The unofficial start of summer is here, and with it comes the pull for outdoor entertaining, al fresco dining and lounging in the perfect pool. Take a look at how these 16 design experts have created outdoor escapes that are sure to inspire all summer long.
Point Dume, California
Design: Alexander Built
Photo: Rich Stapleton
The pool is a new feature to this midcentury, timber-framed home. Though it is a contemporary addition and certainly not the kidney-shaped version that would most likely have been characteristic, designer Vanessa Alexander notes, “We did something that’s quiet and doesn’t call attention to itself.”
Durham, New York
Design: Matt And Amy Hausmann
Photo: Gross & Daley
This highly individual home in the Catskills sports a 100-percent hand-built nature, including this front porch. “You can feel it in the heaviness of the doors and in the touch of every fitting and surface,” shares homeowner Amy Hausmann. “It’s very personal. Absolutely everything in it has meaning.”
Zurich, Switzerland
Design: NOA
Photo: Alex Filz
In the outdoor area of this villa with sweeping views across Lake Zurich, where a partially covered terrace frames a man-made water basin, NOA created several islands with seating and furnishings, visually dividing the large open space into more intimate and functional zones.
Ortigia, Sicily, Italy
Design: Raffaele Corsaro and Gabriella Cataldi
Photo: Helenio Barbetta
A secret inner courtyard is the heart of this 17th-century palazzo. “This is our escape, a place we return to whenever we can find some free time, not just in the summer, but throughout the year,” shares Cataldi. “Here, everything slows down, time expands and life becomes simpler.”
Somerset, U.K.
Architecture: Forgeworks
Photography: French & Tye
Suited with indoor and outdoor capabilities, the full-width windows of this 19th-century farmhouse slide away almost entirely, creating an easy flow from the kitchen and barn to the terrace and pool. The result is a space that feels open yet sheltered.
Mallorca, Spain
Design: Malene Birger
A fusion of old and new in this outdoor space creates a harmonious balance that is both bold and serene, grounded in history yet forward-looking in its outlook.
Los Angeles, California
Design: Dre Shapiro
Photo: Deborah Jaffe
“In the backyard, my aim was to craft a seamless indoor/outdoor experience while also establishing distinct functional zones,” Shapiro explains of this Pacific Palisades project. “These included an inviting outdoor kitchen and dining area, a luxurious poolside lounge, and a cozy firepit hangout. The park-like ambiance was enhanced by the graceful pepper trees, carefully curated plantings, and a tranquil Zen stone water fountain, creating a harmonious and versatile outdoor retreat.”
Napa, California
Design: McCaffrey Design Group
Architecture: Taylor Lombardo Architects
Photo: Adrián Gregorutti
The true pièce de résistance of this residence is its many outdoor patios and entertainment areas. With options of seating on higher or lower levels, one can choose where they prefer to enjoy their time and view.
Grasse, France
Design: Madelon Oudshoorn Spaargaren, MOS Interiors
Photo: Space Content Studio
Following the complete renovation of this 18th-century villa, homeowner Madelon Oudshoorn Spaargaren turned to the outdoor spaces. The pool, formerly painted Mediterranean blue, received a more glamorous countenance with mosaic tiles in green, copper and gold.
Johannesburg, South Africa
Design: Anthony Orelowitz
Photo: Elsa Young
South African architect Anthony Orelowitz has designed a home for his family that reinvents what it means to make a haven in Johannesburg. As seen on the right side of the property, three “porthole” windows on the underside of the swimming pool on the upper level cast a liquid light over a covered section of the courtyard below.
Howqua River Valley, Australia
Architecture: Rob Mills
Photo: Anson Smart
The journey from concept to completion on his alpine home was both collaborative and rewarding for homeowner and architect Rob Mills. From the beginning, the philosophy was to touch the earth lightly, and at every stage, they worked with local trades and suppliers whose craftsmanship and deep understanding of the region played a vital role in the outcome. The resulting outdoor spaces are minimalist, with a focus on blending into their natural environment.
Fort Worth, Texas
Design: Erin Sander Design
Architecture: SMH Architects
Photo: Nathan Schroder
A plaster fireplace and a vaulted, wood-clad ceiling capture the spirit of this Spanish Revival home, creating a covered patio that feels timeless, not trendy.
Santa Barbara, California
Design: Andrea Schumacher
Landscape Architecture: Barefoot Design
Photo: Roger Davies
Sophistication, whimsy and some quirky family history come together in a Santa Barbara house designed by Andrea Schumacher. In keeping with the client’s millennial personality, landscape architect Barefoot Design installed what Schumacher refers to as clumpy “Dr. Seuss-style grass.”
Cape Town, South Africa
Design: Studio Ashby
Photo: Courtesy of Tamodi Estate & Polo Reserve
Set against the green slopes of the Tsitsikamma mountain range, Cape light settles gently on stone and wood on this elevated deck at the Tamodi Estate & Polo Reserve.
Puglia, Italy
Design: Urban Interior
Photo: Cosimo Calabrese and Duotono Fotografia
In the coastal Puglia region of Italy, Villa Normanni was conceived as both a personal project and a carefully calibrated investment: a contemporary holiday rental embedded within an olive-grove landscape and shaped by the spatial traditions of Southern Italy. Outside, large folding windows orient both villas toward the pool and olive grove, dissolving the threshold between inside and out.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Design: Daniella Villamil
Photos: Amy Bartlam
This Spanish Hills residence artfully balances grandeur with intimate, inviting spaces, showcasing designer Daniella Villamil’s talent for harmonizing bold design with livable elegance. The design’s genesis lay in the homeowners’ desire for warmth – a place that celebrates gathering, connection and quietude.
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