When considering plants to use as your thrillers, fillers and spillers, think about their texture, fragrance and color combinations. Each plant conveys color, texture, shape, and dazzle. Do certain colors in one plant bring out subtle complementary colors in another? How do the various leaf shapes, sizes and textures carry through the container plantings?  Is there an underlying theme that connects all the plants together?

Choose a Thriller

This is the plant that provides architectural structure in the pot. Good options for thrillers are bananas, elephant ears, cannas and ornamental grasses.

Choose a Filler

Fillers are the plants in the middle that connect the thrillers to the spillers. Consider using plants of moderate size, such as coleus, pentas and lantana.  Fillers are mounding, billowy plants planted around the thriller. They disguise the base of the thriller and fill up the pot with neat shapes.

Choose a Spiller

Spillers are the final element to consider when designing your pots. They cascade to the ground, softening the edges of the pot and anchoring it in place. They provide a colorful skirt around the combination of thrillers and fillers. Sweet potato vine and verbena are good examples of trailing plants.

Select a Container

Before selecting a container, think about where you want to put it. Will it soften the corner of the deck? Do you want to place it within a grouping of containers? These are important options to consider when choosing a pot and will help to determine if you need small eight-inch pots or big four-foot containers. You should also consider color combinations, formal vs. informal, style, access to a water source, general care and maintenance.  For a large container, consider putting it on rolling plant caddy.

Whether you are seeking solitude or a great place for entertaining, an inviting living room area is the perfect place to relax and enjoy your Spring Break.

You are welcome to contact us by visiting our showroom, submitting a question through our website, emailing us, or calling us to discuss how we might be able to assist you.

Synthetic products like composite or vinyl decking, aluminum railing, vinyl siding, even paver patios are fairly simple to tend to.  You should regularly sweep and hose off the areas to keep them free of dirt and pollen.  If you have an area that is very dirty, you may need to use a mild dish soap and agitate the area, or even possibly use a deck like cleaner like Corte-Clean that is bleach-free.  We advise extreme caution when using a pressure washer, as it is very possible that you could damage the products if you are too aggressive.  A great comparison is to think about how you keep your car clean – vacuuming and washing – and just apply that to your outdoor space.

Wood decks will take a little more effort because not only do you have to clean, but also stain, most woods.  The lone exception can be hardwood, which some folks allow to weather to a silvery patina.  Most prefer the rich, darker color that the wood naturally has before it is exposed to the sun’s UV rays.  Again, we recommend use a cleaner and brightener, as opposed to pressure washing, when it comes to prepping the deck for staining.  These are simple products to mix and apply, contain no bleach, and often do a better job with less effort.  Penofin makes a Pro-Tech line of products – stripper, cleaner, and brightener – that can be used to prep a wood deck.  Penofin also makes a diverse line of penetrating oil products that can be applied to the deck for the staining component.  The penetration protects the wood from the inside out and provides a simple process for re-application in the future.  There are other stains that you might prefer in a similar fashion, but we also caution against painting anything exterior, especially a deck.  For any questions or further assistance, feel free to contact us.  We don’t clean and stain decks, but are happy to share the knowledge we’ve obtained and sell the Penofin line of products for you to use on your own deck.

The question of why to add lighting is answered with two main reasons: adding an element of safety and adding aesthetic appeal.  Safety naturally comes as the exterior space is lighted and more visible for the entire neighborhood, but even when on the deck, highlighting level changes and stairs can help visitors to safer footing when out on the deck beyond sunset.  The fun part of lighting, however, is the appearance of the fixtures and the ambiance that dusk to dawn lighting adds to a beautiful space.  We often compare it to jewelry to compliment the rest of the ensemble.  To some, the outdoor space isn’t complete without the jewelry.

The lighting options are narrowed to four main types for most spaces: post top lights, post accent lights, stair riser lights, and recessed lighting that sits in the floor.  Post top and stair riser lights were once the most popular, but we’ve seen a great increase in the newer, sleeker styles in the accent and recessed lights.  We have a wide array of choices displayed in our showroom, and this is really the best way to get a feel for what might be the best fit for your deck.  Visit us to take a look or get recommendations on ways to add this element to your existing deck or the new one you are planning!

First, the days of boring, solid colors in decking are almost past us. Most folks prefer multi-chromatic, tropically-colored flooring, whether that be of the synthetic variety or a real hardwood like TigerDeck. Most manufacturers have moved that direction because of the demand, and that won’t stop anytime soon. Along with that choice comes an equally important decision – the railing. While some folks still don’t place as much emphasis on the look of the railing, most folks understand that this aspect of the deck holds the most power and also offers the most versatility. We’re seeing a trend of people moving to darker colors, if not for the entire rail, at least the baluster portion of the deck, with thinner, metal profiles often being used.

“Shade” is a popular buzz-word once again, as most folks are giving in to the powers of the sun and seeking solutions to make their deck a more comfortable space. Sunrooms, gazebos, pergolas, retractable awnings, and solar shades are all major or minor additions to an outdoor living space that can make a huge difference in the ability to enjoy the time outside on a new deck.

Lighting is the accessory item that has seen the greater increase in interest in the last couple of years, and manufacturers are responding with new and improved offerings. New styles, colors, and purposes for lights have been established, and there’s been a great deal of movement toward LED lighting. Consider lighting as “jewelry for your deck” from an aesthetics standpoint, but it can also be a functional addition as it may offer additional safety and security means to an outdoor space.

Visit our showroom or online gallery for more ideas, and, as always, feel free to submit a question through the site or give us a call if you have a question!