From screening rooms and elaborate kitchens to secret gardensand backyard beach clubs, theoutdoor areas we’re designing forour homes go far beyond decksand Weber grills. We take a lookat the furnishings, lighting,and accessories populating anew frontier of outdoor space.

Secret Garden

From urban rooftop hideaways you’ll never see from the sidewalk to secluded backyard enclaves, private green spaces offer a respite for the initiated. Set the scene with planters, nappable furnishings, and reading nooks. But keep it quiet.

“When I visualize a secret garden‚ I think of something relaxed‚ casual‚ and not very demanding. You can breathe. But there’s an element of surprise‚ too‚ and a feeling of something unexpected and slightly mysterious. The best secret gardens are always well scaled‚ never too big or too small. They embrace you—you feel comfortable and nested. On a larger property‚ a secret garden gives you a refuge and a stopping point before you move on‚ like a chapter in a book. Thinking about them makes me want to create more of these magical resting spots.” –Bernard Trainor; founder of Ground Studio‚ Monterey‚ CA

“When I visualize a secret garden‚ I think of something relaxed‚ casual‚ and not very demanding. You can breathe. But there’s an element of surprise‚ too‚ and a feeling of something unexpected and slightly mysterious. The best secret gardens are always well scaled‚ never too big or too small. They embrace you—you feel comfortable and nested. On a larger property‚ a secret garden gives you a refuge and a stopping point before you move on‚ like a chapter in a book. Thinking about them makes me want to create more of these magical resting spots.” –Bernard Trainor; founder of Ground Studio‚ Monterey‚ CA

Al Fresco Kitchen

We’ve gone way beyond the Weber grill. In keeping with the rise of foodie culture‚ outdoor kitchens have become increasingly well appointed‚ balancing arsenals of cooking equipment with plenty of room to entertain. Bon appétit.

“An outdoor kitchen is more of an entertaining space. Everyone can hang out there. I like to cook as I go—make a little and put it out‚ let people eat‚ then make some more. There’s something nice and casual and fun about it. When my husband and I bought our house in Chicago‚ we built an outdoor kitchen before we even bought a couch. Our backyard is decorated with a lot of plants and meant to be a bit of an oasis‚ so cooking there never feels like a chore. If it’s a weekday dinner‚ it feels even more special.” –Stephanie Izard; executive chef at Girl & the Goat‚ Chicago

Plein Air Spa

Bring the wellness retreat home. Outdoor spaces for spa treatments—or at least a little relaxation—have settled into many of the homes we’ve seen lately. Elements include easy-on-the-eyes lighting‚ places to soak‚ and soft-underfoot rugs. Rose quartz not required.

“There’s a reason some of the best resorts in the world have outdoor showers or baths. It’s absolute bliss—the ultimate form of relaxation and self-care and comfort. There’s also something very liberating and freeing‚ a level of openness‚ when you’re bathing outdoors. It’s a very natural way to be—it’s fun and different and even a little bit adventurous. The other thing is that you can get into such a meditative state when you’re listening to the sounds of nature. Spas always play soundtracks of the ‘music’ of the outdoors. Why listen to a recording when you can listen to the real thing?”–Ariel Kaye; founder and CEO of Parachute, Venice Beach‚ CA

Backyard Beach Club

Infinity pools may still be everywhere‚ but they’re surrounded by spaces that look more like chic hotels than suburbia—more Côte d’Azur‚ less cul-de-sac. The look carries through to daybeds and cabanas‚ all with see-and-be-seen sight lines. We’ll bring the Campari.

“The pool can be a reflection of a house’s architecture or a picturesque alternative outside—like a grown-up version of the tiki rooms people used to have. In the daytime it can be cool and keep you out of the sun‚ but later it can be lit up and be a kind of glamorous place to hang out all night. You’re doing more entertaining than having a bunch of 12-year-olds splashing. It’s like a hotel where you’re in a branded space. You’re part of a bigger picture.” –Barbara Bestor; founder of Bestor Architecture‚ Los Angeles

Modern Campfire

Providing all the conviviality without the camping‚ fire circles lend themselves to toasty gatherings close to home. Streamlined fire rings and well-designed accessories also extend outdoor entertaining into cooler months. S’mores optional but encouraged.

“At indoor parties‚ everybody congregates in the kitchen. Outside‚ everyone goes to the fire feature. It feels like a luxury‚ but gathering around a fire is such a primitive act. The soft ambient light and the warmth are so calming. Even when it’s not lit‚ a fire feature brings a sculptural element to a garden. It becomes a focal point enticing you to spend time outside. I tell people to keep blankets nearby so they can sit outside for a while before bed. I have a client who gets up twenty minutes early so she can drink her coffee by the fire before going to work.” –Beth Mullins; founder of Growsgreen Landscape Design‚ San Francisco

Outdoor Screening Room

Cinephiles are no longer content to be confined to a basement theater. Ever more elaborate entertainment spaces have brought film screenings and listening parties out into the open with televisions‚ speakers‚ and projectors. Save us some popcorn.

“Traditional cinema is a social commons‚ a place of interaction and dynamism‚ with the audience laughing‚ crying‚ shouting together. Being able to watch movies on our computers and phones is amazing‚ but it can’t replace the artful electricity that comes from watching a film in a vibrant setting. It’s easy to pause and walk away from a TV show that’s playing on your tablet‚ but when you watch something outdoors‚ you become immersed in the experience. The colors are more dazzling under a shifting twilight; the sound is more enveloping when it pierces the background noise. Watching a movie outdoors is like living in the movie itself.” –Mark Elijah Rosenberg; founder of Rooftop Films‚ Brooklyn‚ NY

Appears In

Outdoor Vibes: Open-Air Kitchens, Baths, Cinemas, and More