Built-in Seating & Planters

Seating That Belongs

Built-in seating and planters do more than save space—they make a deck feel designed rather than decorated. Benches that follow the perimeter create generous seating without cluttering the floor with chairs. Planters define zones, add privacy, and bring greenery to rooftop elevation. Hidden storage underneath benches keeps cushions, tools, and supplies out of sight. The result is an outdoor room, not just a deck with furniture on it.

We build these elements as part of the deck structure, not as afterthoughts bolted on later. The same materials—Ipe, cedar, or composite—flow from decking to seating to planter boxes. Proportions are designed for actual comfort: bench depths that invite sitting, planter heights that create enclosure without blocking views, backrests at angles that support conversation.

Every built-in is constructed for Chicago conditions: rot-resistant woods or marine-grade materials, proper drainage in planters to prevent deck damage, weatherproof finishes rated for freeze-thaw cycles. These elements should outlast the furniture trends, serving your deck for decades rather than seasons.