Morning Light & Midwestern Dreams (Inspired by Hennepin County Deck Projects)
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how much time we actually spend outside when the weather’s good — and how often I wish I had a better spot to soak it all in.
Don’t get me wrong — I love our backyard. It’s peaceful, big enough for our dog to roam, and the trees put on a whole show in the fall. But our current deck? It’s… fine. A bit wobbly in places. A little too small for when we have more than three friends over. It creaks when you step just right. Or wrong.
I’ve been toying with the idea of doing something more intentional with it. Not just a repair — a true upgrade. Something that fits how we actually live now, not how the last homeowners lived ten years ago. I want space for a grill that isn’t squished in the corner. Maybe even a lounge chair where I can read on those rare quiet mornings.
This weekend, after mowing the lawn and staring at the deck like it might answer my questions, I ended up looking up local deck contractors. I figured it couldn’t hurt to see what folks nearby were doing. That’s how I found this page from Corbin Restoration — all about their work in Hennepin County. It’s here: https://www.corbinrestoration.com/service-areas/hennepin-county
What pulled me in wasn’t just the polished project photos (though wow, there are some beauties). It was how thoughtful they seem to be about Minnesota weather — like how the snow and summer heat age certain deck materials differently. Living in Coon Rapids, we get our fair share of both extremes, so that hit close to home.
They talked a lot about helping people choose between wood and composite decking — and that hit a nerve for me. I’ve been going back and forth on that exact issue. I love the feel of real wood. But I also really love the idea of not staining and sealing it every few years. Especially now that our weekends are booked solid with soccer, birthday parties, and the occasional hope of sleeping in.
One detail I liked from their Hennepin projects was how they tailor decks to different styles of homes. That matters to me more than I expected. Ours is a mid-century ranch and I don’t want a deck that looks like it belongs on a new build in a different part of town. I want something that feels cohesive — like it’s always been here, just waiting for us to use it better.
I even caught myself sketching a little mock layout Sunday evening — nothing fancy, just playing with ideas. A wider platform with room for both dining and lounging. Maybe a pergola or a trellis for some climbing vines (and yes, I did fall down the Pinterest rabbit hole after that). A few built-in planters for herbs and wildflowers wouldn’t hurt either.
Am I ready to pull the trigger on a full rebuild yet? Not totally. But this idea of building something for us, something that reflects who we are now and how we live in this space — it’s stuck in my brain like a song I can’t stop humming.
And honestly? I like the sound of it.
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