Stained.

Why wouldn't you buy a new kitchen and build a deck at the same time? Whatever anyone's advice would be against that, we've definitely ignored it. Because that's just how we roll.

Forms on the footings

Forms off of the footings. Ta daaaa!

Since the deck is basically going to be an extension of our kitchen, why not? We might as well go hard, and get it all done, while we're at it, and while the tools are all out. The footings have been poured, and the wood is ready to go. 

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In addition to loving my job at Take to Heart Specialty Wood Products, the product that comes out of the sawmill is just amazing.
So when my timber order for our deck was ready, 
I was especially excited to have this going up at my house. 

Beams and posts by Take To Heart Specialty Wood Products

Picking the stain was actually tricky for me. Paint is one thing, but stain is definitely another. First of all, the stain swatches are nothing like the actual stain colour. Second of all, depending on the species of wood, the colours on the wood can be very different. To help narrow it down, the Benjamin Moore colour collection for decks and siding comes with the solid base colours for the stain. I picked out a few colours that would go with our exterior paint on the house. Then I really narrowed it down to one colour and bought a test can. As soon as I saw it on the wooden stir stick, I was pretty convinced that was the one.

Even though I was pretty convinced I loved the stain colour that I picked (Benjamin Moore Arborcoat in Spanish Moss with a semi-transparent finish), I still wanted to see what it looked like on a piece of wood against our house. That, and I had to okay it with my other half before I really committed.

Benjamin Moore Aborcoat exterior stain in Spanish Moss. In the sun.

Benjamin Moore Aborcoat exterior stain in Spanish Moss. In the shade.

I took a few pictures of the stain because Google seemed to lack images of 
"Benjamin Moore Spanish Moss exterior stain in sun and in shade". 

You're welcome.

Finally, I held the stained wood up against our siding and trim colours: Benjamin Moore in Iron Mountain (trim) and Wall Street(siding). My vote? YUP!

Happy Staining!

xo Jena