The “before” photo of this Seattle under-deck area shows how it was a hodgepodge of clutter. The homeowners wanted to create plenty of room where their young children could play, as well as space for dining and lounging.

Landscape designer Rebekah Rongo of SCJ Studio Landscape Architecture answered the call, and a sheltered area that wraps around a corner is part of the result. It’s designed for the kids, with a picnic table on one side, two bright red chairs on the other and a wraparound concrete step connecting the two. Tight-knot western red cedar walls warm up the space, create continuity in the yard’s design and conceal an easy-to-access storage area.

Note the light-colored under-decking too, to ensure that the spaces below stay dry on Seattle’s frequent drizzly days. Any water can drain through the permeable patio paver joints. After this photo was taken, the homeowners added a projection screen under the deck for movie nights.

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