On deck for family fun

There’s room for a hot tub, fireplace and kitchen in this Mill Creek backyard.

A trip to San Diego last fall gave Leah and Brendan Fitzgerald a taste for open-air living. The bay-city house they rented for their young family had a magnificent backyard, complete with pool, hot tub, luxurious seating area and an outdoor fireplace.

“We ended up spending the majority of our evenings out there,” says Brendan. “It was one of the best family vacations we ever had, so we decided we wanted to bring some of that back home to Edmonton.”

But could their California dream of an alfresco lifestyle be realized in the narrow urban lot of the couple’s Mill Creekarea home, especially in a climate where evening temperatures nudge zero or colder for nine months of the year?

Leah approached Brad Wyness, of Evolve Landscaping, to consider the options. She had seen his company’s work at a nearby property and liked it. After Brad came up with a plan that incorporated all the elements the couple wanted, she and Brendan decided to go ahead with the project. “We had lots of ideas and Brad helped us to realize them in ways that worked,” Leah says.

Among the challenges were the narrow infill lot and the positioning of the garage at the back of the lot, which made it tight for bringing in equipment. “We had to design a system for getting the pilings in,” Brad says, “because we couldn’t get a machine small enough through the walkway without taking out any trees, which we didn’t want to do.” They ended up using a smaller, walk-behind excavator. Access to parking and the hauling away of Dumpster material also had to be carefully co-ordinated in the narrow back lane.

Just finished in July, the result is a full-yard design that works perfectly to foster the open-air lifestyle the Fitzgeralds wanted. The deck comes complete with an outdoor kitchen, a hot tub, deep cushioned seating in two areas, a water feature, and a fire table and outdoor fireplace to chase off the chills.

The design encompasses a 22-foot-square, partially covered deck with generous steps leading down to a lower patio area. Sheltered by the garage on one side, and the raised deck on the other, the cosy patio is anchored by a free-standing, wood-burning fireplace.

For their ability to withstand wind, rain and temperature fluctuations, cedar, cultured stone and sturdy quartz were the surface materials selected throughout. Brad brought in Bond Masonry to hand-lay the cultured stone used on the fireplace, fire table and as the facing to the kitchen counter. Crafted without mortar, it’s a modern look using ancient masonry skills.

A Celtic pattern similar to that of the wrought-iron gates front and back hangs over the fireplace. Created by Kyle Walton of Hammer and Forge Ironwork, it’s mounted under a light to set off the striking curves of the design.

The deck itself forms a natural extension to the house, which has two sets of double doors leading out to the backyard. This allows the interior of the two-year-old home to flow seamlessly into the newly designed outdoor space.

It also provides access to the nearby indoor kitchen and dining area featuring a massive custom dining table.

“Brendan loves to cook and we enjoy entertaining,” says Leah, so an open-air kitchen was a must. Theirs is complete with built-in gas barbecue, a cast-iron smoker, an undercounter fridge and a roll-out garbage container.

Rather than have a dedicated outdoor dining table and chairs, the Fitzgeralds opted for a pivotal rolling counter that can be placed at 90 degrees to the rest of the counter when used for eating or as a bar. It then rolls back into place to extend the counter, offering plenty of space for food prep and presentation.

The pivotal counter, which was designed with the help of Joey Ricalton of Creative Steel Concepts, rolls on a wheel made with hospitalgrade neoprene, so it won’t mark the deck.

Opposite the outdoor kitchen is a roof-covered area up against the house, with sheltered seating around a smokefree fire table. Gentle flames lick up through polished glass stones at the centre of the low table, providing heat for relaxing use almost year-round. Next to this is the hot tub, with easy access from the house.

Framing the deck area are custom privacy panels made of boards that were individually ripped on a table saw. The panels are finished above with a pergola-style design. Both functional and esthetically pleasing, the panels were Brad’s idea, says Leah. “He and his dad David (who works with Brad doing carpentry) were great at finding solutions.”

The entire family had input into the design and colours, says Brendan.

There’s even a special area for Stella, the dog. Since their small patch of lawn had been removed for the patio, the Fitzgeralds had a section of petgrade artificial turf installed at the side of the deck.

Sheltering the patio area is a leafy canopy stretching high above the rooftop. “(Having mature trees) is one of the benefits of building a new deck in an old neighbourhood,” says Brendan. And with the discreet low-voltage lighting at the steps and framing the different “room” areas, “It’s a great reason to stay up late,” he adds.

Despite the urban setting, there’s lots of wildlife. Within 24 hours of the deck’s roof overhang being assembled, a family of robins built their nest in the eaves. “We brought four robins into the world while the deck was still under construction,” Brendan beams proudly. Meanwhile squirrels catapulting overhead from tree limb to limb provide “cheap entertainment” almost yearround.

For the busy family of five, it’s become a great place to relax, unwind and socialize. Their California dream works better here than they could have imagined. “It allows us to make use of the backyard in as many months of the year as possible,” says Brendan.

Cost of the overall project, excluding the hot tub, which was already there, will come in around $100,000.

For Brendan and Leah, it’s money well spent. “We think of it as an investment in our family,” says Brendan. “Better that than spending it on a luxury car.”

edmontonjournal. com For a gallery of photos of the Fitzgeralds’ dream deck, and for more in the My House Beautiful series, go to edmontonjournal.com/house

PHOTOS : John Lucas/ Edmonton Journal The Fitzgeralds’ outdoor living space includes a 22-foot-square deck stepping down to a stone patio. Two sets of doors connect the house seamlessly to the backyard.

Brendan Fitzgerald loves to cook, so a built-in, round smoker and gas barbecue were musts in his family’s new deck.

PHOTOS: John Lucas/ Edmonto n Journal The outdoor kitchen includes a built-in gas barbecue, cast-iron smoker, under-counter fridge and pivotal rolling counter that can be placed at 90 degrees to the counter as a table or bar.

Sheltered under mature trees on the cedar deck is a hot tub that beckons year round.

A Celtic pattern, like that on the yard gates, graces the wood-burning fireplace anchoring the patio.

Large double doors lead from the dining area’s massive custom table onto the deck, extending the home’s living space.

Opposite the outdoor kitchen is a hot tub and covered, comfortable seating area around a smoke-free fire table.