Calm WATERS

We’ve fallen hard for seating areas gathered around garden fountains, where the gentle sounds and rippling reflections of moving water offer a cooler take on the firepit.

- LAURA FENTON

A fountain creates an architectural element, and the sound gives a psychological sense of peace," says interior designer Peter Dunham. "It's very refreshing." He arranged low-slung furniture around a basin-style fountain installed by landscape designer Scott Lewis at this Napa, CA, home. A neat gravel square, a stone wall, and a tree canopy help define the space as an outdoor room. A water feature is a particularly good option in areas where firepits pose a hazard.

1. SEEK HARMONY

Your fountain’s design should coordinate with and complement its surroundings. For example, landscape designer Scott Shrader chose a large blue urn,