DECKED OUT

Tips to create the perfect outdoor oasis to enjoy all summer

If ever there was a time for al fresco dining to have its revival, 2020 and 2021 would be it. After months of being cooped up, spending time outdoors on a sunny patio or deck offers a slice of heaven and harkening to pre-COVID times.

Though Montana will predictably be late to the patio party, it’s never too soon to start planning your dream deck. With a little help from the pros, you’ll be creating the most coveted outdoor lounging spot in town. As a bonus, the drinks from your own fridge provide a budgetconscious happy hour.

To take your backyard deck dreams and turn them into something more tangible, we enlisted the help of the experts at Kenyon Noble. Bridger Nelson, Marketing Director at Kenyon Noble, corralled answers to all our burning questions.

First, we asked what advice the Kenyon Noble team has for folks looking to build a deck from scratch or overhaul what they currently have. Nelson said that while customers can search the myriad of decking options on the internet, seeing materials in person (and talking to an actual person) can be helpful.

“We offer a full estimation service to help walk our customers through the entire construction project,” Nelson explains. “This estimation service can begin with a simple drawing or detailed description of what the customer has to work with, whether it’s a new deck or removing an existing deck and starting over, or perhaps they just want to add to what they have.”

In store, employees can showcase different decking displays and fi nish options while helping customers understand the true costs associated with creating a dream deck. From a detailed accounting of what each item costs to helpful tips to get through the project, sometimes a human touch is exactly what’s needed to tackle that outdoor project, Nelson explains.

“We can supply you with the concrete to pour footings, the lumber to frame your area, the fasteners to hold it together, decking to cover it, and all the amenities to make the outdoor space comfortable as well,” he says. “Our staff has been

trained to put emphasis on customer care as it is just as critical as the items you need to complete your project. Our staff will partner with the customer to help them through their project.”

That partnership could look like Kenyon Noble staff sourcing materials that aren’t currently in stock, researching to ensure customers are receiving the best value on their project, and following up to ensure project materials are delivered to customers’ front door in a timely and respectful manner. “We don’t want to simply just take your money,” Nelson says. “Our sales staff will guide you through your selections and needs for your project while keeping your budget in mind. Then, our warehouse and our daily delivery service makes getting the products onsite quickly to better help your project along. We recognize that not everyone can haul an entire construction project in your personal vehicle. Kenyon Noble has invested in a fl eet of vehicles that will make this delivery something the customer doesn’t have to worry about.”

And if, after scouring all the options, a customer decides tackling a deck project is too much hassle, Kenyon Noble can make referrals.

“We work with several very qualifi ed professionals and we are happy to refer our customers to the right contractors to create their ideal end result,” Nelson says.

For folks who are sick of putting the proverbial lipstick on the pig (or stain on an existing deck in this case), but eager to upgrade their deck, there are non-wood options to consider, like engineered decking.

“Though it’s hard to replace the appearance of wood, engineered decking has come a long way,” Nelson explains. “Most engineered decking comes from plastic composites mixed with wood fibers, and is now available in pure PVC. These composite options make for a maintenance-free, longterm deck you can enjoy without sanding, pressure washing, and staining.”

Kenyon Noble offers several engineered decking options including Trex, TimberTech, AZEK and Fiberon brands. Nelson notes that manufacturers offer warranties with engineered decking products, which buyers don’t get when buying wood for a deck.

For the most economic way to update a deck, Nelson says starting at square one isn’t always necessary.

“In many cases, you don’t have to completely remove your entire deck and patio area, you can simply improve it,” he says. “This could mean replacing deck boards, adding an updated railing, replacing the furniture, adding a fireplace, adding garden beds with foliage, or a simple addition of pavers to accent the outdoor living space.”

As Nelson says, your outdoor living area is an extension of your home. In addition to considering new pieces - like outdoor furniture or enhanced landscaping - it’s also important for customers to determine what amenities they feel their outdoor space is lacking. Maybe that means a new grill. Or, if you’re ambitious, an outdoor kitchen.

“You need to add amenities that create a place you and your family will want to spend time,” Nelson says. “These additions don’t have to be grossly expensive. Adding a fire pit, for example, lets you add hours of time a day that you would normally spend inside.”

