5 Creative Modern Porches and Decks

As these five projects prove, a modern deck or porch can play many creative roles—as a play space, hangout spot, dining area, and more. Slideshow

At a vacation house shared by two families on a lakeside plot outside Toronto, two-year-old Annika and five-year-old Soren make music on the "nap swing" on the deck, a popular hangout spot for kids and adults alike. Photo by Lorne Bridgman.