outdoor spaces

The design team custom matched the exterior trim to the doors, which are Marvin’s Gunmetal Gray. “I like the dark color because it is handsome, and I think it’s a nice contrast to what is a sweet little building,” says architect Stephanie Morrison. “It feels very buttoned-up and modern.”

Most of the pool is as it was when the homeowners bought the house, but reworking the coping in granite rather than bluestone gave it a modern look.

When Morrison designed the addition for the dining room, she set it back a bit from the existing footprint. “The garden starts to come closer to that side, and the homeowners like to hang out around the grill located nearby,” she explains.

Under an outdoor shower, the team laid Goshen stone, which is flecked with iron deposits and mica.

A ground-floor renovation and addition of a Lake Champlain house capitalize on lakefront views and include a series of outdoor vignettes. It all called for “quite a bit of steel,” says architect Jeff McBride. “What we did was really break the bones of the house and reset them.”

Silver Maple gave the home a thermally separated building envelope, with high-performance foundation, walls, and roofing; steel thermal breaks to insulate between exterior and interior steel; and solar shading, making the original farmhouse design far more efficient.

On chilly summer nights, the family gathers around the massive fieldstone fireplace on the screened porch. The lintel, hearth, and trim around the log-storage bins are all cut from New England granite.

The porch’s casual dining area has a tree-house feel; the mid rail of the floor-to-ceiling screens meets support and safety requirements so that no balustrade is needed.

Throughout the property, the design team created moments to escape harsh elements like the sun and wind; the covered portion of the pool house is no exception.

Clad in Alaskan yellow cedar, the screened porch layers gray-washed wicker seating with blue patterned fabrics and a traditional hanging swing.

Century counter stools upholstered in Sister Parish fabric line the generous kitchen pass-through.

The reworked rear elevation stretches toward the horizon, dormers and folding doors maximizing water views while respecting Aquinnah’s light-pollution regulations.

The terrace connects seamlessly to the interior spaces, activated by a spa, firepit, and an outdoor kitchen with a retractable television.

The balcony off the primary bedroom features a mini garden to bring a bit of nature to the fourteenth floor. The wife likes to start her day with her dog on the Holly Hunt sofa and chairs.

The pool garden balances stone, water, and plant life and demonstrates a harmony. Photography by Neil Landino

The perennial garden is visible from the two most-used rooms in the home: the bay window is the living room, and the primary bedroom is located above it. Photograph by Neil Landino.

Landscape designer Kathryn Herman’s own property in Fairfield features a 114-foot-long perennial garden with fourteen individual beds separated by hedging. Photography by Neil Landino

“We thought a lot about different opportunities for gathering, including around the firepit,” says Thompson of the square stone design set on the bluestone patio. “At night, the house glows like a warm jewel box.”

The roof extends over a portion of the deck to provide protection from the elements.

A stone terrace and pool create a private lakeside retreat, with a pergola sheltering an outdoor kitchen and bar.

The U-shaped home hugs the backyard and swimming pool. Brooks & Falotico designed the landscape, incorporating fieldstone planters that Fabio Albino of Palmeiras Landscape Designing filled with hydrangeas that change colors throughout the season. The gray vertical board-and-batten volume to the left houses the primary suite.

An eleven-by-sixteen-foot plunge pool suits the family’s needs while preserving lawn space; radiant-heated coping and steps extend the soaking season.

Designed to feel original to the house, the screened porch continues the Greek Revival–inspired colonnade and features beadboard ceilings, skylights, and radiant floor heat for year-round comfort.

Layered plantings soften the stonework, with astilbe and lady’s mantle in the foreground, dogwoods providing scale, boxwoods offering year-round structure, and hydrangeas bringing long-season blooms

Driven by existing ledge and topography, this organically shaped pool reads like a natural swimming hole.

The fieldstone terrace surrounding this pool is planted with thyme, potentilla, and veronica, softening the edges and enhancing the scene’s natural, timeworn feel

A poolside kitchen and fire table mirror the home’s distinctive modern lines, creating a relaxed seating zone oriented toward views of the river beyond.

Generous lounge seating between the house and pool creates a relaxed gathering zone where adults can socialize comfortably while keeping an easy eye on kids in the water.

Positioned just off the home’s primary sight lines, the negative-edge pool delivers drama without competing with views of the Concord River.

