Mary Kate’s backyard glow-up
Larchmont, NY
Mary Kate and her family moved to the suburbs to enjoy the outdoors. Years later, she realized they were either spending all their time indoors or occasionally dragging lawn furniture to the middle of the yard — and decided it was time for a change. “I knew I wanted a deck, but what I didn’t want was something high maintenance,” Mary Kate said. “I wanted the ‘short bob’ version of a deck — clean and easy to uphold. That’s why I landed on TimberTech.”
Meet Mary Kate
“Before our TimberTech deck, we were never outside. It’s changed our life — I’m so happy!”
– Mary Kate McGrath, Editor in Chief of PureWow
In her past lives, Mary Kate honed both her skills and her philosophy at publications like InStyle and Real Simple. Today, she’s Editor in Chief of online lifestyle magazine PureWow — a publication that seeks to brighten women’s lives and help them “live better, not harder.” Mary Kate lives in Larchmont, NY where you can find her enjoying her TimberTech deck with her husband and two sons.
Mary Kate wanted a classic look to match the classic style of her home. “Wood might be classic,” she said, “but I didn’t have the time or patience to deal with sanding, staining, or sealing each year.” Mary Kate found her match with durable, low-maintenance TimberTech Advanced PVC Decking in Coastline from the Vintage Collection.
“TimberTech looks good,” Mary Kate said. “I’m talking real wood aesthetics without the splinters.” The slip-resistant Vintage Collection, in lighter colors like Coastline, also stays up to 30° cooler in the sun — making it more comfortable for bare feet.
Mary Kate thought she wouldn’t have many railing choices and that she’d have to settle for something she didn’t love. Then she found our PVC Pinnacle Rail. “It just looks so chic,” Mary Kate said, “and more welcoming than I could ever imagine.”
Before her TimberTech deck, the backyard was a space the family mostly avoided. “I didn’t feel inspired to host anything outside,” Mary Kate said. Now she’s imagining dinner parties, the boys hanging out after their games, and lots of birthday parties. And with our industry-leading warranties, she has decades of entertaining to look forward to.
Wanting subtle lighting that wasn’t at eye level, Mary Kate found the perfect fit with TimberTech Accent Lights. “They’re so beautiful and glowing, but not like an airport,” she said. “It’s lovely and subdued, and that’s much more my style.”
Mary Kate was surprised and happy to learn that TimberTech decking was sustainable. “I appreciated the fact that when this new ‘wood’ landed in my driveway, it was actually made with up to 65% recycled materials.”
The Coastline decking and Pinnacle Rail with decorative panels coordinated beautifully with Mary Kate’s home and gave her the East Coast vibe she was looking for. “They match the house perfectly,” she said. “It feels like an outdoor living room.”
Having two boys, being “ridiculously easy to clean” was a big selling point for Mary Kate. “Within three seconds of being on our new deck, my son knocked over a glass of milk,” she said. “Thanks to the materials, it just bubbled on the top and I wiped it off.”
Get the look
Vintage Collection
Coastline
A medium gray with warm tan and charcoal undertones, Coastline has the inviting look of aged hardwood — perfect for that East Coast style.
Pinnacle Rail
White
Embrace the simple, classic beauty of a milled-wood look and the performance and durability of PVC. Has a wide, flat top rail — the perfect place to set drinks.
Order Free Samples
See Mary Kate’s decking up close and explore other color options.
More TimberTech Stories
Explore homeowner stories about their experience with TimberTech and learn why they chose us for their outdoor living space. Plus, get inspiration for your own space from their high-style designs.
