As experienced Burlington-based porch, patio, and deck builders serving Concord, Lincoln, Lynn, Reading, Somerville, and everywhere in between, we've built many outdoor living features. And we know what kind of design elements really transform outdoor spaces into areas families actually use year-round. We’d like to share those with you as you consider your ideal deck, porch, or patio.
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Picture Frame Borders
Picture frame borders run perpendicular to the main decking pattern. You can make these using matching colors for subtle elegance or contrasting tones for a stronger statement.
When using contrasting colors, fascia trim typically matches the border. On decks with railings, two-board borders work better because railings partially cover single boards.
As an added bonus, picture framing also offsets some trim costs on decks. While commonly used in the deck building process, picture frame borders can also be incorporated in paver and stained concrete patio designs.
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Lighting
Lighting both makes it easier to safely navigate your outdoor spaces at night and adds to your space’s usability, especially in the winter when the sun sets early. It’s also a highly versatile design element, with the ability to incorporate it in decks, porches, patios, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens alike.
Outdoor lighting takes many forms, including post lights, recessed ceiling lights, stair lights, and under-rail lighting. Each of which create an air of subtle elegance.
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Stone and Brick
Stone adds mass and measurable value to the outdoor spaces where it is found. But in New England, it has special value, because stone connects outdoor spaces to age-old regional traditions. This is why you’ll often find it in columns, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, and seat walls.
Recent data shows stone veneer projects deliver over 200% cost recoupment compared to roughly 89% for composite decks alone. So not only does it look great, but it also retains the value of your project investment.
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Rail Top Bars and Drink Rails
Don't have room for a full outdoor bar? You can always add counter space directly into the railing instead, so you can enjoy bar-like functionality without sacrificing floor area.
Or, for an alternative option that also looks great, you can add a drink rail to railing tops, as standard railings are often too narrow to hold drinks safely.
Privacy Fences
Privacy fence demand has surged. Because materials have improved so greatly in the last several years, privacy fences are now seen as more attractive than utilitarian. Plus, as people spend more time outdoors, privacy becomes an even higher priority.
In Burlington, where lots sit closer together, you’ll often find privacy fences integrated into deck railings or patio perimeters.
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Under-Deck Patio Spaces
Elevated decks provide an excellent opportunity to maximize the space underneath. By using wide-span posts, you can create a feeling of openness when you’re seated underneath. And if you install an under-deck drainage system, you don’t have to worry about water coming from between the boards either.
This provides two outdoor areas in one footprint, and that can be valuable in New England, where outdoor living space comes at a premium.
Searching For “Burlington Deck Companies Near Me?”
Individual features work best when they’re worked into a single cohesive design. So if you’re looking for “deck builders near me” or “porch builders near me,” you need someone who will ask questions like:
- Do you entertain or prefer intimate gatherings?
- Do you need spaces for furniture, grills, and fire features?
- What's your maintenance tolerance?
These questions, and many more, are the sorts that we cover as part of ourcustom designs process before breaking ground.
If you want to know what this looks like in practice, we invite you to visit ourgallery to see how these features come together. For more inspiration, you can also download ourcomplimentary design guide for planning details.
To learn more about our process and what we can do for you, give us a call at (781) 528-0998 today!