With romantic views of the lake, the porch is an outdoor living room. The seating area is furnished with rattan and teak pieces as well as a nostalgic sofa-sized swing hung by chains from the ceiling.

One of four gates that open onto the formal garden, this one is near the entry court. Layered for a lush look in every season, perennials surround a trellis and urn inspired by an iconic garden ornament from Dumbarton Oaks. You can catch a glimpse of cherry trees beyond the garden and the pool area.

Interior designer Meredith Thayer added textural interest to the screened porch with Gloster’s Lima dining chairs in wood and wicker and the Cuff Studio twisted-jute pendant light.

The infinity-edge pool has an integrated spa. BELOW:

An outdoor entertaining space offers seating aplenty for frequent gatherings of friends and family.

A door in the corner of the bedroom opens to the roof garden atop the garage; the stepping-stone path leads to a puddingstone outcropping and onto the landscape.

Tanner White Architects designed this sleek, low-slung pool house with various functions in mind. One side contains space for lounging, while the other features a kitchenette, bath, and changing room. Between the two, a sitting area overlooks the pool as well as the tennis court on the other side.

At the opposite end of the pool is another lounge area with retractable screens that is decked out with a fireplace, television, barbecue, and pizza oven.

Builder Zibi Surowiec envisioned a waterfall feature that allows water to spill from the roof into the pool below.

Lush drifts of white astilbe dominate the plant palette and bring a sense of movement to the garden.

The homeowner is an avid collector of garden antiques, including a pair of stone finials. Textural plants such as lamb’s ear, astilbe, and carpet roses soften the formality.

A swing on the covered front porch invites guests to take an afternoon nap or while away the day with a good magazine.

The lap pool forms a virtual third wall for the back courtyard and is a focal point for outdoor entertaining.

On the right, the primary suite is rotated twenty degrees toward the east from the main house, which gives it a unique view of the surrounding trees—along with an added layer of privacy.

A private staircase leads from the primary suite directly to the pool deck and the nearby outdoor kitchen.

The landscaping, by Gregory Lombardi Design, has three-season color and year-round textural interest.

Given the home’s location on a golf course, both the living room and the outdoor sitting area are protected from errant golf balls via screens that can be lowered.

The loggia fireplace shares a chimney with the family room. Above it, an outdoor television is available for an après-swim movie.

Tranquil in its simplicity, the pool house is a utilitarian twenty-four-by-twenty-four-foot box that houses a sitting area, changing room, and bath.

Cedar shingles are classic Cape vernacular, but a varied roofline lets the house deviate from the norm. The structure was essentially built around the owners’ existing in-ground swimming pool.

Exposed rafters serve a dual purpose, nodding to the area’s traditional coastal architecture and allowing warm sunlight into an outdoor shower. The adjacent sunroom is a favorite three-season space for morning coffee.

The screened porch, a favorite gathering spot, includes a daybed swing made from a wonky Indonesian sofa Stacy found while she was out shopping with her late father. “We lopped the legs off and made it into a swing,” she says. “We watch movies out here…it’s kind of fun and old-fashioned.”

The three windows above the arbor allow a view from the upstairs office across the double-height sitting area to the pool.

An arbor defines the cabana’s outdoor space.

The sunroom was in poor condition and needed to be completely rebuilt, so exact replicas of the moldings were produced, and the brick-and-slate flooring was replaced. Interior designer Meg McSherry brought in comfortable, timeless furnishings like this Cisco Home sofa and custom coffee table.

A favorite spot for enjoying lunch or playing games, the sunroom’s dining nook features chairs from Mainly Baskets Home.

Stunning vistas surround the porch, whose openings accommodate both windows and screens. The JANUS et Cie seating is oriented around a two-sided fireplace that also services the dining room.

This Orleans vacation home is surrounded by water on three sides and commands stellar views of Nauset Harbor. The property was cleared of invasive plants, but its windswept cedars remain, now joined by naturalistic gardens that extend to the edges of the pool.

At the end of a day out on the water, the homeowners dock their center-console boat and haul their lobsters up the stairs to the New England fieldstone-wrapped outdoor kitchen where the shellfish is steamed and enjoyed almost within sight of where it was caught.

