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Month: October 2021

Northern California Valley Views with RailFX

With a view across the Carmel Valley and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Northern California, this early 1970s ranch-style home built on a slope — one-level design from the front and two-level design from the back — is perched high up in the hills in Carmel. The owners, Lynn and Stevan Berardo, moved from the Lake Tahoe area for warmer seasons.

“We are at a point in our life where we want to live away from the cold winters that Lake Tahoe is well-known for,” said Lynn Berardo.

California Valley Views with RailFX

Their house in Lake Tahoe also had beautiful views. “The view is important to us, and we refer to ourselves as view snobs.”

They debated starting over with the property, as they prefer a more contemporary home design, but in the end, they did an extensive renovation. The result, a contemporary home with butterfly-roof system that takes advantage of solar and rainwater collection. The interior is open and spacious with massive windows.

Chad Berardo, their son, an architectural designer, and owner of Blue Dot Designs in Gunnison, Colorado designed the remodel. “We feel fortunate that we get to live in a space a family member designed, and we benefited from his expertise in environmentally savvy design,” added Lynn. “It’s unique and special to us.”

It was important for the Berardo’s to maintain an unobstructed view of the valley. Chad’s idea was to bring the outdoors in, so there are a lot of windows and an extensive deck off the back that overlooks the valley. “Chad introduced us to cable railing to not interrupt our view and also provide safety, so you’re comfortable,” said Lynn. Beyond the views of the valley, the Berardo’s can see the Pacific Ocean from their deck.

Fussy about colors and finishes, the Berardo’s landed on coastal colors, like gray composite deck boards to resemble driftwood and RailFX aluminum cable railing system in a silver finish to blend in. “Chad designed the decking and railing and said that stainless steel was the perfect solution for our project,” Lynn said.  

RailFX’s stainless steel finish is low maintenance and well-suited for the salty ocean air along the coast and worked so well for the Berardo home. 

The Berardo’s have also installed RailFX cable railing for their interior staircase, continuing the contemporary design inside the home. “It’s solid but invisible,” said Lynn.

Low maintenance products are important to us, and we love the way that the cable railings just go away from your line of sight. ~ Lynn Berardo

The Berardo’s have also installed RailFX cable railing for their interior staircase, continuing the contemporary design inside the home. “It’s solid but invisible,” said Lynn.

This time of year, many homeowners – especially those who live in climates with a striking change of seasons – begin to think about how they can savor their outdoor spaces for as long as possible. Still, others who enjoy milder conditions are looking for opportunities to refresh their outdoor living area by making simple upgrades. 

In their 2021 Outdoor Living Trends, FIXR.com asked experts in the home construction industry to reveal how homeowners are choosing to use their exterior spaces these days. While the backyard was considered a separate space in the past, it’s no surprise that over the past 18 months, people have started to look at their outdoor spaces differently. Nearly 50% of residential outdoor spaces are now being adapted for year-round use.

Below are a few suggestions on how to blend and enhance any home’s interior and exterior living areas so they can be enjoyed regardless of the season.

Add a new patio door to create a seamless transition.

What many used to refer to as a “sliding glass door” is now a thing of the past. Those narrow pass-throughs have been replaced with large, collapsible, or bi-parting doors that allow homeowners to blend their indoor and outdoor living settings. Doing so extends social space, delivers a better view, and gives the perception of a more livable area. Find inspiration in these indoor/outdoor combinations shared by Bob Vila. There’s sure to be something that will spark an idea.

Transform the traditional deck into a personal retreat.

Decks have become the new “bonus room.” According to Deck Specialist homeowners want to use their deck year-round; they expect it reflects their personal style and coordinates with their landscape. The good news? There’s a range of options to make this happen. Simple seasonal enhancements like adding furnishings (for example, an outdoor rug, pillows, and blankets) make for an easy transition. More permanent updates such as installing low-voltage or solar lighting are smart upgrades that create a warm setting as the days get shorter and cozy evenings under the stars become the norm. 

In the same way, cable railing from RailFX is an ideal solution for any deck design and  easily complements an existing structure.

As one of the most visible deck elements, railings can elevate and complement an aesthetically pleasing deck and landscape. The trend toward the use of seamless, low-maintenance railing options that are easy to install will continue to gain momentum into next year. Simplified railing systems such as pre-assembled aluminum railing and intuitive cable railing save deck builders valuable time and effort on railing installation while offering a coveted sleek and modern look. ~ Deck Specialist

Heat things up by adding a fire feature.

Nothing says Fall quite like time spent by a fire. Incorporating a fire feature into creating an outdoor living space creates a welcoming attraction to any deck or patio. The most common features are stone fireplaces and metal fire pits. These days, there is a variety of gas and woodburning options to choose from to fit any budget. The experts at Forbes did their fire pit research and have shared a list of top picks to choose from.

railing with fire pit

Design a beautiful balcony.

Not every home has a backyard, but that doesn’t mean outdoor living is out of the question. A balcony can easily be reimagined to provide an ideal exterior oasis or an additional functional space. Natural materials and sleek, modern textures help to create an open, upscale setting. RailFX’s low-maintenance, durable aluminum cable railing system can provide a custom look with clean site lines that help to make a smaller space appear larger and enjoyable all year long.  

Interested in creating an outdoor living space and discovering additional outdoor living features homeowners are craving? Check out this article from our friends at Builder online.

elegant deck balcony
cable railing art