Tips to designing seamless outdoor spaces

The enclosed porch, above left, was removed and replaced with a library/music room on the main level, above right. This allowed for the installation of French doors in the library that lead to a new terrace, the focal point of the backyard. The terrace also connects to the kitchen/family room.

Annie Schwemmer,

Is it spring yet?

Well, the technical answer is no, but psychologically some of us need to push the issue a bit.

One way to endure the winter doldrums is to focus on spring gardening. We'll bet some of you are spending time with your Burpee catalog or wandering around your favorite garden center, watching workers set out the spring inventory.

So, what do architects know about gardening?

Just this: Houses and gardens together create the environment we call home, and they should "speak" with each other.

When we look at a remodeling project, our main concern in this regard is the connection between the indoor and outdoor space.

Traditional homes, especially those built before 1950, express little interest in this symbiotic relationship. Many of the modest tract homes built in the valley in the pre- and post-war boom period have the bedrooms and bathroom at the rear of the house; getting to the back yard involves using a side door and walking down the driveway to even find useable outdoor space.

Today's lifestyle embraces both inside and outside space. Especially with our favorable climate, outdoor areas can act as an additional living space from spring through fall.

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Tips to designing seamless outdoor spaces