It was important to the homeowners to preserve the oak tree off the dining terrace, says landscape architect Sean Papich: “Aside from adding character, it also screens the home from the harbor.”

A west-facing patio offers sunset views and space for overflowing crowds to gather around a precast concrete firepit.

The party barn’s gabled roof, weathered-looking siding, and large open interior pay homage to—and were inspired by—traditional New England barns.

Landscape architect Michael D’Angelo managed to provide copious amounts of towel storage by constructing a custom wooden rack that also offers additional built-in seating.

A large spa awaits just steps from the indoor sauna.

A boulder found on-site was sliced and repurposed as a fire table on the waterfront patio.

An uncovered porch was transformed into a three-season room with glass storm panels. A fan from Hinkley Lighting helps with airflow in the summer months.

he window above the counter on the right folds open to become a pass-through when serving meals at the outdoor table.

“We wanted the upper level to be at grade, so the courtyard would be part of daily life,” says Flavin, who splayed one wing to welcome in the surroundings and painted the entire rear gray to give the house a hushed presence in the landscape. Each element—from the specimen trees to the grill—was carefully selected, prompting the owners to refer to this as their “curated courtyard.”

The courtyard’s Kebony deck is sheltered by a brise-soleil whose angled vanes admit light in winter and block it in summer.

Channels in the soffits of the outdoor room hold screens and, for more protection, Isinglass windows.

Between the garage and the cottage is a covered brick walkway where Bo Derrick, the family’s mini Australian shepherd, awaits visitors at the arched opening.

Concrete chairs sit outside the potting room and lend a contemporary element poolside.

A carefully crafted stone wall forms the backdrop for the dining pergola.

The turret, pitched roof, and dormer on the renovated two-bedroom future guesthouse are reminiscent of an English country cottage. Arched doors on the garage open to the courtyard.

Custom latticework under the garden’s pergola lends both visual interest and privacy

Jennings personalized a small fountain with three vintage letters once displayed at the former Westport Bank and Trust Company (the W was flipped to become an M).

The side garden features natural stepping stones, pebbled walkways, and lush plantings. Sourced from Gault Stone in Westport, the pebbles are native to Connecticut.

The rear of the house reveals the expansive walk-out basement, as well as the pool, which is framed in grass rather than hardscape to be cooler underfoot and blend in better with the country setting.

A pair of cedar pergolas spill dappled light onto the dining and lounging areas.

Because the property is almost entirely fenced in, Byers was able to forgo a barrier immediately around the swimming pool. Throughout the yard, the landscape architect brought hardscape and plant materials together in a cohesive design with plenty of visual interest, texture, and subtle color.

Beyond the pool, at the edge of the property, landscape architect Renée Byers planted a mix of evergreens, including arborvitae and holly, mixed with deciduous trees and a fragrant southern magnolia. Behind, Byers added rain tolerant shrubs and grasses that draw pollinators.

Byers created visual interest by varying the placement of pavers, setting them close together on the dining and lounging terraces and spacing them out with grass in the area between the pergolas.

Border beds around the lounging terrace sport soft color in dwarf roses, Russian sage, and pots of annuals.

Byers used lots of plantings around the perimeter to conceal fencing and add to the sense of privacy. “We used the concept of borrowed scenery,” she says. “Because we planted in a natural way, with the plants staggered and the species varied, you can’t tell where this property ends and the neighbor’s begins.”

A custom sofa designed by Byers cozies up to a firepit carved from a monolithic block of granite.

When the sun sinks, lighting along the fence illuminates the upper terrace’s “sunset bar.”

The homeowners enjoy a sprawling view of Boston from the comfort of a Gloster sofa shaded by a Tuuci umbrella—both sourced from Casa Design Group—on their rooftop terrace.

The outdoor kitchen, with its convenient pass-through to the pavilion’s interior, is equipped with a grill and double burner, sink, beverage and wine refrigerators, and an ice maker.

DaSilva says he “tweaked” the tail of the pergola’s rafters to depict hungry sharks. A grid of festoon lights is recessed within the rafters, lending the seating areas a party-like vibe.

The pavilion’s fireplace is purposefully oversized and aligns with windows in the home’s new family room so it can be enjoyed from the home’s interior (and from the pool).

Like the main house, the pavilion is clad in red cedar that will weather to gray over time. The bottoms of the pergola brackets are held above the bluestone terrace, points out architect John DaSilva, so that the cedar doesn’t absorb standing water and become stained.

