Decorating & Design
August 1, 2023
See Multipurpose Indoor-Outdoor Spaces That Celebrate Summer
Summer can whip by in a flash, especially in Canada. Transitional spots like screened porches, pool cabanas and backyard studios offer shelter from the rain and shade so you can squeeze out every single second outside. Click through for escapes that offer an endless summer vibe.
This Vancouver garden was reimagined into a resort-like escape with a yoga studio that doubles as a guest bunkie. The owner can feel serene there without being cut off, and observe what’s going on in the yard because the trees provide natural screening, so her yoga or meditation practice remains private. A large opening at the back of the cabana looks directly into the bamboo grove, so it feels like working out in a tropical resort. “It’s hard to balance your kids’ bursting energy with the need for space,” says Jennifer, the homeowner. “These outbuildings have been a lifesaver for us. It’s so chill in there; I can just exhale.”
Before this modern pool house was a cool entertaining hub, it was an under-utilized mother-in-law suite that hadn’t been updated since the 1990s. Architect Chris Sanders of Sanders Architecture says “The pool cabana shares the site with a 1920’s-era historic home. As it is a tiny space (about 350 square feet), we designed everything to co-exist: It can go from being a kid’s space to a locale for parties and family gatherings, so everything had to serve a variety of functions.”
The original property was cramped with low ceilings, so Chris and his team decided to take advantage of the unused attic space. “While the footprint of the space is small, we doubled the vertical volume of the space by removing a flat ceiling and vaulting the space into what was previously an unused attic,” he says. The new double-height cabana is now the perfect space to host a party or weekend guests.
Having access to a sink, mini fridge or even beer on tap will turn it into the ultimate entertainment hub and eliminates the hassle of making multiple trips to the main house. Installing a TV and speaker unit means you can host movie nights, watch the game or blast your favorite summer tunes.
A garage was transformed into a beachy, tropical outdoor cabana. The 20′-wide accordion doors fold to one side, fully opening the indoor space to the terrace so the space feels like an open-air café.
A huge, shimmery capiz chandelier is a dramatic wow moment in the renovated garage. Reclaimed slate roof tiles add texture on the buffet wall while chartreuse Thonet chairs and teal panelling create a moody atmosphere.
This dreamy garden has all of the essentials for alfresco entertaining with a spacious pool, firepit and bar. After a dip, swimmers can quench their thirst with a summer-y cocktail at the bar (set in a shipping container), which is almost like being at a private hotel. See more standout outdoor spaces in this video tour.
Designer Lisa Moody is getting the most of her greenhouse: it doubles as a full time chicken coop and can also host parties in her West Coast garden. Lisa moved the garden boxes out in favor of a table and chairs, hung string lights and hosted lunch for her girlfriends. “The next day, my kids all came home and we had a nice dinner in the greenhouse,” she says. “It was so special; you felt like you were in a fairy tale.”
The chickens love to perch on the door, and there’s an outdoor sink so Lisa (pictured) can wash off vegetables and fresh eggs.
Toronto screenwriter and producer Tassie Cameron turned a small shed into a creative refuge she can use all year round (the sofa can double as a napping spot), but it’s especially welcoming when she can throw open the doors and feel the breeze and hear birdsong. “I’ve always been obsessed with outbuildings and hideaway spaces. When I bought this house in Toronto’s Little Portugal neighborhood in 2012, this shed came with it. We used it for storage but my designer, Mary-Beth Jenner, convinced me that, with some time and money, it could be a four-season writing space.”
In Montreal’s west end, homeowners Teresa Mihalik and her husband, Andrew Higgins wanted to reinvent their outdoor space with a mini studio where their son Owen and his friends could hang.
The studio is dubbed a “homework hut” for Owen, but the sofa also doubles as a cool spot for a quiet read when the sun is high and school’s out.
This garage was recast as a pretty destination with pale grey clapboard and black-painted french doors a chandelier adds ambience at night. And because it’s situated at the far end of the verdant, English-style garden, the inviting sitting area is not only a charming destination, it’s also a great focal point for vistas from the house.