Let Your Imagination Run Wild

Outdoor Living Design

WHERE INNOVATION, FUNCTION AND DESIGN MEET

At Ace of Decks, every outdoor space begins with a single idea: 

Your lifestyle deserves more than a standard deck — it deserves a beautifully designed extension of your home.

Our design-first approach ensures your outdoor living space is not only stunning, but highly functional, long-lasting, and intentionally crafted for the way you live. Whether we’re creating a multi-level deck, a louvered roof lounge, an outdoor kitchen, or a fully immersive backyard oasis — our team blends architecture, engineering, and luxury outdoor aesthetics to produce spaces that feel effortless and unforgettable.

WHY DESIGN MATTERS

A true high-end outdoor living space cannot be built without an elevated design process. Great design eliminates guesswork, aligns expectations, and ensures your structure is:

  • Beautifully planned
  • Engineered to last
  • Custom-fit to your home
  • Created with premium materials
  • Optimized for flow, functionality, and enjoyment
  • Compliant with code, HOA, and municipal requirements

 

Our design process is built to uncover exactly what you envision — even when you’re not sure how to describe it yet.

THE ACE OF DECKS DESIGN PROCESS

A true high-end outdoor living space cannot be built without an elevated design process. Great design eliminates guesswork, aligns expectations, and ensures your structure is:

  • Beautifully planned
  • Engineered to last
  • Custom-fit to your home
  • Created with premium materials
  • Optimized for flow, functionality, and enjoyment
  • Compliant with code, HOA, and municipal requirements

 

Our design process is built to uncover exactly what you envision — even when you’re not sure how to describe it yet.

DESIGN PROCESS

Discovery & Vision Alignment

Every project begins with a detailed discovery conversation where we learn:

  • Your backyard goals
  • How you plan to use the space
  • Your aesthetic preferences
  • Any challenges with the current layout
  • Approximate budget expectations

This step sets the foundation — ensuring we fully understand your lifestyle, your home, and the outcomes you’re looking for.

Site Evaluation & Measurement

Once aligned, our team visits your property to evaluate:

  • Elevation & layout
  • Drainage & grading
  • Access points and usability
  • Structural tie-in opportunities
  • Sun exposure and shade patterns
  • Existing landscape or hardscape constraints

We use advanced measurement tools, including Moasure technology, to ensure precision.

Concept Development

This is where your vision becomes real.

Our designers develop a preliminary concept tailored to:

  • Your architectural style
  • Desired amenities (kitchen, pergola, screen system, lighting, heating, etc.)
  • Traffic flow and space planning
  • Material combinations
  • Functional zones (dining, lounging, cooking, entertaining)
  • Privacy needs
  • Long-term durability

This stage often includes sketches or basic visual layouts to align direction before moving into full 3D.

High-End 3D Rendering & Virtual Walkthrough

Once the direction is locked in, we build a fully immersive 3D rendering of your outdoor living space. This includes:

  • Accurate material selections
  • Realistic textures and lighting
  • Daytime and nighttime scenes
  • Louvered roof open/close variations
  • Screen systems deployed or concealed
  • Outdoor kitchen and appliance details
  • Landscape integration
  • Railings, stairs, privacy walls
  • Furniture layout and spacing


This is where most clients say: “Now I can finally see the dream.”

Our 3D designs help ensure complete clarity before construction begins, eliminating costly changes down the line.

Engineering & Structural Review

Ace of Decks specializes in high-level structural design, especially for complex multi-level decks or aluminum roof systems.
This step includes:

  • Load calculations
  • Beam, joist, and footing requirements
  • Steel reinforcement planning
  • Helical pile recommendations
  • Electrical and gas planning
  • Municipality code compliance
  • HOA packet preparation


For premium projects, we collaborate with licensed engineers and architects to ensure everything is safe, compliant, and ready to build.

Material & Finish Selections

Your designer will guide you through:

  • Composite/PVC decking selections
  • Fortress steel framing
  • Aluminum pergola finishes
  • Screen fabrics & motorized system options
  • Outdoor kitchen appliances
  • Stone or cladding finishes
  • Lighting, heating, fan, and control systems
  • Landscaping or hardscaping elements

 

This ensures every detail works together cohesively — for both design and functionality.

Final Proposal & Build Plan

With your design locked in, we prepare your final project plan, including:

  • Detailed scope of work
  • Material list
  • Construction phases
  • Estimated timeline
  • Access and staging considerations
  • Investment options

 

This is the final checkpoint before we bring your vision to life.

