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The backyard studio that architect Gerald Parsonson designed to expand a young family’s living space features a polycarbonate pergola and a wraparound deck that connects the hideaway to the garden.

Virginia-based screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan’s 400-square foot work studio features NanaWall doors that fold open to connect the interior to the surrounding forest.

Considering that much of their Los Angeles neighborhood was closed due to Covid-19, Monica’s partner agreed to move with her to residential Torrance. A lover of sports and physical activity, Antony has embraced the move and even gotten involved in motivating Monica’s father to do his physical therapy.

This reconfigured Craftsman home in Portland, Oregon, designed by Beebe Skidmore Architects, includes a highly functional mudroom. The exterior siding and windows were kept in place to reference the house’s previous incarnation. Built-in cabinetry with exposed plywood edges and laminate fronts are now up to the task of handling the family’s gear. The mudroom has sight lines to the family nook at the back corner.

Before: The architects co-opted five feet of an unused side yard to create a new entrance at the driveway that leads into a hyper-functional mudroom.

Now, the kitchen sits at the front of the building, and the counter runs beneath the preserved windows. Built-in shelves frame the view.

"The general color scheme used is neutral, so as to enhance the original features," says the firm. Sage green wall paint makes the terra-cotta ceiling pop.

One end of the former gallery now hosts built-in storage, shelving, and a daybed.

The living room leads up to a pitched-roof alcove, the perfect meditation and lounge space. It features a bean bag chair from GAN, and a Trifecta Table by Future Perfect.

Hope painted the bedroom walls, ceiling and floor bright white, adding a fresh look and a feeling of spaciousness. "It's small," she says, "so I went with a simple bed frame and all-white linens to keep things light and bright."

Sandy’s bedroom is a dramatically updated version of the cramped attic that once occupied the structure. The chair is vintage, the rug is from Morocco, and the ceramic sculpture on the sill of the half-moon window is by Daniel Reynolds. A wire cage envelops the chimney for safety.

The side patio, adjacent to the kitchen, offers additional outdoor living space with casual seating and an integrated concrete bench.

Fresh, bright, and cheery, the updated architecturally significant residence complements the couple’s modern lifestyle.

The owners were looking to add a functional mudroom which would include lots of storage.

The runner for the stairs leading up to the attic were painted Dark Kettle Black by Valspar.

Whitney created an outdoor dining area on the porch just outside the kitchen.

Before: An eight-foot-wide porch separates the tiny cottage from another tiny cottage on the property.

If you already have a projector, white sheets and some popcorn are all you need to create your own outdoor cinema. Alternatively, you can set up a backyard screening with a monitor, TV stand, and an extension cord.

At night, the living room transforms into West's bedroom, where he watches projected movies and television shows.