
"Before"
Sometimes a space feels more special when there's less of it, focusing its purpose and character to maximum effect for the occupant. So became the case for Diane DiPrima, who renovated the light well typical of her 1950s San Francisco row house into a bright, exceptionally private outdoor patio. Check out her "after" below the jump.

"After"
An interesting trick Diane employed was to orient the slatted deck diagonally, visually enlarging the space. She also mounted a ladder to the side of the light well to provide access to the roof and the view.
Via: Home by Sunset
Comments (27)
Wow, what a change, nice work
whoa.
what is a "latter"?
Simply gorgeous.
So wait...would the same trick of putting say a wood floor on a diagonal work to make a room look larger too?
I don't understand what is mounted vertically, the walls are horizontal, and the floor is diagonal...
Beautiful patio. I'm seeing a lot of changes here besides the flooring, windows are changed and a door where there wasn't one before. This is a great use of a part of the architecture that I've seen in the City many times.
Seeing this makes me wonder if the same space could make a nice sauna... it's so cold and rainy here this week.
gorgeous! I want one...
Genius!
ARC.The 'latter' (read ladder) was mounted vertically, at least that's the way I read it.
Sorry! That should have read "diagonally"....
WOW!!
beautiful, like an outdoor spa
wowowowowow!
Awesome!
Hey, Bravo!
We did something similar with the angled deck in our lightwell. But you did us one better by having wooden siding.
Before: A wasted rooftop
http://photos.imageevent.com/bats/beforeandafter/websize/Old%20Lightwell.jpg
After: A grilling deck
http://photos.imageevent.com/bats/beforeandafter/websize/Lightwell%202007g.jpg
Truly gorgeous---I wish I had the foresight and vision to do that on Uranus a few years ago. Light wells always seemed to have potential for much more than, in my case, holding garbage and recycling.
bravo!
nice!
Stunning!
So cute -- the sort of thing where you say, "Why doesn't every house have one of these?"
Wait--is this beat babe, Diane DiPrima?!? Beautiful place, great writer.
Speechless!
shari -
yes, installing a wood floor on the diagonal would make the room look larger.
fanf*ckin!tastic!
The new long horizontal window and slider are brilliant ideas to make the most of the indoor/outdoor vibe.
And a perfect place to sunbathe nude or to engage in love al fresco.