And who doesn’t want to add a few hours to Montana’s glorious summer days?

“We have a limited summer in Montana,” Nelson says. “So whether it’s decking, pavers, furniture, firepits, grills, smokers, or simply something to keep your drinks cold on hot days, Kenyon Noble has invested substantially to partner with our community and make your outdoor space the most comfortable and inviting place possible.”

Before you hire a contractor or spend a small fortune on deck materials, the Kenyon Noble professionals advise stopping by the store to review your options. Inspiration is also offered on site, free of charge.

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Decor from the Great Outdoors

Local artist features Montana’s favorite landscapes & critters in whimsical renderings

There’s a kind of magic in a painting, photograph, or drawing that has the ability to transport us. Art, it’s said, is subjective, and beauty in the eye of the beholder. So when you fi nd a photo or drawing that speaks to you, that evokes something deep within or stirs up a memory, it feels precious to hold that memory and, if you’re lucky, put it on display in your house.

For local artist Mimi Matsuda, her work is all about connecting people to the outdoors. Through her art, she hopes to inspire others to become careful stewards of Mother Nature. While that sounds like a daunting task, Matsuda accomplishes her goal in the most whimsical ways. Her beloved paintings feature unlikely pairings, like a bear riding a bicycle. Or iconic Yellowstone National Park animals holding binoculars and cameras, as if they are the tourists capturing geysers and wildlife while on vacation. Or the drift boat with an eagle manning the oars while two other birds cast lines from the bow and stern of the boat. The eccentric motifs are part of Matsuda’s collection titled “Animals: Secret Lives.”

“I’ve always loved science, sports, conservation, and the universality of humor,” Matsuda says. “People can identify with the imagery and put themselves in the animals’ situation. It’s a different kind of wildlife watching. The humor in my art seems to cross boundaries of age and culture. If people have an emotional connection, which is easy through humor, it is my hope they will care to preserve animals and their habitats.”

Not all of her art follows the humorous vein of “Animals: Secret Lives.” Matsuda captures the pensive side-eye of a Great Blue Heron with little fanfare surrounding her subject. She paints otters in an embrace that emulates a kind of anthropomorphism that is diffi cult to capture just right. She creates landscapes of well-known Montana mountains and trails. In short, Matsuda’s art has the ability to transport. Whether the beholder is mentally transported to a favorite hike in Hyalite or sunny day on the river, Matsuda’s nature renderings capture the marvels and magic of Montana.

“My trout art is popular with area anglers and my landscapes of the parks are appreciated by park visitors,” Matsuda says. “I work in a variety of mediums, soft pastel, acrylics, oils and watercolors. I keep busy fi lling notecards, matted print and canvas print orders.”

Though her burgeoning portfolio is impressive, Matsuda keeps busy when she’s not painting, too. The mother of identical twin boys, Matsuda knows that the work of conversation starts at home. She hopes her art allows other parents to start conversations with kids about taking care of the great outdoors. And when Matsuda needs to pick up the paintbrush in peace, she straps on her headphones.

“I’m currently painting while listening to Mumford and Sons, Michael Franti and First Aid Kit,” she says. “The music helps me problem solve, transports me into my painting and runs like a theme song to the ‘documentary’ I’m painting.” solitary endeavor, Matsuda said her customers fi nd ways to share their delight and gratitude.

“When customers take time to send me a note about my art or when they stop to tell me how much they enjoy my art, that is really the ultimate joy and reward,” she says. “Creating art is a solo endeavor, so I draw a lot of joy from hearing these positive words. Some people remark on the beauty of my oil-painted great blue heron, or some people love the view of my mama bear reading to her cub. I’m proud when anyone sees a need for art in their lives and especially honored when they relate to the imagery I create. I hope it brings much happiness to their lives.”

Matusda is one of many talented artists listed on the Made in Montana website. The local creator sells her work at Altitude Gallery, the Bozeman Community Food Co-Op, Country Bookshelf, The Museum of the Rockies, and on her website www. MimiMatsudaArt.com. To fi nd more art and homegoods made in Montana, visit madeinmontanausa.com.