A deck for all seasons: By roofing part of their deck, this couple created a sheltered outdoor room - Brief Article

Sunset, April, 2002 by Ann Bertelsen

When Rick and Michelle Kerbs decided to expand their deck and open the kitchen and dining nook to it, they envisaged adding something like an English solarium. But the house's roofline didn't permit it. So, in consultation with landscape designer John Kenyon, they created a freestanding open-air version instead: A simple gabled roof with skylights rests on four columns to form a handsome sheltered outdoor room.

"We didn't want anything too rustic; we wanted something light, airy and casually elegant," says Michelle. Doric columns replicating those in their living room, curved braces in each gable end, and a reproduction of an antique brass streetlight used as a chandelier give the space a refined look. The dining table and chairs are teak. "We love being outside--and with the help of overhead heaters [attached to the beams]--we can live and entertain here whenever we like," says Michelle.

DESIGN: John Kenyon, Sundance Landscaping, Redmond, WA (425/881-5518)