Custom pergola with railing and built-in benches, attatched to house

Built for Roger and Wendy Hamilton, Planters Square, Port Williams, NS — Summer 2005

The clients had an existing open deck built several years before.  However, they wanted to make better use of the space, and do more entertaining there.

After some thought and a few sketches, this is what we came up with.

We sanded down the deck completely and applied Sansin stain.  Four posts provide bearing for three arched headers.  A 3” x 10” header fastened and flashed to the house provides support for the common rafters. Shade is supplied in summer by vines growing on the rafters.

To create a cozy space, Wendy couldn’t resist the Eastern White Cedar railing with swooping barn swallows for one end of the deck.

Dutch Elm bench tops resting on red oak corbels as well as oak backrests allow people to relax and read a book.  The local flagstone patio and fire pit make for the perfect wiener roast.

The chipmunks (carved into a beam by Richard Cormier) are always keeping a close eye on things.

Several years later, the photos below show that vines are well established on the deck.