Construction & Execution

Our skilled installation teams turn your approved design into reality with craftsmanship, precision, and high-quality standards.
You’ll receive:

  • Regular progress updates
  • On-site quality checks
  • Clean, professional crews
  • A coordinated schedule
  • Transparent communication
  • A final walkthrough at project completion

 

Your outdoor space is delivered clean, refined, and built to stand the test of time.

BETTER OUTDOOR LIVING

WHAT WE DESIGN

Custom Deck Design

High-end composite and PVC decks designed with premium craftsmanship and structural integrity.

Louvered Pergola Design

Motorized aluminum pergolas designed for shade, comfort, and year-round usability.

Retractable Screen System Design

Integrated screen solutions built into the structure for a clean, seamless look.

Multi-Level Decks

Architecturally significant outdoor spaces built for complex elevations and large entertaining.

Outdoor Kitchens

Fully designed cooking, dining, and hosting zones with custom cabinetry, stone work, and appliances.

Covered Structures & Roof Systems

Aluminum roofs, polycarbonate systems, and custom fixed roofs engineered to match the home.

Landscape Integration

We design spaces that blend with natural surroundings through strategic planting, lighting, and layout.

Complete Backyard Transformations

From concept to completion — a fully integrated outdoor living design that elevates your home’s value and lifestyle.

WHY HOMEOWNERS CHOOSE ACE OF DECKS
  • Award-winning designs
  • Precision engineering
  • Industry-leading materials
  • Seamless 3D visualization
  • Luxury finishes and high-end craftsmanship
  • Transparent communication
  • Proven expertise in complex outdoor structures
  • Trusted Chicagoland outdoor living specialists

Your home deserves a space with intention, purpose, and lasting beauty.

Luxury Awaits

Ready to design your outdoor oasis? Our expert designers are here to help

Composite Decks

Discover the best of both worlds with composite decks. These decks combine the natural allure of wood with the hardiness of recycled plastics, delivering a superior outdoor experience. They offer the visual appeal of traditional wood without the high maintenance, and their resistance to weathering ensures long-lasting durability. By choosing a composite deck, you embrace elegance, practicality, and sustainability all at once.

Steel Deck Framing

Steel deck framing offers an exceptional foundation for any deck, lending unparalleled strength and stability. Known for its resistance to warping, twisting, and shrinking, steel stands as a robust,
weather-resistant choice
that guarantees the longevity of your deck. With a steel-framed deck, you’re investing in a structure designed to endure, delivering a seamless outdoor experience for years to come.

Deck Railing

Deck railings do not merely ensure safety but also elevate the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor spaces. Choose from a diverse range of materials – Crystal for unmatched clarity, Aluminum for enduring strength, Composite for low-maintenance longevity, Vinyl for classic elegance, or Cable for a sleek, modern look. Each railing option is custom-designed to perfectly complement your deck, enhancing its character and charm. Deck railing, with its blend of functionality and style, becomes an essential element defining your deck’s personality.

Deck Skirting

Deck skirting is the finishing touch that transforms your deck from ordinary to extraordinary. It’s not only aesthetically pleasing, adding a level of sophistication to your deck, but it also provides practical benefits. By covering the space beneath your deck, skirting ensures a clean and polished look, while also preventing pests from making a home under your deck. With deck skirting, your outdoor space becomes a seamless, elegant extension of your home.

Under-Deck Waterproofing

Under-deck waterproofing, also known as an under-deck drainage system, revolutionizes the way you use your deck and the space beneath it. This ingenious system not only protects your deck and the area underneath from water damage but also creates a dry, usable space for varied purposes. It’s about making the most of your outdoor space, enhancing the overall appearance of your deck, and increasing property value. Whether you wish to set up a comfortable patio, a handy storage area, a personal workshop, or a picturesque garden, under-deck waterproofing paves the way for a safer, more versatile deck experience.

Enhance Your Outdoor Space with New Decks

Explore the realm of outdoor living like never before with Ace of Decks LLC. As leading luxury deck builders in the Chicagoland area, we specialize in creating and installing new decks that are not just functional, but also an extension of your home’s beauty and character. Experience the blend of durability and elegance in every new deck we create, customized to your vision and lifestyle needs. Let’s start your journey towards a captivating outdoor living space today.
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