A Handy Hacker's Guide

If you're on a budget, short on time, or living in a rental, try these cost-saving solutions that don't compromise the outdoor experience.

The Road to Butterfly Beach

A designer and his family put down roots in idyllic Montecito, California,

Sweet Relief

OUR LIVES LITERALLY REVOLVE AROUND THE SUN, BUT NEVER MORE THAN ON BALMY DAYS THAT beg for a dip in the pool or a round of lawn games. Just as essential as getting outside is having a shaded place of refuge from the heat-call it a pool house, pavilion, or cabana. The goal, says architect Stan Dixon, should be to "design a space that feels enclosed yet is full of light." Screens, slats, big windows, and canopies allow a breeze to drift through and may offer some UV protection, but they won't encumber a view of the action. (Ideal for, say, parents taking a time-out while their kids play!) Flip through these designer-approved ideas for poolside living, and picture yourself reclining with a good book and a canapé. -Hadley Mendelsohn and Amanda Sims Clifford

PLAY IT AGAIN

This North Carolina beach house has all of the groove of a 70s classic—without any of the cliché.

The Garden Magician

Your vegetable garden should be an extension of your home, says writer and principal designer at Damour Drake, Maryline Damour. Here's how to make it an outdoor dining area, larder, or living space.

The Lazy Homeowner's Guide to LIVING GREEN

It's shockingly easy to make your home radically more earth-friendly, says editor in chief of Business of Home Kaitlin Petersen. All it requires is creative thinking and a little commitment.

The House next Door

When a 1920s Spanish Colonial with tons of outdoor space suddenly went on the market, the neighbors across the street saw the light.

SECOND CHANCES

This Santa Monica Mountain home managed to survive two tragedies abandonment and fire-only to emerge more beautiful than ever.

Open Calm and ALIGNED WITH NATURE

Every tiny detail—including its interaction with the lush surroundings— was painstakingly considered in this serene Hamptons retreat.

An INVITATION to PARADISE

A thoughtful Hawaiian vacation home where everything—friends, family, and even the lush surroundings—are welcome inside.

Bright Spot

A fearless actor and her family find joy in candy-colored Amsterdam home.

Beautiful Things

Beloved makers fair Field + Supply is back in full swing with its Spring MRKT in Kingston, New York, this Memorial Day weekend. We went behind the scenes to see how four vendors create homewares that have folks flocking to shop in person.

Heart of Gold

The latest iteration of a Victorian-turned-postmodern townhouse in Chicago embraces its quirky history.

Treasure Island

Awash in patterns (and invisible vacation-friendly finishes), this designer's Florida home is no basic beach retreat.

Wide Open Spaces

A free-flowing floor plan and velvety finishes turned this 19th-century carriage house into a home.

PAINT THE TOWN

When a pair of coastal bon vivants visit their elegant a pied-à-terre in Atlanta, colorful cocktail parties are on the menu.

LONG ROAD HOME

Dozens of trips around the world inspired one family to give their Dallas house the feel of a boutique hotel.

Find Your True Colors

What if personality and lifestyle, rather than aesthetic preferences, dictated the palette of one's life? Kaitlin Petersen, editor in chief of Business of Home, reveals why choosing hues has become more personal than ever.

FORCE of NATURE

After painstakingly restoring this 1895 Colonial Revival outside Boston, one daring designer went all out for the interiors.