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Additional outdoor dining and leisure spaces make Scott's home perfect for hosting gatherings year round.

This off-grid residence by FabrikG is finely tuned to its seaside locale to regulate temperature.

A new metal roof syncs with the addition’s metal siding and knits the changes together.

"The fire pit area seats four and is great for making s'mores," says Dianna.

The carport-style garage is situated at the center of the home with the living spaces arranged around it in two volumes. Concrete stairs lead from the lower level to the main living level on the upper floor.

The new volume extends into the backyard but increases the house’s footprint by only 225 square feet. It is slightly taller than the existing structure, minimizing overlap between roofs. The cladding is composed of marine-grade plywood panels, colored black with Benjamin Moore’s Arborcoat exterior stain, to create an affordable facsimile of cement fiberboard panels. The patio is paved in black decomposed granite.

“Where most would use chicken wire and a box design, the clients wanted the chicken coop to complement the architecture of the house,” says architect Cavin Costello. “So, the coop uses some elements of the main house, with the rusted, corrugated metal shed roof and vertical brise-soleil. It’s a chicken coop design that can stand up to the elements of living in the desert.”

The House features a seating area and fire pit by the main entrance. "It’s a great way to experience the peace and serenity of the outdoors," says Tarah.

A concrete walkway connects the living and dining rooms to the exterior, and concrete forms a built-in bench for lounging by the Solo Stove fire pit.

The family enjoys the outdoor lounge.

"You can see [with] this building how the design is in the small details and at the urban scale," says Cynthia.

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.

This tiny one-bedroom rental was designed by Cornwall-based architecture firm Studio Arc, with interiors by Jess Clark. Originally a thatched cottage, the space was updated with aged concrete for a modern feel, while wood shingle walls add a sense of nostalgia.

Known for furniture and interior design, Ezequiel Farca transformed a 1970s-style concrete home in Mexico City into a tranquil sanctuary. The temple-like retreat blends into the hilly Lomas de Chapultepec neighborhood with its pale gray-green hue and strategic plantings, which soften the boundaries between house, garden, and street. The Recinto lava stone patio accessed through the living room holds teak outdoor furniture designed by Farca himself.

The beanbag chairs and outdoor sofa and chairs are from West Elm and the Case Study Museum Bench is from Modernica.

The atrium is a lovely place to sit outside while still being somewhat protected.

One of the second-level bedrooms looks down to the ground-level courtyard.