I love old western movies, particularly anything involving my man Clint Eastwood. Whether you are a fellow fan of that genre or not, most people can easily visualize the scene of a dusty gunslinger exiting a dilapidated saloon through a set of creaky swinging doors, with the camera panning down to his spurred boots, as he steps out onto the buildings wooden porch…right?
Take that structure and place it in somebody’s backyard. You have most people’s initial visual of a deck: a square wooden structure that allows you to step into the open air, without getting your boots dirty, spurs or no spurs. Throw in a barbecue and some plastic furniture and voila. It’s no wonder I have heard “Paul, it’s just a deck” spoken by countless homeowners over the years.
One client had a modern home in a luxurious neighbourhood with a breathtaking front entrance complete with a gorgeous wrought iron railing to the second floor mezzanine. The home was absolutely state of the art with a computer turning lights on and off as you ventured between rooms. But I grimaced at the sight of the 20-foot by 20-foot pressure treated monstrosity with ugly picket railing in his backyard. All he had wanted was for me to replace the old deck boards, proclaiming, “IT’S JUST A DECK.”
It’s been my goal over the last 20 years to redefine “the deck.” The deck should be a true extension of the home that carries your living space from the indoors to the outdoors. Would you settle for a living room that is built as cheaply and quickly as possible with no aesthetically pleasing elements whatsoever? Of course not. We want our interior living spaces to make us feel good when we spend time in them. So why would we settle for anything less from an outdoor living space?
What many overlook is the fact that an outdoor living space offers something the inside of our homes do not. There is something inherently peaceful about being out in nature, even if you live in an area where the only thing you can see from your backyard is the sky. There has never been a greater need to have a true place of rest, especially in a time when vacation travel can be a nightmare and a vacation home is impractical for most; hence the beginning of the backyard revolution.
My client was programmed to think of the space as simply utilitarian. I was happy to show him a different perspective, transforming the entire backyard space into a wonderfully welcoming relaxation zone. The deck had individual rooms on cascading tiers with glass railings that seamlessly blended the interior elements of the home with the outdoor space and natural elements. The new deck has the exact same square footage as the old boring box they had originally. All you need is a little creativity to think outside the box. What can I say? I love my job.
So, sorry Clint. As cool as you are, every time I see you step out onto an old saloon porch, I’m glad some things are changing…even if you are timeless.
Known for his infectious energy, quick wit and unapologetic rock star style, Paul Lafrance is an HGTV personality known as the “Deck Guy”. Lafrance is CEO and founder of Paul Lafrance Design and has been designing and installing everything from backyard retreats and interior transformations to commercial outdoor spaces and custom-built homes since 1997.
