Outdoor spaces have evolved far beyond patios and decks—they’re now extensions of the home, designed for style, comfort and connection to nature. From serene courtyards to dramatic backyards, architects and designers are blending materials, textures and landscapes to create environments that are both functional and visually striking. See how these RED Award-winning outdoor spaces are leading the evolution of outdoor living.
Where Design Meets Nature: 14 Stunning Outdoor Spaces
A Luxurious Oasis
Framed by a rhythmic colonnade of graceful arches, the covered outdoor living room of this Palm Beach oasis captures cinematic views of the lap pool and manicured grounds beyond. Underfoot, limestone floors set a cool, refined foundation, while oil-rubbed bronze light fixtures and deeply comfortable seating invite lingering afternoons and alfresco evenings alike. Discreet storm shutters, seamlessly concealed within limewashed cypress panels, offer protection without compromising the space’s effortless elegance.
Designer: Austin Patterson Disston Architecture & Design | Greater New York, the Hamptons + Connecticut
A Modern Refresh For A European Property
In Carefree, Arizona, this Spanish Mediterranean estate—originally devised in the 1970s by architect George Christensen—strikes a studied balance between heritage and reinvention. Along the loggia, crisp slipcovered armchairs mingle with vintage rattan furnishings, creating a breezy tableau that feels both timeless and freshly composed.
Designer: Cheryl Dempsey | Arizona
Mediterranean-Inspired Estate
Wrapped around a central courtyard, this hillside Los Angeles residence forges an effortless dialogue between indoors and out. Hewn limestone walls, hand-troweled plaster, teak, steel accents and rift-sawn oak millwork—joined by sculptural olive trees—imbue the home with an understated Mediterranean soul.
Designer: Dejager Design Inc. | Los Angeles-Southern California
Embracing The Natural Landscape
At the entry of this Aspen, Colorado, retreat, a reclaimed stone water trough offers a quietly dramatic welcome, its patina setting the tone for what lies beyond. Deeper into the property, twin fire pits—one anchoring the courtyard amid textural native plantings, the other poised at the dock’s edge—create intimate moments for gathering, where mountain air and flickering light do the rest.
Designer: Design Workshop | Colorado + the Rockies
An All-Season Alfresco Kitchen
Cedar-planked ceilings and matching siding envelop this midcentury modern–inspired alfresco kitchen in Seattle, where warm teak cabinetry deepens the material dialogue. Expansive sliding doors frame unobstructed views of Puget Sound, dissolving the boundary between shelter and sky and allowing the space to be savored in every season.
Designer: Jackson Design Build | Pacific Northwest
Cozy Gathering Space
Warmed by a glowing fireplace, discreet infrared heaters, and radiant heat beneath bluestone pavers, this screened porch in Chicago invites three-season relaxation. Anchored by enduring materials—fieldstone walls and creasing tile floors—the space forms a cozy, layered backdrop perfect for lingering conversations.
Designer: Liederbach & Graham Architects | Greater Chicago
Retro Meets Modern In This Backyard
Completed in collaboration with Double B Design, the exterior of this 1939 Georgian home in Dallas marries historic elegance with modern luxury. Anchored by a marble checkerboard deck, the newly reconstructed pool commands attention with striking black-and-white accent tiles, turning the outdoor spaces into a refined stage for both relaxation and entertaining.
Designer: Maestri Studio | Dallas + Fort Worth
Among The Trees
Nestled beneath the sweeping canopy of a live oak and encircled by lush planting beds, this alfresco dining and lounge in Austin feels at once intimate and expansively connected to its setting. An open fence defines the perimeter with quiet assurance, offering a sense of security while maintaining an easy dialogue with the surrounding community—an ideal stage for long, convivial evenings outdoors.
Designer: McWalters Collaborative Architecture and Design | Austin + San Antonio
Glamorous Gathering Space
When tasked with adding a pool house to a landmark home in Austin, the design team seized the moment to channel a dash of Hollywood Regency glamour. Pocketing glass doors dissolve the boundary between inside and out, extending patterned marble floors and gleaming brass cabinetry toward the shimmering new pool in one fluid, cinematic gesture.
Designer: Paul N. Brow, Architect, LLC | Houston
Island Beauty
Designed by Marion Philpotts-Miller with senior designer Anne Tanaka, this open-air lanai in Kailua-Kona was conceived for both lively family gatherings and quiet moments of retreat. Oriented to capture the island’s trade winds and temper the arid climate, the space breathes with ease. Earthy neutrals and bespoke woodwork hewn from surrounding kiawe trees root the design in its landscape, blurring the line between cultivated comfort and the raw beauty beyond.
Designer: Philpotts Interiors | Honolulu, HI
Alpine Getaway
Drawing inspiration from the untamed beauty of Whitefish, Montana, this mountain retreat settles effortlessly into its surroundings. Broad expanses of glass dissolve the boundary between shelter and scenery, pulling forested vistas and shifting alpine light deep into the interiors for a home that feels inseparable from the landscape itself.
Designer: PHX Architecture | Arizona
California Dreamin'
Framed by billowing draperies at either end, this Southern California outdoor living space strikes a balance between high drama and effortless ease. A foundation of white brick and warm wood tones tempers the theatrical silhouette, keeping the palette serene and sun-washed while inviting long, languid afternoons outdoors.
Designer: Regan Baker Design | San Francisco + Northern California
A Modern Treehouse
Generous overhangs protect this two-story terrace in Miami from the intense Florida sun while framing uninterrupted views of native vegetation. The design evokes a modern treehouse, where living and dining areas float amid dappled light and lush greenery, blending contemporary comfort with a sense of playful elevation.
Designer: Strang Design | Florida
Southern Hospitality
This contemporary greenhouse introduces a distinctly European flair to Kingsport, Tennessee. A stone pathway guides visitors inside, where reclaimed Spanish floor tiles, arranged in a graphic checkerboard, meet the warmth of a Tennessee limestone foundation, blending Old World charm with local character.
Designer: Well x Design | Southeast
