Name: Rachel Location: Silverlake, CA Type of space:: backyard and porch
Tell us about your outdoor project and how you enjoy it: Whether in large groups or small, adults or kids, for barbeques or for brunches, early morning until the wee hours, from the upstairs porch, just off the kitchen, shaded with hanging vines, to the patio table to the bench around the fire pit to the hot tub, the whole space has been designed around my frequent entertaining. More

Name: Chris & Diana Location: Red Hook, Brooklyn Type of space: Roof Garden

Diana Richards is an interior designer living and working in Brooklyn. Together with her boyfriend, Chris Miller, Diana has turned a builder's standard roof deck into a special place to hang out, and she's done it all on a budget! Nearly everything on the roof has been scavenged, recycled or reused. More

Name: Maggie B Location: Silver Lake, California Type of space: Front porch

Tell us about your outdoor project and how you enjoy it: When I first moved in this was nothing more than a storage area, and slowly it has evolved into the perfect place for an afternoon of lounging and an evening glass of wine with friends. I love being outside, especially when it's too hot to stay inside...the porch is like a whole extra room. More

Name: Leeann Lewis Location: Portland, Oregon Type of space: Covered Patio

Tell us about your outdoor project and how you enjoy it: We wanted a comfortable, practical and colorful space to sit outside and appreciate the garden in all the different weather situations in Portland, Oregon. Perfect for morning coffee or an evening cocktail for one person or a with group of friends. More

Name: carma358 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Type of space: Front Porch Tell us about your outdoor project and how you enjoy it: My front-of-house project has been a very slow, but very rewarding one. When we bought the house two years ago, it had awnings a shade of green that even a green-lover like me couldn't live with. More

Name: Pamala
Location: Sand Key, Florida

We live in a high-rise condo on Sand Key, surrounded by water. Our balcony is our favorite 'room', and we eat, read, and sometimes nap there — hence the sofa. Our home is beachy-eclectic, with furniture and accessories collected over time and from various sources, including junk/thrift stores, Craig's List, family, etc. We love that every item in our house has a 'history'! More

Family: Eric, Sandra, Gus (9) & Bea (4)
Location: Wichita, KS

One day, my husband and I were reminiscing about the rocketship slide we used to play on in our hometown when we were growing up. He made the mistake of saying out loud: "I could probably build a rocketship slide out of wood." More

Name: Lynne
Location: Rural countryside outside of Durham, Ontario, Canada

We are a family of 6, living in the countryside 2 hours northwest of Toronto. I am an interior designer and I love to travel. Most of my designs are inspired by travel and by the use of organic, natural elements. Two years ago, a friend of ours lost their barn to a tornado. The barn was beyond repair. Rather than see it burned, we bought the barn boards, beams and tin roof — and hired the local Amish to help us to transfer the barn to our property. More

Family: Amy, Allan and Dane (8)
Location: Marquette, MI

We run a small family home daycare and have been transforming our outdoor space into a great place to learn and play.

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Name: Annie
Location: Echo Park/Downtown Los Angeles, California

When I first looked at the apartment, I had no idea the backyard was as big as it is! I was shocked to have found something like this in Los Angeles... for rent! The previous owners redid this little paradise, complete with two decks and tons of plants and trees. A pomegranate tree, lemon tree, bay leaf tree, fig tree, and kumquat tree are accompanied by a trumpet tree (that smells absolutely amazing in the evenings), a rosemary bush, lots of mountain lilac, ferns, bougainvillea, and even my own little garden of herbs and veggies!

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