Dwelling enchancment: Upgrades to make a ho-hum deck additional fashionable

As the patio of designer Mariette Hedeshian’s home began to show its age, she had it remodeled with a durable composite material and doubled in size to accommodate the extended family that frequently visits.Michael J Lee

The quarterdeck of designer Mariette Hedeshian’s Shrewsbury home was showing its age, so she decided to rebuild it with a durable composite material. It also doubled its size to accommodate extended families who live nearby and visit frequently. “We needed more space to hang out and eat in the evenings and weekends,” says the founder of Designer’s Touch. The color scheme was dictated by the seating area below. “The lower deck is all white, so I tried to add drama with lots of black,” she says.

1 Hedeshian added a pergola to the patio to add architectural interest to the back of the home’s light beige facade. While the vertical rails are dark brown, the pergola is lighter. “Multiple tones provide another layer of interest and depth,” she says.

2 A pair of Serena & Lily rattan bell pendants hang from the pergola. “I release them a little later in the spring after the pollen season and collect them for the winter,” says Hedeshian.

3 The designer chose a linear dining table and gently curved aluminum chairs from RH. “I wanted metal chairs so I wouldn’t have to wax them,” she says.

4 Hedeshian takes great care of their teak furniture and waxes it at least once a year. She also covers everything every night. “If you want beautiful things to last, you have to invest time,” she says.

5 The slatted low coffee table is large enough to accommodate multiple seats and sturdy enough to double as a stool.

6 Target Indoor/Outdoor Miter Strip Rug is weather, stain and fade resistant. “It’s very easy to care for and dries quickly,” says Hedeshian. “At the end of the season I hose it down with soap and roll it up.”

Marni Elyse Katz is a regular contributor to Globe Magazine. Send comments to magazine@globe.com.