Outdoor
April 1, 2010
32 Indoor-Outdoor Spaces
Connect rooms and patios with style.
Stay warm on cool summer nights with a dramatic fireplace.
West Coast designer Lisa Moody of Grapevine Furniture & Design creates a fully kitted-out kitchen with limestone counters to handle everything from storage and prep, to cooking and cleanup. The generous woven-wicker sectional easily accommodates a crowd, while the wood chandelier adds to the ambience of the limestone fireplace.
See more indoor-outdoor spaces in our photo gallery.
Windows extend this dining nook into the backyard.
A Vancouver home furnishings entrepreneur chose tailored lines and a high contrast palette to create a stunning eating nook adjacent to the kitchen. For a cosy touch, an antique love seat and matching chairs were slipcovered in white and paired with two Carrara marble-topped bistro tables.
See more indoor-outdoor spaces in our photo gallery.
Sky-high windows and sliding glass doors make the pool seem like it’s outside.
Toronto architecture firm 3rd Uncle designed this modern home for a busy family of five, and the pool offers a serene escape year-round. The 16-foot saltwater reef tank to the left is visible from the living room as well, and casts a soft glow from the pool back into the house at night.
Watch a video tour of this Modern Masterpiece home, plus see more Indoor-Outdoor Spaces.
A lush English garden beckons.
Colette van den Thillart, the Toronto-born, England-based designer and creative director of NH Design, purchased an Edwardian home in London featuring this sun-drenched conservatory. With cream paint, ticking upholstery and a pretty green table, this serene family space extends the house, or the garden, depending on the weather.
See more of van den Thillart’s London Home in our photo gallery.
Insulate a veranda for year-round use.
The owners of this Ayer’s Cliff, Que. country home intended this veranda to be a summer room, but decided to insulate it so it could be enjoyed year-round. It leads from the kitchen out onto the generously sized deck, and the lattice ceiling and heated stone floor eases the transition from indoors to out. It features windows on three sides, offering views around the wooded property. It’s the perfect place to dine or relax in rainy weather, while still feeling alfresco.
See more Indoor-Outdoor Spaces.
Colourful pillows and organic textures brighten an outdoor living room.
A mid-century modern sofa and chairs by British designer T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings anchor this airy screened porch. Multiple seating areas provide places to converse or escape, all with slightly different vistas. Sophisticated lighting and side tables elevate the outdoor space.
See more photos in our White Cottages gallery.
An industrial garage door brings the outdoors in.
This gorgeous live/work home used to be an old workshop in Montreal’s Plateau area. Architect Natalie Dionne bought the bare-bones studio and transformed it into her dream home with partner Martin Laneuville. The garage door with windows provides loads of natural light in the winter, and opens to create a patio-like space in the warmer months.
View more photos of this home in our February 2009 issue. Plus, see more industrial spaces in our Industrial Interiors photo gallery.
Outdoor drapery lends an indoor look.
Homeowner Alan de la Vigne transformed a dilapidated 1830s home into a tailored Federal-style retreat in Port Hope, Ont. There are two of these plantation-style verandas, one on each floor, to the right of the house, and because they overlook the road, the drapery adds privacy to the livable outdoor spaces. The curtains are actually dropcloths from Canadian Tire, so no need to break the bank on outdoor fabric.
To tour through this home, see 1830s Restoration Home Tour.
See more Indoor-Outdoor Spaces.
Teak and Carrara marble contrast against vein-cut, travertine marble floors.
Interior designer Rosie Daykin gave this kitchen-dining area indoor-outdoor flow by focusing the elements, like the kitchen island, toward the windows.
A sandblasted glass gate leads from the driveway to a front courtyard.
Rattan and teak chairs and tables add an organic element to a concrete patio. To create this unexpected entertaining area at the front of her house, interior designer Rosie Daykin enclosed the formerly scrubby space with a four-foot concrete wall and added a water feature and greenery.
See more photos of Daykin’s Vancouver home in our gallery.
A former garage gets a bright transformation into a high-design poolside retreat.
Economist, urbanist and author, Richard Florida, and his wife, Rana, love contemporary design. This sleek space connects to their pool and outdoor dining area, but can be closed off via a white, rolling garage door. A surfboard, graphic cushions, Philippe Starck’s light blue Prince Aha stool and modern furniture from Design Within Reach, such as the daybed and Bertoia chair, all contribute to a beachy, L.A. vibe.
See the outdoor dining area and watch a video tour of the house.
See more indoor outdoor design inspiration in our photo gallery and click here for other unique garage conversions.
Secluded by hedges, trees and oversized planters, this poolside deck offers a serene spot for entertaining.
The backyard of homeowners Rana and Richard Florida (the economist, urbanist and author) features an outdoor dining area connected to the interior by a rolling garage door, seen open here. Landscape architect Mark Hartley separated the quiet eating spot from the pool area with symmetrical plantings and herringbone-patterned brick. The creamy exterior paint, light wood dining table and silver chairs create a bright, sunny look.
See the pool house and watch a video tour of the house.
See more indoor outdoor design inspiration in our photo gallery and click here for other unique garage conversions.
Designer Andrew Pike renovated his backyard to create an elegant retreat for lounging and entertaining.
A horizontally slatted wood fence, slate walls and flagstone tile converted what was once a muddy yard into a chic outdoor room. Built-in benches loaded up with cushions offer plenty of seating for cocktail parties, while the crisp black and white colour theme creates a seamless transition from the backyard into the house. Interior accessories, such as a mirror and iron light fixture hanging from a tree branch, add to the inviting atmosphere. Another luxe feature: an outdoor sink and faucet, handy for summer entertaining.