The Draenert stone-top dining table from Casa Design Group holds a hidden extension leaf that lengthens the table to seat twelve in seconds. Horticulturist Kerry Preston wrapped the space with bright, bountiful plantings for spring-to-fall color.

Among the many showstopping features of the roof-deck is the wall behind the TV, a handcrafted work by Alex Turco.

The glass tile backsplash of the kitchen area complements the tile used for the base of the bar.

The bar/TV area is surrounded by dozens of plantings, from evergreen shrubs to colorful perennials and annuals, many ensconced in planters painted a punchy magenta.

The bar/TV area is surrounded by dozens of plantings, from evergreen shrubs to colorful perennials and annuals, many ensconced in planters painted a punchy magenta.

The dramatic fire table, Cinta by Lumacast, warms the sitting area so it can be enjoyed even in the cooler months. Designer Robin Pelissier created a vibrant palette of pinks, blues, and purples for the furniture.

The rooftop paradise sports a colorful palette in both the furnishings and the lush plantings. The terrace’s separate areas are marked by ceramic tiles that are surrounded by ipe wood planks.

Boronkay says the landscaping was inspired by a palette he had in his mind’s eye. “I wanted it to be natural looking and not overly fussy. I was most specific about the colors, variations on tones of green and red. We planted two Japanese maples as an homage to my m

The contrast between old and new is especially appreciated in this view of the back of the house. Made of poured concrete and topped with granite, “the firepit is the heart of the garden,” says landscape designer Jen Stephens. To the left is a full outdoor kitchen. The porte cochere is to the right.

The flat copper roof defines the addition, while the dining room’s walls of glass blur the lines between indoors and out.

Nighttime views demonstrate how the light from inside the addition gives a warm glow to the patio. Linear lighting tucked into the overhang of the flat roof provides subtle illumination on both sides of the glass.

Michael Coutu overhauled the one-acre property, designing a patio and creating a new plant scheme that’s safe for the family’s animals.

Century chairs surround a coffee table from industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue on the screened porch

Unlike the front of the house, the back is contemporary in style. It opens to a private garden centered around a cluster of river birches. The carport doubles as a covered outdoor dining area for large parties.

Furnished by interior designer Louis Lin, the terrace features a rock retaining wall; soil in its crevices nurtures corydalis, Japanese forest grass, and ferns.

Straightforward, strongly defined, and salt tolerant, Russian sage and fountain grass flank the main entrance.

On the upper terrace, landscape architect Tara Vincenta anchored wind-resistant umbrellas in the buff-colored granite to provide shade while withstanding coastal gusts. The team at Moore House Design sourced the outdoor furniture.

Sliding glass doors in the kitchen open to a dining terrace overlooking the pool and new pool house, which was designed to complement—but not mimic—the main house.

In the courtyard, a Pure Cube sauna sits amid furniture from JANUS et Cie and Casa Design Group.

A single slab of stone serves as the swimming pool’s diving platform. Masses of Walker’s Low catmint and Russian sage billow in the surrounding garden beds.

Stairs from the house lead to the pool terrace, which features lawn panels flanking a lounging area. “The kids needed green space,” explains Noyes. Natural cleft bluestone surrounds the new infinity-edge pool.

David A. Noyes Jr., better known as DJ, designed the pool cabana to include its own wet bar. A bathroom and a changing room are accessed through side doors, and a gate in the fence leads to parking, streamlining pool parties for the resident teens.

The pool nestles into the private backyard and boasts views of a nearby lake.

One of the client mandates was a pool overlooking the water.

For one of the outdoor sitting areas, McNally combined furniture from RH with a vintage side table, while Janice Parker Landscape Architects planted colorful flowers and textural grasses.

A covered patio was added outside the den for all-weather entertaining.

The rooftop deck enjoys stellar views and is accessed by a skeletal staircase designed to preserve sight lines from below.

Architect Timothy Burke says the design team rebuilt an existing deck off the primary suite, adding a retractable awning with wind sensors and a stainless-steel railing to withstand saltwater. The mirror is from Made Goods.

Below the umbrella-shaded terrace, bluestone steps lead to a peastone firepit terrace that overlooks the gabion wall and cove.

