Outdoors

The pool and surrounding landscape connect the architecture with the wooded park just beyond the yard. “We used the softer textures of ornamental grasses, Japanese maples, and perennial plantings to balance the rectilinear lines of the pool and the house,” says Josh Myers of Myers + Co. Landscape Architecture.

After: The front porch feels fresh and streamlined with a new unfinished wood door and minimal railings.

The garden was previously occupied by over-scaled, built-in planters and benches that made it feel much smaller than it actually is. Likewise, the rear of the house was dark and cramped, making it unsuitable for entertaining and relaxed living.

The four panels of aquamarine and green look like a work of art.

Tiles surrounding the pool are from Eco Outdoor.

The screen is coated with a clear finish by Penofin Red Label. The steel rail and cables are by Feeney and the deck is by Bison Innovative Products. The windows and doors are from Loewen.

A pathway winds between a pair of Japanese maples and a myrtle tree that dates to the home’s original construction. The floor-to-ceiling windows and sliders are by Fleetwood.

Treat walls and the ground as a canvas. This graphic abstract was created with Techo-Bloc’s Travertina Raw slab in Ivory and Rock Garden Brown. The earthy tones complement the texture of the slab, which echoes that of natural travertine with the stain-resistant attributes of Techo-Bloc’s Klean-Bloc factory-sealed technology.

This 4,080-square-foot house in Shoreline, Wahington was a former adult living facility, that has since been converted into a single-family home by Seattle firm SHED Architecture & Design. “The wall of glazing facing towards the West is still one of the most striking elements of the house,” says designer Rebecca Marsh, so it was key that any redesign maintain its integrity.

An outdoor pool at the Lantern at Linkhorn Bay residence foreshadows the more distant view of the bay.

Hook & Ladder Winery outfitted its grounds with redwood, which, known for its natural muscle, durability, and fire-resistant properties, remains a go-to for hardworking outdoor structures.

“We started our design process with a focus on material—the goal was to create a durable, weatherproof collection that stands the test of time,” says Ben Parsa, CEO of CABA Design, who created the Chicory outdoor collection. “We instinctively knew the best outdoor timber product is teak and focused on capturing the elegance and uniqueness of the wood while also ensuring we didn’t use a one-size-fits-all approach.”

The aluminum Harborside loung chair’s arched frame is inspired by bridges. It’s hand-wrapped in all-weather polyolefin rope made in Italy.

A walnut slat wall creates a protected nook for an office, in what used to be dead space. The white built-ins around the television are designed to “fade into the background,” says Amornvivat, and the team utilized custom open and closed storage throughout. “We have to get the right mix between the two to make the project sing,” says Amornvivat.

The back patio was in a sorry state. The pool was crawling with algae, the concrete pavers were cracked, and most distressing of all, the slender wood posts supporting the roof had been clad in chunky 1980s tile. Jessy and Steve were anxious about what they might find once they were removed. “You never know what’s underneath,” Jessy says. Fortunately, the tiles came off easily and had actually protected the wood from the elements. French windows, added some years ago when the garage was illegally converted into a rental, were also discarded. “They had no business being there,” says Jessy, with a laugh.