Every good designer has their own sensibility that guides their designs. When they design, everything happens for a reason. When they present their design to their clients, explaining why every decision was made helps bring their vision into focus.
· Work from your client's wish list. Discovering what your clients really want is key to a successful design. You have two ears and one mouth--listen more than you speak.
· Design with an eye to privacy. If people feel like they are on display, they will not use the space regardless of what they tell you. Let the pursuit of privacy guide you to creating a deck that feels good.
· Design to your client's tastes but don't stray too far from the style of the home. Adding a deck that looks like a protuberance may have wow factor--but 10 years from now, it may be tiresome.
· Consider the view from the interior of the home.
· Limit the number of textures and colors to three, if possible. Quilts can be charming, but decks with 15 colors may not fit the home. Play off the colors you find on the home, and tie in the deck color with the flooring within the home. There are hundreds of colors to choose from these days.
· Lighting makes any deck stand out. It doesn't have to be like a Christmas tree, but subtle lighting brings it to life. Lighting the staircase makes it safe, and a gentle glow emanating from the rails or up towards the rails can accent it as a feature. If the stair has glass rails, they will shimmer at night. There are also post lights that can really help the look.
· Balance. A rear wall of a home that runs up straight for three stories needs vertical interest, but a two-story deck doesn't necessarily. Maybe use posts and beams to draw the eye up. When it comes to layout, let the shape of the lot guide the shape of the deck.
· Form follows function. If it makes sense to have two rooms or designated areas, such as a living area and separate kitchen or dining area, then make that work. If shade makes sense, do that. Do everything for a reason. If you can't defend a decision to a client, maybe you shouldn't do it.
· Use suitable detailing and materials for an exterior environment. The average deck lasts 10 to 20 years. There is no reason you can't design a deck these days that will have a useful lifetime of 30 years or more by speccing simple details such as proper ledger and joist flashing.
· Consider climate and environmental issues. Hurricanes, freeze-thaw cycles, and extreme rainfall are all things that you can design for. Make it a habit and if you need to consult with an engineer, just do it. In areas where rot is an issue, you should be upping the size of joists and maybe decreasing the spacing since you know they will rot more quickly.
· Code/Engineering Issues. Code is a minimum specification. Design heavy. If the inspector sees an issue, listen to him or her. Engineers are there to help.
· Let usage and furniture selection guide your design. When you are developing a wish list, ask your clients how many people they foresee at parties. Ask them what type and size the furniture will be and design for that. Remember, it's not just the furniture; you need space to walk around on the deck when the furniture is in place.
