Located on a wooded lot in Reston, this mid-century-modern post-and-beam house with glass walls surrounded by trees gives the illusion of living in a particularly chic one, with features that will impress both your inner child and your discerning adult taste.
The right solution depends on both budget and how the space is used. A common mistake is selecting a structure that does not match the home's style, stressing that size, color, and material should always complement the backyard and home.
"Having taller blades helps build deeper roots and will crowd out weeds. It also shades the soil, helping retain moisture and reduce stress during heat. Follow the one-third rule and avoid cutting too much at once. This leads to a thicker, healthier lawn over time."
If you're not looking for snow or freezing temperatures, you can find your perfect climate here. Costa Rica lets you choose the kind of warmth and rhythm that suits your lifestyle-and lets you enjoy it year-round. Thanks to its diverse topography, comprising mountain ranges, rainforests, Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, mangroves, and volcanic landscapes, Costa Rica has 12 distinct climate regions.
Working with AD100 firm Geoponika, they inserted a brick-clad sunken lounge, bed, and dining area into the garden, teaming with unconventional plantlife to create a surrealistic, en plein air annex for hosting and chilling, alike. "Since I couldn't have a sunken conversation pit in the house, I thought, I'll just put one outside," recalls Willis who is always considering how conversation flows.
As we dig out from snowstorms, turn the heat up against the unrelenting cold, and throw another log onto the fire, I thought perhaps an article about summertime pursuits might be encouraging. As hard as it may be to believe right now, winter will in fact end, and our thoughts will turn to warm-weather fun -parties on the deck, porch, or patio. Don't have an outdoor gathering space? Now is the time to start planning.
In the current real estate landscape, outdoor living is no longer an optional upgrade; it's a required feature. Buyers are craving spaces where they can truly live and entertain, and few additions deliver that experience-and the corresponding increase in home value-quite like a well-designed outdoor cooking area. In fact, choosing to build a custom outdoor kitchen transforms a basic patio into a premium, functional extension of your home. It's an amenity that significantly elevates your property's standing, giving you a competitive edge when it's time
Primeriza House is located on a small clearing of an otherwise heavily sloped terrain with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean to the front and a strong backdrop of almost vertical slope densely populated by cypress trees. Our clients wanted to make the most of outdoor living, and one of their key requirements was to create many opportunities to inhabit the exterior. Another was to create various different environments, nooks and crannies, and moods inside the house.
Above: "I spend most of my time planning which vegetables, fruits, and herbs to grow, and then dreaming up menus and parties around them," says Janet Mavec of Bird Haven Farm in Western New Jersey. How do we get invited to a dinner party amongst the garden beds? Read the full story at The Secret of Bird Haven Farm: How a Landscape Mystery Was Solved by Fernando Caruncho (and Nancy Drew). Photograph by Ngoc Minh Ngo.
A canopy, parasol, or shade sail can enhance outdoor space usability during hot weather, while covered permanent designs like awnings and pergolas extend outdoor living throughout the year.
The deals extend to many of the same items, including weather-resistant dining sets, stylish outdoor sectionals and sofa sets, hardy woven patio chairs and ottomans, and even some aesthetically pleasing fire pits.
"Environmental psychology research shows that green spaces on a smaller scale, such as a tree-lined street, can yield restorative benefits... linked to stronger community ties, lower rates of depression, and greater resilience."
"My favorite, favorite part is going out on the dock and watching the South River and all the activity on the water. Just sitting out there and watching the water go by is awesome," said homeowner Hugh Martin, chairman of the California biotech company Pendulum Therapeutics.
Summertime is the perfect season to establish a personal retreat, whether it’s a vast woodland escape in California or a serene pond in New York.
Now is the time to enjoy spending time at your home al fresco. Just picture it: sipping iced tea while gabbing with friends, enjoying a light beach read, or relaxing with a fresh crossword puzzle.
