With Fall around the corner, you may want to bridge the indoor-outdoor divide with inspiration from these fabulous spaces from the pages of H&H. From glassed-in terraces and roofed patios to screened-in porches, these breezy rooms offer the best of both worlds.
Scroll down and get inspired!
At this lakehouse, an entire wall can be opened up to combine the dining room with a screened-in porch. Glass panels appear almost invisible, giving you an unobstructed view of Lake Huron.
Photographer: Spacecrafting
Source: House & Home July/August 2022
Designer: Sala Architects; Lucy Interior Design
Here, a wood-panelled ceiling extends beyond the living room and onto a porch. When the glass doors are open, the two spaces become one.
Photographer: Ema Peter
Source: House & Home July/August 2022
Designer: Patrick Warren
This lakeside living room gives cottagers a break from the sunshine without having to head indoors. The L-shaped couch and surrounding lounge chairs can accommodate a crowd.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home July/August 2022
Designer: Anne Hepfer
Full-height windows with minimal frames and glass barriers provide panoramic views of the water, making this indoor-outdoor living room an immersive experience.
Photographer: Ema Peter
Source: House & Home July/August 2021
Designer: Office of McFarlane Biggar Architects + Designers
The designers took this screened porch to the next level with a dramatic vaulted ceiling. A wood-burning fireplace flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows keeps things feeling cosy and airy all at once.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home July/August 2020
Designer: Danny Greenglass & Joe Brennan, Brennan Custom Homes
While indoor-outdoor living and dining rooms have grown in popularity, an outdoor rain shower is another clever way to achieve the lifestyle. The surrounding greenery makes it feel almost tropical.
Photographer: Pamela Purves
Source: House & Home May 2014
This home brings a cosy feel to the covered porch with a swinging daybed.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home July 2008
Designer: Gordon Ridgely
Whether you’re looking to keep insects at bay or breathe in fresh air on rainy days, a screened-in porch lets you take in the outdoors while enjoying the comforts of staying inside.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home May 2016
Designer: Joel Bray
Ample natural light pours into this double-height living room where sliding doors can be opened for seamless indoor-outdoor entertaining.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home July 2011
Designer: Larry Williams and Sharie Kennedy Williams
At this opulent home, an in-ground pool is surrounded by windows and doors for quick patio access and optimal sunshine.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home October 2010
A pergola and glass roof make this the perfect spot to curl up or entertain, rain or shine. The terrace is spacious enough to include zones for dining and lounging.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home July 2013
Designer: Cory DeFrancisco
Creating an indoor-outdoor living space can be as simple as installing a sliding glass door that connects your living room with the patio. Pro tip: Adding an oversized umbrella will enhance the effect.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home June 2021
Designer: Rosie Daykin
This home extends its living space with a wall of sliding doors that open to the backyard. A pergola provides ample shade, as well as an ideal spot for alfresco dining.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home August 2014
Designer: William Krisel
Even small spaces can become indoor-outdoor sanctuaries. This designer built a cabana that opens to a bamboo grove, embracing nature and enhancing relaxation.
Photographer: Ema Peter
Source: House & Home May 2022
Designer: Andrea McLean
You don’t always need sliding doors to achieve indoor-outdoor living. In this elegant family room, a few sets of French doors can be opened up to a lush backyard.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home October 2018
Designer: Sarah Richardson
Designer John Tong’s west-end Toronto house and courtyard was dictated by his children’s needs, turning an old industrial alleyway into a giant outdoor playroom. Swings were hung from existing steel beams, which created a natural canopy for a seating area.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home June 2010
Designer: John Tong, 3rd Uncle Design
The back wall features a 12-foot cedar installation that doubles as a backdrop as well as a screen for projecting movies. Bring out a couple of sleeping bags and pillows and movie night reaches a whole new level in this space.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home June 2010
Designer: John Tong, 3rd Uncle Design
A screened-in porch is the perfect transition space between indoors and out. A low wall anchors the tall windows providing uninterrupted views, while the porch railing continues around the width of the deck, blurring the line between the two spaces.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home July 2013
Designer: Muskoka Living Interiors
The pergola in this Toronto backyard provides shade and protection for the built-in seating. Plush cushions soften hard exterior materials like stone and wood. Fresh flowers in a vase on the table echo the look of a more formal indoor table setting.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home September 2012
Designer: Terry Ryan, Cubic Yard Design
Paving stone laid in a herringbone pattern creates a rug-like effect and delineates the living space, as seen from the interior of the cabana. A 20-foot sliding glass accordion door delineates the indoor and outdoor areas. The mod furniture would be equally at home in a living room as it is here.
Photographer: Virginia MacDonald
Source: House & Home July 2013
Designer: Garden design: Meredyth and Bard Hilton, Artistic Gardens
The ikat-style rug was made from weather resistant materials to withstand the elements at this year-round home in the Catskills, New York. This screened-in porch bridges the gap between a century old log cabin on the right and a larger ‘80s house on the left.
Photographer: Anastassios Mentis
Source: House & Home May 2015
Designer: Brendan Kwinter-Schwartz
H&H ’s senior editor Sally Armstrong’s basement walkout was transformed into an entertaining oasis. To create a seamless transition from the inside to the outside, the patio banquette was designed and accessorized to feel like an extension of the interior built-in bench. The concrete floor is also carried throughout.
Photographer: Virginia MacDonald
Source: House & Home September 2013
Designer: Sally Armstrong, architect, Kelly Buffey (Atelier Kastelic Buffey)
Seen from basement level, the lush plantings and fabrics soften the concrete surround. A mix of materials, including wood and rattan, will age gracefully. Instead of a big wall of concrete, the terraced plantings provide visual interest — it’s hard to believe this seating area is below ground level!
Photographer: Virginia MacDonald
Source: House & Home September 2013
Designer: Sally Armstrong, architect, Kelly Buffey (Atelier Kastelic Buffey)
The varied seating areas, as well as the multi-level bar, truly makes this the ultimate entertaining space. Giving plenty of options for seating is key for a comfortable outdoor experience, and the mix-and-match materials here break up the monotony of typical uniform outdoor seating.
Photographer: Virginia MacDonald
Source: House & House July 2007
Designer: Peter Fallico
The back terrace of designer Colette van den Thillart’s London home incorporates the best of the English country aesthetic. Mismatched stripes on the armchair mirror the slatted cafe chairs outside. The cerulean pedestal used as a side table evokes a garden bird bath, bringing the outside in.
Photographer: Chris Stubbs
Source: House & Home January 2011
Designer: Colette van den Thillart, NH Design
Designer and artist Jay Hodgins’ long screened-in porch functions rain or shine, thanks to a sturdy roof above. The overhead lighting, soft furnishings and art displayed on the back wall make the space feel like an extension of the house.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home March 2015
Designer: Jay Hodgins
Who says outdoor furniture has to be boring? Designer Sarah Hartill brought some glam to her backyard entertaining area with a gold table and chair set. The concrete retaining wall frames the space, giving it a room-like structure, and is topped with pillows for a clever seating alternative.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home February 2014
Designer: Sarah Hartill; architectural blueprints, Will Hudson, Hudson Architecture
The central pavilion of this retreat on B.C.’s South Pender Island truly blurs the lines between outdoor and indoor. Two walls of sliding glass doors means ocean breezes come right through. The materials used are all ones that reflect the colors of nature and the furnishings are purposefully low-slung to leave views uninterrupted.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home May 2014
Designer: Carrie McCarthy and Tanja Hinder, McCarthy Hinder Interior Design