The design team planted a rain garden filled with liatris, feather reed grass, baby joe-pye weed, black-eyed Susans, fountain grass, and asters to absorb water runoff.

On the upper terrace, landscape architect Tara Vincenta anchored wind-resistant umbrellas in the buff-colored granite terrace to provide shade while withstanding coastal gusts. The team at Moore House Design sourced the outdoor furniture

Straightforward, strongly defined, and salt tolerant, Russian sage and fountain grass flank the main entrance. A water feature directly across from the door provides a soothing soundtrack, and Dragon Lady holly acts as a privacy hedge.

Fragrant lavender spills over the bluestone-edged bed that lines the pathway to the front entrance.

The lower-level color-block rain garden focuses on a palette of lavender (liatris and joe-pye weed) and yellow (black-eyed Susans.

Set in a confined space between the house and a seawall, the rebuilt swimming pool features a bluestone patio that flows right to the back door. In a design compromise, the firepit’s seating faces away from the bay, which isn’t a problem since it’s mostly used at night.

Adirondack chairs plus a Horiuchi-designed gas firepit equals a perfect Cape Cod evening.

Landscape architect Kris Horiuchi designed an inviting outdoor oasis, complete with a pool, spa, firepit, and plenty of space for lounging in the sun. When the weather turns gloomy, the screened porch in the background still makes you feel like you’re outside.

The colorful theme extends to the patio, a private oasis thanks to the plantings of Ferre Landscape & Management. The orange tables are from oomph, and the seating is by Celerie Kemble for Lane Venture.

For impromptu sundowners, the homeowner drapes fabric from Gary McBournie Home over a teak cart from Frontgate for an instant party.

The back of the house, set on a rare double lot, is graced with lush gardens. The outdoor shower is popular after summer days at the beach, on the boat, or surfing the local waves.

Custom granite posts and wire mesh pool fencing withstand salt spray without detracting from the view.

Glass doors in the pool house slide open to connect a dining area to the new swimming pool and provide views of the dramatic grasslands and cove beyond.

Visible from the house, a lawn area that sweeps around grasslands enhances the contours of the land.

Throughout the property, the sound of trickling water sets the stage. Near the home’s front door, the designers reengineered a pair of existing troughs to overflow into basins nestled into bluestone. Wayfinding lights illuminate billowing perennial gardens.

Accented by a dragonfly sculpture by New Zealand artist Mark Hill, a restored meadow on the waterside edge of the property was cleared of invasive plants and planted instead with grasses and meadow performers to preserve biodiversity.

To take full advantage of wind movement through the landscape, tall ornamental grasses line a double border punctuated by liatris, Russian sage, hydrangea, and phlox not far from the home’s front door.

The rear deck includes a plunge pool framed by reclaimed granite; the doors and windows have no exterior cladding to reduce the use of aluminum and vinyl.

A former welder’s shed has become a favorite hangout spot with its ode to Walt Whitman hanging from the fascia.

The backyard’s teak mushrooms were also purchased in Paris. Made in Spain, the largest is five feet tall and thirty inches in diameter.

Inside, the shed includes a wet bar that displays a brass stingray purchased in Paris and pewter steins Paton’s husband collected as a child.

The deck of the forty-five-foot-long pool is paved with Goshen stone. “It gives the pool a clean, contemporary yet natural flavor,” says landscape designer Miroslava Ahern, who used Caledonia granite for the pool’s apron. The wellness pavilion is reflected in the water. It has a serene outdoor patio space used for yoga.

The cylindrical-shaped sauna next to the pavilion is reached by a stepping-stone path of Caledonia granite. Behind it is an outdoor shower.

An inviting patio has direct access to the living room. The matching Grid Centre Unit Sofas by Gloster provide a conversation area around the outdoor fireplace.

A sweet porch at the rear corner of the house makes a perfect spot to enjoy a summer morning. The American flag is a mosaic made of candy by artist Kevin Champeny. The primary bedroom sits above the porch.

The recently added pool, cabana, and carriage house helped drive the need for an interior that allows better access to these oft-used outdoor spaces.

Large bifold doors unite the family room and covered porch, creating an immersive indoor-outdoor experience.

The new pool and pool house are the focal points of a more formal and geometric “room.” The adjacent hydrangea hedge is reflected in the water and accented by a line of maples.

