Deck

Lotz specified a twenty-foot-long sliding door that spans the bedroom and bathroom in the primary suite, and opens to a decorative planter bed.

After rounding the house and climbing a set of concrete stairs, the home's entrance is revealed next to a Cedar-clad entry porch. The home has three separate decks, each oriented towards a different view of the site and natural surroundings.

The family enjoys the outdoor lounge.

"The seamless connection between the interior living spaces and the covered patio blurs the divide between indoors and outdoors," says Britt. The pine deck includes an area for al fresco dining around a concrete table by West Elm with metal chairs by Four Hands.

Questions from your contractor mean that they have taken the time to review the construction documents or drawings and scope of work.

Now more than ever, having a sustainable home that conserves resources and energy usage is paramount. Sustainable design and architecture has seen tremendous growth over the last decade—as has the number of professionals who specialize in designing and building green homes. While major sustainable features pertain to the initial design, planning, and building stages, there are still plenty of changes to make in your home for a greener lifestyle. Have you covered all your bases?

Now, an eight-foot sliding door brings light into the kitchen and enables fluid movement between inside and out. The wider steps can serve as seats during a party, and they make for a graceful transition to the yard.

The side patio doubles as a parking spot for a custom-built 1970 Honda CB750.

Beach days, park picnics, and backyard barbecues—wherever your Fourth of July weekend takes you, these products will elevate your event with ease.

A maple tree grows through an ipe deck in this garden that Mary Barensfeld designed for a family in Berkeley, California. A reflecting pool separates it from a granite patio, which is furnished with a Petal dining table by Richard Schultz and chairs by Mario Bellini. The 1,150-square-foot garden serves as an elegant transition from the couple’s 1964 Japanese-style town house to a small, elevated terrace with views of San Francisco Bay. Filigreed Cor-Ten steel fence screens—perforated with a water-jet cutter to cast dappled shadows on a bench and the ground below—and zigzagging board-formed concrete retaining walls are examples.

Golden hour on the serene rooftop offers some of the city's finest views out onto the harbour below and far beyond.

A perfectly groomed backyard lawn with a paver patio.

The simple wood deck features innovative cutouts that allow full-grown Yucca trees to peek through.

In an industrial neighborhood in Brooklyn, a verdant green roof of native grasses, wildflowers, and fruits creates an oasis.

The private outdoor space showcases the renovation's south-facing windows, which were installed to connect the indoors with the yard.

Rear garden