5 min readCovered porches overlooking manicured lawns, vine-draped pergolas tucked into gardens: The dreamiest outdoor rooms from the House Beautiful archives embrace—and enhance—their surroundings. Ward Bennett’s 1978 Atrium House could be opened entirely to the elements on a beautiful, temperate day, thanks to a massive skylight and folding doors. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Georgantas’s 2019 Nantucket dining shed, with art covering the ceiling and an inviting table at its center, transformed her backyard into a destination worthy of a restaurant. Even the poolhouses make an impression.
Ahead, in honor of our 130th anniversary, find 23 of the most inspiring outdoor-friendly spaces in our entire archive.
The Loggia That Inspired Nearly a Century of Outdoor Living (1932)
This ocean-facing loggia in a Santa Barbara home—which was awarded first prize in the Western Group of Houses in the Fifth Annual Small-House Competition conducted by House Beautiful—includes a charcoal grill and seating for entertaining.
The Garage Converted Into a Teenage “Fun Room” (1951)
Equipped with a piano, TV, lounge area, and ping pong table, this “fun room” crafted inside the family garage was where the teenage kids spent all their free time.
The Indoor-Outdoor Children’s Pavilion (1967)
Built around an oak tree, this “play court” for one family’s lucky kids in Coconut Grove, Florida, featured a fiberglass canopy that prevented falling leaves and bugs from dropping inside—but allowed loads of filtered light and a gentle breeze.
The Breezy, Sun-Dappled Lath House (1967)
Tucked into the back of a cutting garden in Hobe Sound, Florida, this plant-filled lath house “is a haven for plants that call for lots of light and air, but also need protection from the sun," wrote Carroll Calkins.
The Poolhouse With Serious Design Pedigree (1968)
This “dreamy gazebo-pavilion,” as described by editor Sarah Tomerlin Lee, was designed by architects Jova, Daniels, and Busby with an open loggia for entertaining, two dressing rooms, a bathroom, and storage space.
The Indoor-Outdoor Arbor Bathroom (1968)
Latticed windows let a cool breeze into this sunny bathroom at the home of Jon Bannenberg, with clever terry-cloth-covered bench seats for a spa feel all along one side.
The House That Embraced the Elements (1978)
Designer Ward Bennett dreamed of “an atrium house…that could open to the sea and sky”—and built it in the then-wilds of Long Island, New York. A 20-foot skylight and two 10-foot hinged doors opened to reveal a view of the bay and woods. Come winter, they were shut so Bennett could cozy up to the fireplace.
Farrah Fawcett’s Reading Gazebo With Valley Views (1981)
A log frame, covered with ivy, actually keeps the rain out of this space due to an invisible clear plastic cover on the roof. Slate slabs create a rustic table, with a lounger looking out over the San Fernando Valley.
The Hot Tub Inside a Greenhouse (1984)
When a young family spruced up this run-down greenhouse accompanying their property in New York, their interior designer, Susan Zises Green, realized it was the perfect opportunity to put a hot tub inside.
The Pool Disguised as a Natural Spring (1984)
On a wooded lot in Westchester County, New York, landscape architect Randolph Marshall created this pool that looks just like a little pond in the forest. A waterfall feeds the pool, and beside it there’s a bubbling hot tub to jump into in cooler seasons.
The Arbor That Made Everyone Want to Go to Greece (1985)
With an unobstructed view of the Aegean Sea, one family’s bamboo-and-bougainvillea-covered arbor at their home in Greece had to be the dreamiest place to have a meal. The house was designed by Minas Alexiou and furnished with local finds.
The Pergola That Disappeared Into the Garden (1989)
Draped in bougainvillea, roses, and geraniums, this incredible pergola in Montecito, California, home of artist Beverlye Hyman, featured an arched trellis, smooth columns, and enough shade to make it a respite on a sunny day.
The Poolside Pavilion With Sun-Shading Curtains (1992)
When an architect and a colorist collaborate, serious design magic happens. At one couple’s weekend house in Malibu, green, gold, and white striped canvas curtains frame a soaring pool pavilion and can be drawn on any side to keep the sun at bay.
The Gazebo Built for Wedding Vows (1994)
Accompanying the 640-square-foot house of architect William Turnbull, set on 49 hilly vine-draped acres in northern California, is this wooden gazebo built for his and his wife’s wedding.
The Suburban Home With a Pastoral Porch (1995)
The suburban Illinois home of Rachel Hampton is a picture-perfect example of her little brother Mark Hampton’s refined style, in a setting that couldn’t be more personal.
The Screened Gazebo That Crowned a Hamptons Home (1999)
Using antiques and treasured finds from their store, Lisa Jackson and Catherine Aaron furnished this new screened gazebo at Jackson’s Long Island house to offer bug-free entertaining space.
The New Poolside Arbor With 100-Year-Old Vines (2008)
This property’s old arbor worked fine, but since it was made of white wicker, guests couldn’t see the 100-year-old wisteria vines that had grown all over it when dining underneath. Landscape designer Deborah Nevins and architect Stephen Potters replaced the structure with a simple iron frame, saving the vines for new owners.
The Painted Poolhouse That Looked Like Moroccan Tile (2008)
Inspired by the real deal, artisans at this seaside New York home once belonging to Gloria Vanderbilt painted faux Moroccan tile on a beadboard ceiling “for a tentlike effect,” wrote our editors.
The Outdoor Living Room Beside a Beloved Oak Tree (2017)
Furnishing a full seating area on a flagstone patio from Celerie Kemble’s Lane Venture furniture collection, Bailey McCarthey took advantage of the shade beneath an 80-year-old oak tree in her Houston backyard.
The Great Room in the Garden (2016)
Combining both dining and living spaces, this porch at the Nantucket home of Gary McBournie is softened by a massive checkered rug, woven from natural fibers, and bamboo furniture with all-weather cushions.
The Dining Shed That Turned Her Yard Into a Restaurant (2019)
Elizabeth Georgantas was inspired by Earth at Hidden Pond, a restaurant in Maine, when she hung artwork all over the ceiling of a little shed in her Nantucket backyard, set up a table, and started hosting unforgettable dinner parties.
The Patio Built Around a Redbud Tree (2023)
Four sets of French doors open to this flagstone-lined space at the Kansas City home of Annie Anderson, where guests can lounge, dine, hang out around a firepit, or simply wander over to peek through the glass at the amazing art collection in the hallways.
The Sunroom Where Mick Jagger Posed for Portraits (1979 and 2021)
With glass walls overlooking the rambling gardens of Reddish House, this sunroom in the one-time home of Cecil Beaton in the U.K. has a very scenic view. Inside, the famed photographer took some of his most iconic portraits of celebrities such as David Hockney, Mick Jagger, and Truman Capote.
