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"   VIEW MORE PHOTOS&amp;amp;gt; The backyard of Jenny and Tom&amp;#039;s 1867 farmhouse featured a sprawling 23-by-28-foot wood deck with a connecting 47-by-25-foot brick patio that included a pool. Positioned directly off the kitchen, the outdoor area provided ample room for entertaining and relaxing, but the stained reddish-pink deck clashed with the home&amp;#039;s sage clapboard siding. And, with a dark railroad-tie retaining wall and a nook for trash cans in plain view of a too-small dining set, it was clear that the grounds needed the Home Team&amp;#039;s TLC. Editor- in-chief Donna Sapolin, stylist Stephen Antonson, and deputy articles editor Nicole Sforza subdivided the site into three distinct zones\u2014one each for cooking, dining, and lounging. The deck was refinished in a green-gray stain, which better links the space to the house. In a final creative flourish, the threesome enlisted colorful container plantings and simple latticework panels to camouflage the unsightly wall and understair storage area\u2014adding charm galore.        VIEW MORE PHOTOS&amp;amp;gt;     REFINISHING A DECK Stripping a wood deck and updating it with a fresh coat of stain is a project you can do yourself. (If you&amp;#039;d rather hire out the job and are looking for a pro, Thompson&amp;#039;s Water Seal recently began a program to certify contractors in deck care. Visit thompsonswaterseal.com to find one in your area.) To do the job on your own: 1. Wait for a clear day with no chance of rain. Wear rubber gloves and goggles. 2. Pour liquid deck stripper in a bucket. Using a long-handled synthetic-bristle brush or paint roller, coat the surface liberally. 3. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes. Scrub the surface with a synthetic stiff-bristle brush. 4. Wash away residue using a garden hose or pressure washer. If you use a pressure washer, make sure the PSI (pressure per square inch) does not exceed 2,500 pounds or you&amp;#039;ll risk damaging the wood. Opt for 1,200 to 1,500 PSI for soft woods like cedar. 5. Apply a neutralizing wash such as Thompson&amp;#039;s Water Seal Deck Cleaner and Brightener. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes; scrub with a clean stiff-bristle brush. Rinse thoroughly. 6. Let the deck dry. 7. Use a long-handled paint roller to apply a penetrating stain. We applied two coats of Thompson&amp;#039;s Water Seal Deck &amp;amp;amp; House Solid Latex Stain in Spruce Mist. Let dry\u2014times vary, so follow directions on the stain&amp;#039;s label. INSTALLING LATICE Stylist Stephen Antonson used pressure-treated wood lattice to conceal the railroad-tie retaining wall and the nook under the stairs. Here&amp;#039;s how: First, he built a wooden frame around the perimeter of the wall, using stainless steel screws to attach pressure-treated 2x4s to the ties. Then he screwed four more vertical 2x4s to the wall, 4 feet apart from one another. He placed a 4x8 sheet of lattice in each 4-foot area, making sure to match up the grid lines, and screwed the lattice to the 2x4s, drilling pilot holes first to minimize splitting. To cover the area behind the stairway, Antonson measured each step, used chalk to plot the dimensions on the lattice, and trimmed it to size with a jigsaw. To take care of the space under the stairs, Antonson built a door. He measured the area, transferred the dimensions to the lattice with chalk, and cut the lattice with a jigsaw. Then, using three galvanized hinges, he attached the lattice to a 2x4 that he had installed on the left-hand side of the opening. A latch secures the door to the stair rail post.     style to go: outdoor tables    Made of weather-resistant materials, these sturdy tables will withstand the elements and provide comfy dining for up to six.        WHITE GARDEN DINING TABLE Hardwood with an ultraglossy acrylic finish. 29&amp;quot; high x 39&amp;quot; wide x 86\u00BD&amp;quot; deep. $595. Lands&amp;#039; End; 800-963-4816, landsend.com .        LUCCA DOMINO RECTANGLE TABLE Laminate top; aluminum base. 29\u00BE&amp;quot; high x 79&amp;quot; wide x 35&amp;quot; deep. $1,710. Design Within Reach; 800-944-2233, dwr.com .        VIA RECTANGLE DINING TABLE Sanded-glass top; aluminum base. 28\u00BD&amp;quot; high x 61&amp;quot; wide x 35&amp;quot; deep. $1,530. Cozy Days; 888-256-7044, cozydays.com .    "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/a840/home-team-to-the-rescue-ready-for-summer-17157/>