See more of Andrew Pike’s home in our photo gallery.
See more indoor outdoor design inspiration in our photo gallery.
Vintage teak furniture sets a minimalist tone in this well-designed living room.
Wall-to-wall sliding glass doors framed in Spanish cedar allow light to flood this sparse yet calming room. The walls are painted in the creamy Dune White (CC-70) by Benjamin Moore, which complements the warm tones of the mid-century modern Danish furniture pieces.
A luxurious hotel-style deck is perfect for entertaining crowds with loads of comfortable seating, an outdoor kitchen and a dining area.
This expansive pool-side deck is outfitted with oversized lounge chairs dressed up with thick weather-resistant cushions and a modern teak and steel dining table and benches. A fully-equipped kitchen rounds out this luxe outdoor party room.
Glass walls blend this interior with the outdoors.
A low, backless modern sofa keeps sight lines to the backyard open and coordinates with the outdoor dining chairs for a cohesive look. Accessorizing with a yellow cushion indoors and vase outdoors makes the two spaces continuous, as do the floor to ceiling sliding glass doors. Landscaping with native plants and rocks mirrors the stone facing on the home’s exterior, as well.
See more indoor outdoor design inspiration in our photo gallery.
An unused driveway is transformed into a patio.
The homeowner converted her garage into a music studio and the driveway into a sitting nook and dining area using striking furniture and bold fabrics. Yews and boxwood add texture and up the privacy. A grapevine ball filled with twinkle lights adds mood lighting for summer entertaining.
See more pools, patios and gardens in our Inspiring Backyards photo gallery. Plus, check out other unique garage conversions in our photo gallery.
Tropical accents transform an eating area.
Balmy breezes play with the feathery palms in every corner of this outdoor dining room, creating movement and interest. The abundance of natural light, coupled with the watery palette of green and blue, creates a tropical ambiance that contrasts with the classical architecture. Rattan and vintage accents layer in texture, as well.
For more beachy and nautical rooms, see our Seaside-Inspired Interiors photo gallery.
For more outdoor decorating and design ideas, see our Tropical-Inspired Outdoor Spaces gallery.
Chic black wicker furniture with white cushions is arranged in two welcoming groupings on seagrass rugs on this large summer porch.
White-washed wood ceiling boards and elegant gray siding add a certain city charm, while tall evergreens offer privacy and shade. Overall, the space looks as finished as any interior room.
Modern patio chairs are an unexpected — yet comfortable — alternative to bulky armchairs.
Outdoor butterfly chairs, tall ferns, and a trendy striped floor rug give this room a seaside patio vibe. The wall-to-wall windows brighten the space and provide passive solar heating.
Warm wood ceilings keep spaces casual and cottage-like.
Leave wood ceiling beams exposed or install a pine ceiling for a seaside look. This screened-in porch is made even more cosy and comfortable with wicker furniture, lanterns and nautical accessories.
A wall of glass opens the dining area to the terrace in this comfortable and inviting dining room.
A bright green accent wall gives the room a fresh, outdoorsy feel and picks up the trellis pattern of the throw cushions in the living room. A large armoire is perfect for storage, and a cascading chandelier adds sparkle and a touch of glamour.
For more lighting options, see our Statement Lighting photo gallery.
Modern furniture, horizontal fencing and smart landscaping give this backyard serious style.
This urban patio features comfortable seating and dining areas smartly divided by a sleek open gas fireplace. Ruffling sailcloth canopies provide shade and give the space an intimate, indoor feel.
Large wraparound windows allow for a bright eating area.
In Ellen and Kacey Spengler’s P.E.I. summer residence, the breezeway between the two houses is just large enough to accommodate a breakfast table. To create continuity and an indoor-outdoor feel, architect Thomas Moore used bare cedar floors that run outside to the deck.
For more great homes from eastern Canada, see our Photo Gallery: Best Of The East.
Long, horizontal lines give a modern look in HGTV host Peter Fallico’s backyard.
This room-like backyard space has been carefully designed for alfresco entertaining with a lounge and bar area, a Turkish grill and dining area beyond.
Embrace the indoor/outdoor trend with a porch that doubles as a living room.
A fresh, natural palette and traditional country textiles evoke a cosy, comfortable vibe in this space. The abundance of sofa seating and decorative touches, like lamps and side tables, contribute to an inviting outdoor room.
Karen von Hahn’s contemporary backyard.
Consider a sectional with colourful cushions for a casual and inviting outdoor living space. Corner seating provides more space for entertaining, and the bright fabrics make it seem more like an indoor space. The bench is actually composed of one built-in and a separate outdoor wicker lounge for loads of flexibility. The untreated and greyed ipe wood deck planks have a raw, unfinished feel. 3rd Uncle architects covered the exterior wall in a casing of rusting Cor-Ten steel for a contemporary textural backdrop that complements the untreated deck.
See more Indoor-Outdoor Spaces.
Mix furniture styles as you would indoors.
This backyard in Westmount, Que. is decorated like a indoor space. The trellis fence adds texture as wallpaper would, modular sectional seating can be rearranged for entertaining, throw pillows in a weather-safe outdoor fabric add a punch of colour, and rustic stools warm up the contemporary style of the sectional. Use the same design principals outdoors as you would inside, whether you’re style is eclectic, modern, or traditional.
For Suzanne Dimma’s tips on decorating an outdoor space with indoor style, read her blog post.
See more Indoor-Outdoor Spaces.