Brian Magstadt, Chief Financial Officer of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., the publicly traded parent company of Simpson Strong-Tie, for over 19 years, shares the remarkable transformation of his backyard. Originally a space cherished by his young children, it featured a sizable play structure. As their children grew, Brian and his wife, Vicki, replaced the play structure with an inviting pavilion, perfect for hosting gatherings with loved ones. With the assistance of Simpson Strong-Tie® concealed connectors and Outdoor Accents® decorative hardware, they effortlessly converted their backyard into a captivating entertainment space. Delve into their inspiring outdoor renovation journey, uncovering the intricate details of the process that ultimately created this welcoming outdoor oasis.
When Brian and Vicki Magstadt started planning a makeover of their Northern California backyard, they agreed a beautiful wood pavilion would be the perfect centerpiece for the outdoor living space they hoped to create.
After living in their home for nearly 20 years, they had transitioned from the backyard wood playset that was a mainstay when their kids were little to some raised planter boxes for growing tomatoes and herbs. With their two children both moved out of the house, the time had come to reimagine their space.
As they started talking to contractors, an early design question was whether they wanted to hide the connections or show them off with beautiful hardware. They decided both things were possible.
As a long-time executive at Simpson Strong-Tie, Brian was, of course, committed to using only company products. And fortunately, our wood construction connectors include options for both design preferences. After interviewing several contractors, they hired the one who had used Simpson products most extensively in his prior projects.
“Luckily, the contractor whose designs we liked best was the one with the most Simpson Strong-Tie experience,” Brian said. “He had done some really cool outdoor living structures. We told him to be sure to build a super-strong structure and said he had to use only Simpson Strong-Tie connectors and fasteners.”
For the size of their backyard, the contractor designed a 16′ by 20′ pavilion that is 14-feet tall at the peak. He chose post-to-foundation and beam-to-post connectors that would be concealed, using the CPTZ for the post connection and CBTZ for the beam connection.
As an additional design element, he incorporated Outdoor Accents® decorative hardware from the Mission Collection® line, with an APGP gable plate on the outside of the front and rear beams as well as several APT flat T straps in a few places on the inside of the beams. Brian later added an AGBO bottle opener on one of the posts.
The result is just the gorgeous pavilion the Magstadts had dreamed would transform their space into the perfect spot for hosting parties and family gatherings. In fact, Brian said the outdoor living space is so popular with his extended family that instead of rotating houses for family gatherings, no one wants to go anywhere else.
“We are now the designated host family for all family parties. The barbecues, including our Big Green Egg, are going all the time and we decorate the pavilion for the holidays,” Brian said. “We even use our temporary projector screen out there to host movie nights on those warm Northern California summer evenings.”