Originally a spec house, the home was renovated throughout and fitted with window boxes. Hydrangeas at the base of the house include an Endless Summer variety salvaged from the original landscape.

The blossoming Mazus reptans groundcover between the stepping stones tolerates foot traffic on the path leading to the pool house. On either side of the walkway, lady’s mantle spills onto the stones.

At sunset, the family slips through a natural-finish moon gate to follow a beach path and join their neighbors in watching the sun sink into the ocean.

To create profusion without confusion, landscape architect Nick Fobes massed groupings of three to five stachys, phlox, lavender, and calamintha, repeating the color blocks on either side of the path leading to a white-painted moon gate. Nikko Blue hydrangeas are prolific throughout the property.

Though the rear porch was enclosed with floor-to-ceiling windows, it retains an outdoor sensibility with exterior shingles and outdoor sconces on the wall and bluestone flooring.

The family room leads to the covered porch in the backyard, where the landscape plan includes a sizable swath of lawn for the homeowners’ three children to play. Low dwarf ginkgo shrubs provide year-round interest without blocking light from the house.

The pool house, a new addition to the property, was designed to mimic the style of the main house. “The program is more enclosed, more private, more nested in the backyard,” landscape architect Craig Halvorson notes.

Builder Walter Mattera designed retractable screens for the covered porch, which Davies outfitted with a large RH sectional and a Rove Concepts coffee table.

The property’s original tennis court was converted into a vegetable garden, and a new court was constructed. Its pavilion shelters spectators as well as storage cabinets.

With so much continually happening in the garden, Parker recommended a stately unfilled urn to serve as a focal point.

Pleached lindens stand sentinel around the parking court, while ilex softens the stonework leading to the house.

Interior designer Alexa Hampton selected the McKinnon and Harris furniture for the gravel parterre overlooking the lake.

To create a confetti of color at the back of the house, Scanniello planted the deep crimson Darcey Bussell with Heritage and other repeat-blooming varieties that would extend the drama throughout the season. In the beginning, Scanniello let the roses perform without competition. Later, other perennials were added to the beds.

Adirondack chairs atop stone pavers allow for cove views across the lawn.

Below the Juliet balconies, an outdoor living room is within easy view of a perennial border designed to extend blossom color from early April to late October using Shasta daisies, nepeta, and shrub roses in hushed colors. The border’s stone wall quietly frames the spaces and divides the lawn.

The dining terrace is warmed by an outdoor fireplace.

Selected for their strong stems that hold massive flower heads upright, Ruby Slippers oakleaf hydrangeas soften the pathway alongside the house. Screened by Limelight hydrangeas with barren strawberry serving as green mulch.

To punctuate the perennial border, a lead planter on a granite plinth overflows with blossoming annuals.

The recently built deck overlooks a Kent Duckham-designed garage.

The west-facing patio means unobstructed sunsets from a private perch that’s only 400 feet away from the main residence via a stone-paved bridal walk, originally created by Cushman Design Group for a family wedding.

The sunken firepit is a family gathering place even when Peak Sanctuary isn’t in use.

The exterior materials palette includes natural cedar siding (horizontal in the front, as seen in this image, and vertical in the rear), white fiber-cement panels, and ebony-stained cedar accents. “The cedar is already in the process of aging, and the goal is for it to weather to a nice silvery gray,” says architect Matt Genaze.

The bluestone terrace in the front of the home is accessed by expansive sliding glass doors in the main living area.

Outdoor space was high on the list of priorities for the homeowners, and this townhouse boasts a courtyard and three decks, including this roof-deck with views of Boston landmarks, Cambridge, and the Charles River.

The greenhouse now shelters an eleven-foot-by-seven-foot in-ground plunge pool and a preserved-moss (translation: no watering) mural. The pastoral scene depicts grasses native to New England.

This Back Bay home’s courtyard and greenhouse were repurposed as a tranquil spa area with furniture from Casa Design Group.

The top floor serves as an entertainment space for the family, complete with its own deck.

The kitchen opens to the cozy covered terrace where the floor-to-ceiling fireplace of reclaimed stone is the focal point.

The retired CEO of an IT firm, Bill channels his inner pitmaster in the backyard grill house, which includes a firepit, grill, smoker, refrigerator, dishwasher, and Aga range.