Designed by: Josh Brincko

Photographer: Heather Brincko

What would most architects say when someone asks them to design a deck? “It’s too small. We don’t do stuff like that.” Well, it is small, but to me, it is not just a deck. It is an opportunity to really enrich a family’s lives by making their home fun and inspiring. It gives them an opportunity to easily get outside and get fresh, healthy air into the house. I see it as an opportunity to do something cool even though it’s just a deck. It is a link between the inside of your home and the rest of the world.

The privacy wall provides a screen from the adjacent neighbor while framing the view out to the lake.

Folding wall systems make it easy to double the size of a living space and truly bring the outdoors in.

This wall does many things. It provides privacy from the adjacent neighbor. It allows light to come through. It also erodes to strategically frame a view of the lake when you are seated inside the (indoor part of the ) living room. It also creates a lot of visual interest. You could just do a railing, but why not make it more interesting?

Fixed screens are located above the privacy walls, and motorized retractable screens lower between the posts with the touch of a button. This screen system is integrated into the framing of the deck.

This tree is dangerously close to the deck. It nearly touches the deck. This tree provides a great deal of visual interest as it sways in the window and shadows and sun filter into the deck through its branches.

It’s OK to pick a fun color. If you don’t like it, paint it again. The accent wall window framing influences the color scheme of the pillows and other fabrics. It all works together to make a unified whole. The layers of depth created with the accent wall, structural posts, window frame, and glass take what could be ordinary and make it much more intriguing with different perspectives from different points of view within the deck.