So This Is LOVE

Budding designer walks into a dreamy Colonial, fireworks ensue-but first she has to figure out how to buy the house...

Why Stop with a Grill?

There are countless ways to cook, refrigerate, and make ice-cold drinks outside.

It's Time to Plan Your Outdoor Kitchen

And guess what? You might even be able to enjoy it this summer.

Survival Instinct

For an artist working between Kingston, Jamaica, and Chicago, the botanical world is not what it seems.

Pave the Way

WHAT GOOD IS A BACKYARD IF YOU DON'T USE IT AS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR HOME? MADE OF long-lasting materials like stone or cement set right into the ground, patios are the perfect way to gently activate an outdoor area for gathering. (And \"you'll save on water consumption as opposed to maintaining a lawn,\" designer Kate Anne Gross points out.) Lounge in fresh air, enjoy a meal under the stars, or chat with loved ones by the fire-without worrying about tracking mud into the house. Integrated as part of the landscape, patios endure beautifully with minimal upkeep, and there are countless ways to create them: Flip the page to see how designers do it. -Kelly Allen

"It Moves..with the Trees as They Sway"

A treehouse overlooking Puget Sound offers a winsome escape for multiple generations.

DEALER'S CHOICE

An unexpected upsizing leads a pair of furniture-thrifting obsessives into a curated new home (and career path).

The GALLERY on the 17th FLOOR

An art-stocked pied-à-terre overlooks Houston's Museum District.

Shades of GRA

A cheerful designer gives a white-box new build a surge of life.

Wild Thing

Perched on a snowy New York mountaintop, this quirky 1970s A-frame is the sort of retreat you'd never want to leave.

Welcome to the Clubhouse

How one firm turned a boxy, cramped 100-year-old house into a gentleman's lake retreat.

The Cottage Next Door

How do you redesign a fixture of your childhood? For one architect, the answer came easy: You don't.

Time to Add a Guesthouse

In response to housing shortages in big cities, states are making it easier for you to build an accessory dwelling unit (or ADU-a stand-alone living structure on the same property as your main house). Here's how to plan for one.

Earthly Delights

A 1930s cottage is designed to embrace nature, heritage, and the occasional 30-person dinner party.

Studying Abroad

"Tea and biscuits" might mean breakfast in this Texas kitchen, but its English decor needs no translation.

The Next Chapter

A coastal kitchen in Pacific Palisades, California, went from kid-friendly to adult-ready.

Letting in the Light

A kitchen reno in Los Angeles proves that embracing old wood paneling can open up exhilarating possibilities.

The Family Circus

For a couple with five pets in Nashville, this storage-obsessed designer thought of everything.

The Quiet Place

Stripping away heavy Tuscan-inspired millwork allowed this California home to totally reboot.

A Historian's DREAM

On NYC's Upper East Side, a classic McKim, Mead & White apartment is reimagined in vibrant color.

The Hunt for BURIED TREASURE

It took three shopping trips to the European countryside to truly complete this wine country getaway.

PLACE in the SUN

A Cape Cod-style home is recast for a couple of empty nesters with close ties to the land.

8 Steps to Alfresco Success

Whether you're driven by resale value or simply boosting your backyard, these pro pointers will help you whip your space into shape.

A Handy Hacker's Guide

If you're on a budget, short on time, or living in a rental, try these cost-saving solutions that don't compromise the outdoor experience.

The Road to Butterfly Beach

A designer and his family put down roots in idyllic Montecito, California,

Sweet Relief

OUR LIVES LITERALLY REVOLVE AROUND THE SUN, BUT NEVER MORE THAN ON BALMY DAYS THAT beg for a dip in the pool or a round of lawn games. Just as essential as getting outside is having a shaded place of refuge from the heat-call it a pool house, pavilion, or cabana. The goal, says architect Stan Dixon, should be to "design a space that feels enclosed yet is full of light." Screens, slats, big windows, and canopies allow a breeze to drift through and may offer some UV protection, but they won't encumber a view of the action. (Ideal for, say, parents taking a time-out while their kids play!) Flip through these designer-approved ideas for poolside living, and picture yourself reclining with a good book and a canapé. -Hadley Mendelsohn and Amanda Sims Clifford

PLAY IT AGAIN

This North Carolina beach house has all of the groove of a 70s classic—without any of the cliché.

The Garden Magician

Your vegetable garden should be an extension of your home, says writer and principal designer at Damour Drake, Maryline Damour. Here's how to make it an outdoor dining area, larder, or living space.

The Lazy Homeowner's Guide to LIVING GREEN

It's shockingly easy to make your home radically more earth-friendly, says editor in chief of Business of Home Kaitlin Petersen. All it requires is creative thinking and a little commitment.

The House next Door

When a 1920s Spanish Colonial with tons of outdoor space suddenly went on the market, the neighbors across the street saw the light.