4.09.2012

Privacy Please: Our Quick Deck Makeover

One of the best features of our new house is the deck. It's spacious, comes right off the kitchen, and unlike a lot of decks in the area, it actually has stairs to the ground level for the pups. We spent the majority of Saturday basking in the great sunlight it gets which was all it took to convince us to invest in some privacy!

This is what you see when walking out the back door. I'm sure the neighbors are nice, but I really don't want to see their backyard- even if they have gotten rid of the piles of old furniture and the rusty 50 gallon drums.

When deciding how we were going to solve this little problem, we ran through a few ideas. The first was a row of tall potted evergreen trees- like this:
I was thinking a long, sleek, rectangular plantar to line one side of the deck. Of course, this idea was a little too costly and we probably aren't going to be in this house long so it wasn't ideal.

D's idea was to put up some lattice work.
Not really my style. And if we were installing it ourselves, it would have lovely unfinished edges I'm sure- we're not exactly equipped to do a project like this correctly. I want something nice to look at!

So, off we went to Lowes and we found the perfect solution- a privacy screen! It had a sleek look to it, matched some of our other furniture, and we can take it with us the next time we move. And the best part- it hides our neighbors perfectly! D attached it to the deck railing with some screws and wire so it wont go anywhere. He's so handy!
In addition to the privacy screen, we picked up a couple of black pots and trellises with clean lines. To climb up the trellis, some jasmine that will smell great when it blossoms and some trailing petunias and dusty miller to fill the bottom. They will provide us with some extra privacy and a pop of color.
To make the deck look more inviting, we arranged this little nook with all of the potted herbs and the rocking chair. Very cozy and it gets great sun for the plants. 
Here's the view from the back door after our little makeover:
The deck that once felt too big and exposed is starting to feel intimate and inviting- and after only purchasing a few items! Sorry, no before pictures- the neighbors were out in their yard when we were putting the screen up and I felt bad! 
The next task is to pot the tomatoes and peppers and put them along this rail. They will still get long days of sun and also provide more shading from the neighbors on the other side. Also, I think we're going to put a tall evergreen in the corner where the grill is so you don't have to see the neighbor behind us when you're standing at the kitchen sink.

Is it obvious that D and I came from the Midwest where backyard privacy is a given? Now this place is starting to feel like home!

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't worry too much what the neighbors think. More than likely, they are glad you did this because they get some privacy too. My brother used to live in a townhouse with a tiny porch off the kitchen. We planted trees in the ground like you showed. He worried what the neighbors thought, but they loved the idea because it gave them privacy too. They even went and bought trees to put on the other side of their tiny patch of propery to create an enclosed space too. After that, several other people started doing the same.

Who knows....maybe you'll start a trend in your neighborhood too! Thank you for dropping by my blog to share all your great ideas this week.

Lauren said...

@Shannon @ Cozy Home Scenes Yes, hopefully a trend will start- that'd be great! Thanks for your comment!

Charlene@APinchofJoy said...

You did a wonderful job of creating a welcoming, cozy --and private-- space. We worried when we put up a six foot privacy wall on our deck between us and our near neighbors (that we reallly like). They were thrilled and immediately ordered a hot tub for their deck -- so you never know! I would love it if you would consider linking to Busy Monday at A Pinch of Joy, a Sunday through Thursday link party for ideas that make life easier, better and more fun!

Marvel Farias said...

I don’t think they would feel bad. You were a new homeowner in their area, and they would think that you were just redecorating your home. And just like what the other comments say here, they might see your privacy makeover as an inspiration and start redecorating too. By the way, I love how your deck looks with the furniture and plants!

Leif Clancy said...

So much for privacy! I’ve been there. :) Luckily, our house structure allows us to add a pergola, which becomes our solution to the pressing problem. What do you think of it? It would be a gratifying investment, knowing you can dally on your deck even when the sun is shining at its hottest. ;)

Unknown said...

I can see how much you value your privacy and I honestly don’t find your efforts offending. Just continue with your plans and enjoy making that space into a home. Since your efforts already look promising, I would love to see those tomatoes and evergreen. Seeing lots of plants really make a once lonely deck into a homey space.

Regards,
Barrett Elmore

Unknown said...

Surely, your neighbors wouldn't mind you putting up some privacy screen, and would understand why you did that. It's a great thing to be able to spend quality time with your family on your deck, but knowing that there are people prying on you might not feel all comfortable. I agree that the privacy screen is the best choice, by the way. It's affordable, doesn't eat much space, and provides what you need it for.

Oliva @awnings-unlimited.com

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