Covered Deck With Spiral Staircase is South Golden Designed for Views and Colorado Weather

This South Golden project is a great example of how thoughtful planning can completely change how a home uses its outdoor space. From a deck with spiral staircase that minimizes footprint, to a covered deck that mirrors the home’s steep rooflines, every detail was designed around views, weather, and how the homeowners actually live.

You mentioned there was a lot of planning that went into this deck with spiral staircase. What made it unique?

The homeowner and I put a lot of time into planning this one because she had very specific requests. The spiral staircase was something she really loved, mainly because of how little space it takes up. When you look at it, it occupies almost nothing compared to a traditional stair run.

One thing we changed from a standard design was the tread surface. Instead of adding traction strips directly on the step where you walk, we used a variegated metal. She wanted that not just for traction, but for snow management. The snow melts quickly and falls through, so you’re not out there shoveling stairs in the winter. It’s functional, but it also creates a really cool aesthetic.

Why did you choose a spiral staircase instead of traditional stairs off the deck?

The spiral staircase is a standard five-foot diameter, and what I love about it is that we could place it on the side of the house instead of running stairs straight down in front of windows or across the yard. Traditional staircases can be really obstructive visually.

This solution keeps everything clean and tucked away. It’s away from the main deck space, and underneath we tied it into a stamped concrete patio. A lot of thought went into creating separate, intentional spaces instead of one big cluttered area.

Let’s talk about the covered deck. How did you make sure it felt like part of the original home?

That was huge for this homeowner. She wanted a roof cover, but it had to match the home perfectly. The house has very steep roof pitches, so we matched that exactly. Everything from the angles to the materials was designed to feel like it had always been there.

She didn’t want windows in the covered section, which was her request, and the ceiling turned out beautiful. We used six-inch cedar tongue-and-groove planks and stained them for a really warm, attractive finish. It almost acts like a feature ceiling, not just something functional.

What materials did you use for railings, columns, and lighting?

We used Trex balusters, cable railing, and incorporated lighting throughout. The stone columns are something people always comment on. In photos, the stone can look a little lighter than the home, but we actually matched it using stone from the house itself. It’s just shadow and lighting in the photos.

I’m a big believer that you don’t mix materials like that. You wouldn’t want stone on the house and then brick columns on the deck. The goal is always to make it feel like it was part of the original build.

How does the covered deck design maximize use in different weather conditions?

That’s one of the best parts of this design. You’ve got a fully covered area where you can get out of the sun, rain, or snow, and then an open section for those perfect Colorado summer days.

The covered portion sits right off the kitchen, and the deck itself is large. You’re not even seeing all of it in the photos. The homeowner didn’t want a built-in grill because he bought a high-end unit that he wanted to be able to move around.

There was a pretty clever grill setup tied into the kitchen, right?

Yeah, that was a fun one. The grill is positioned above a kitchen window that slides up, and the screen slides up as well. So someone inside can literally hand burgers right out the window to the deck. It wasn’t originally planned that way, but I noticed the window and suggested it. We also installed a really nice flexible gas hose so the grill could move left and right without stressing the fittings or risking a gas line failure. Those little details make a big difference in how a space actually gets used.

What did you do underneath the deck and around the landing area?

There’s lighting underneath the deck, and the landing pad is stamped concrete as well. We didn’t create a finished ceiling under the deck boards in this case. I had suggested it, especially for moisture control, but it was a homeowner choice not to do it, which is totally fine.

The concrete pad is colored and stamped. I don’t remember the exact stamp pattern offhand, but it was a brick-style fan pattern, and it turned out really attractive. There are tons of stamp patterns to choose from when designing your deck and colors are basically unlimited.

You also made some structural changes to gain more usable deck space. Can you explain that?

One thing I changed from their original design was the bay bump-out area. We cantilevered past the deck to create angles, which helped both the views and the aesthetics. It also gave them more usable deck space right off the kitchen for furniture.

Instead of dropping a post right there, we used structural framing to support the cantilever and moved the post inward. That gained them about three extra feet of space, and visually it looks much better. Those angles make a big difference compared to a basic square deck with 90-degree corners.

Where is this deck located, and how did the surroundings influence the design?

This deck is in the South Golden area. They can’t build behind their home because it backs up to a wildlife reserve, so the views are completely unobstructed. You’re looking straight out at the mountain range.

That’s really what drove a lot of the design decisions. When you have views like that, you want the deck with spiral staircase and covered deck to frame them, not block them. The result is a space that works year-round and takes full advantage of the setting.