends in Hardscapes are Keeping an Artful Eye on Design

Hardscape stone wall w/ composite deck

This hardscape wall shows a beautiful neutral brown to taupe color combination

Archadeck of Columbus prides itself in keeping up with the new design trends when it comes to hardscapes and other aspects of outdoor living design. Recently, I was fortunate enough to speak with Guy Lane, who is the design consultant for Outdoor Living by Mr. Mulch. He was able to let me into the world of colors with his artful eye on design and expertise. Speaking with Mr. Lane gave me the insight on what direction consumers are going in terms of color palettes for hardscapes.

Hardscape patio and seating wall

This hardscape patio and seating wall by archadeck of Columbus, has a lighter neutral taupe based color combination

Naturally, the popularity of certain colors depends mainly on your demographics. Here in the Midwest the popular hues consist of neutral browns and taupe based beige. These neutral tones are most often accentuated by charcoal gray, and very dark gray tones used for banding and accents. When a customer is installing a patio, or other hardscape structure you mainly want to stick to a basic, classic, tried and true color palette because you want the landscaping and flowers to be your focal point. Too much color going on in one area will make your focus uneasy, and will make it difficult for your eyes to be at rest.  You can use complimentary colors to make your basic color scheme “pop” through the use of outdoor accent furniture and accessories. The outdoor living industry has grown in leaps and bounds and there are designs, patterns, textures and colors available to suit every taste.

Hardscape patio showing detailed soldier course (outside bordering)

Hardscape patio which takes advantage of the neutral brown, brick red and charcoal combination ( notice the soldier course detailing on the outside border)

Sometimes when you think hardscapes the first image that pops into your mind is that of a terra-cotta paver. The terra-cotta palette of hardscapes is not used that often anymore. Brick red, and richer red accents however, are commonplace  and used in accents, borders and banding. Even though the light gray family of colors, with its more commercial and contemporary feel is not a very popular color choice on its own, when paired with the brick-red, it  becomes stunning.

Another design trend we are seeing is the use of chocolate browns to add spots of color to a design. That same chocolate can be seen throughout outdoor living accents and fabric industry as well, where it is often paired with spa blue for a relaxing and soothing effect. Generally, blues are not a popular hardscape color. Blues in hues from slate all the way to your darker blues are rarely seen used in hardscapes.

Hardscape patio, seating wall and fire pit

Notice the refreshingly subtle use of light beige and gray here in this color combination

The use of white and creams are used marginally here in the mid-west. We do see a certain amount of customers who do like them, Says Lane,  but it is minimal. Even though this palette gives an essence of crispness and cleanliness, people are sometimes hesitant to use these hues simply because of the upkeep factor. They feel it is a  harder color to keep clean.

Color guidance is an important tool to have when deciding colors for you new outdoor structure. Whether you decide to use the ever popular and classic neutral brown and taupe based tones, or decide to think outside the box, choosing your color palette is a fun experience. Another key is to remember you can always change out you accessories to suit your taste much easier and at a minimal expense, when comparing the headache of changing out the colors in your hardscapes. That being said, using a classic neutral color choice can also allow you the freedom to experiment or even seasonally change your accents and just have fun with it. Your hardscapes can serve as your artist’s canvas, and then the rest is only limited to your imagination.

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

If you are planning the addition of an outdoor structure in your future, give Archadeck of Columbus a call to help design and build your next work of art.(740) 879 – 3730
or email us @ westcolumbus@archadeck.net

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