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Structural flourishes make the difference between a run-of-the-mill deck and one you'll love to use.

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1. Top It Off

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An arbor overhead enhances the cozy, roomlike ambience of this deck. The soaring structure of wood uprights and crossbeams would be an ideal support for a flowering vine, bringing the garden onto the deck.

FromGarden, Deck, and Landscape® magazine.

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2. Opt for Elegant Details

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A deck's railing makes a style statement. Why settle for mundane? This elegant Chippendale-style rail distinguishes what might otherwise be an ordinary deck. A fancy lattice valance on the arbor frames views into the yard.

FromGarden, Deck, and Landscape® magazine.

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3. Add Metal Accents

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This home's contemporary architecture calls for clean lines and streamlined aesthetic. Bronze railing and a curved strip of copper flashing, both allowed to weather naturally, put a high-end spin on industrial materials.

FromGarden, Deck, and Landscape® magazine.

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4. Vary the Surface

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Pattern breaks up the monotony of an expansive deck. In addition to this variation on a basket-weave design, boards can be installed in diagonals, checkerboard grids, and elaborate parquet patterns.

FromGarden, Deck, and Landscape ®magazine.

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5. Throw in a Curve

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Set against the straight lines of residential architecture, this semicircular prow deck is all the more extraordinary. A crescent-shape flowerbed repeats the curve at ground level.

FromGarden, Deck, and Landscape® magazine.

See More Decks with Curves

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6. Hide Clutter

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A storage closet for stackable furniture and extra cushions makes a handy addition to an outdoor living area. Another set of doors on the driveway side of this structure opens to a closet that holds gardening tools.

FromGarden, Deck, and Landscape® magazine.

See More Storage Shed Ideas

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7. Dress Up Posts and Pillars

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Although 6x6 posts may be structurally sufficient as support columns, they have the visual panache of matchsticks. Decorative moldings trim these pillars, which hold a small upper-level deck. The railing posts feature a similar treatment.

FromGarden, Deck, and Landscape® magazine.

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8. Cool Off with a Spa

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This built-in spa is big enough for a refreshing summer plunge or an afternoon of splashing with the kids. Even if you're not inclined to hop in, you'll feel cooler just gazing into its blue depths.

FromGarden, Deck, and Landscape® magazine.

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9. Eliminate Railings

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Built with no railing, this platform deck, which floats inches above the ground, has an austere simplicity that matches its Asian-theme surroundings. Local building codes regulate the need for railings; in many municipalities, railing-free decks must be no more than two steps above the lawn.

FromGarden, Deck, and Landscape® magazine.

See More Platform Deck Ideas

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10. Step Up in Style

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Low, broad steps allow for easy movement between two deck levels and from the lawn. When steps are this wide, there's plenty of room to stage a garden growing in containers.

FromGarden, Deck, and Landscape® magazine.

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