Outdoor Spaces

The owners built the house as a place to gather with their three adult children on Loon Lake, where they had vacationed at the husband’s family home for years. The modern Adirondack chairs are by Loll Designs.

Angelika and Scot Whitham tapped their son Todd McMillan and his wife Kristen, both principals of the firm Ben Homes, to build a retirement home on their property near the Muskoka River in Ontario, Canada.

In the living room, a wooden sculpture by local artist Dan John Anderson sits in front of a Mags sectional from Hay.

Inside the 1,930-square-foot structure, which is their full-time residence, con-crete floors and pale woods mimic the outdoor palette. A sliding glass wall from Fleetwood opens to an expansive patio and perfect sunset views.

A sheltered verandah between the living room and kitchen beckons outdoor appreciation of nature.

A cedar-planked hot tub looks out on to the open desert.

The wings of this cruciform residence jut out over the landscape on stilts to capture panoramic views.

In the backyard, mature oak trees provide protection from the California sun.

In between the private and entertaining areas sits a dining courtyard.

The west patio, enclosed by a concrete retaining wall, is designed for outdoor living and overlooks the surrounding forest.