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Floor Plan of Riverview Hutte by Christie Schoepp

The partially covered rear deck extends the living areas, offering a quiet space to relax.

Floor Plan of Flatrock House by Kelli Hix

Glass sliders lead to a 200-square-foot cedar deck that overlooks the Straight of Georgia.

The cedar privacy screen that wraps the deck will patina to a natural silver color over time.

Ipe wood decking and a built-in bench were combined with a vertical cedar slat screen, which "obscures the neighboring houses at the precise height of their rooflines, while allowing sunlight to filter through," says Wittman. A custom-designed, live-edge table has Lucite legs.

The deck, which overlooks the uninterrupted forest, has been left uncovered so the inside of the house receives ample natural light throughout the year.

A hammock on the deck, where the wood is laid in a chevron pattern, gives the feeling of being suspended among the treetops.

The intimate back patio features an antique wicker chair from Maine along with a zinc table from Arteriors and outdoor dining chairs from David Sutherland.

The original front porch swing inspired the couple to add one at the back. “We wanted to figure out how to recreate that hangout space in the back, where the kitchen and dining room were,” says Dean.

Situated on the banks of a small river, the two-level cabin opens to the outdoors via a glass wall and folding glass doors on the rear facade.

The decked patio and pool area is shaded by olive and pomegranate trees.

“The approval process wasn’t easy. It’s just a guesthouse, but we may as well have been trying to build an apartment complex in the backyard,” says Marks. Walls of board-formed concrete are warmed by the cumaru wood ceilings and decks.

Hay outdoor furniture sits underneath the steel pergola.

A sliding glass door opens onto a terrace.