When the weather gets warm enough, the siren call of the sunny outdoors tends to top anything indoors. but our outside spaces can’t house the same luxuries as our inside ones — or can they? Bridge the indoor-outdoor divide with these swoon-worthy ideas from the pages of H&H. From glassed-in terraces and roofed patios to screened-in porches, these stunning spaces offer the best of both worlds.

Designer John Tong’s west-end Toronto house and courtyard was dictated by his children’s needs, turning an old industrial alleyway into a gigantic outdoor playroom. Swings were hung from existing steel beams, which created a natural canopy for a seating area.

Photographer: Stacey Brandford

Source: house & home June 2010

Designer: John Tong, 3rd Uncle Design

The back wall features a 12-foot cedar installation that doubles as a backdrop as well as a screen for projecting movies. bring out a couple of sleeping bags and pillows and motion picture night reaches a whole new level in this space.

Photographer: Stacey Brandford

Source: house & home June 2010

Designer: John Tong, 3rd Uncle Design

A screened-in deck is the best transition space between indoors and out. A low wall anchors the tall windows supplying uninterrupted views, while the deck railing continues around the width of the deck, blurring the line between the two spaces.

Photographer: Michael Graydon

Source: house & home July 2013

Designer: Muskoka Living Interiors

The pergola in this Toronto backyard supplies shade and protection for the built-in seating. plush cushions soften hard exterior materials like stone and wood. Fresh flowers in a vase on the table echo the look of a a lot more formal indoor table setting.

Photographer: Michael Graydon

Source: house & home September 2012

Designer: Terry Ryan, Cubic yard Design

Paving stone laid in a herringbone pattern creates a rug-like effect and delineates the living space, as seen from the interior of the cabana. A 20-foot sliding glass accordion door delineates the indoor and outdoor areas. The mod furniture would be equally at home in a living room as it is here.

Photographer: Virginia MacDonald

Source: house & home July 2013

Designer: garden design: Meredyth and Bard Hilton, artistic Gardens

The ikat-style rug was made from weather resistant materials to stand up to the elements at this year-round home in the Catskills, new York. This screened-in deck bridges the gap between a century old log cabin on the ideal and a larger ‘80s house on the left.

Photographer: Anastassios Mentis

Source: house & home may 2015

Designer: Brendan Kwinter-Schwartz

H&H’s senior editor Sally Armstrong’s basement walkout was transformed into an entertaining oasis. To create a seamless transition from the inside to the outside, the patio banquette was created and accented to feel like an extension of the interior built-in bench. The concrete floor is also carried throughout.

Photographer: Virginia MacDonald

Source: house & home September 2013

Designer: Sally Armstrong, architect, Kelly Buffey (Atelier Kastelic Buffey)

Seenfrom basement level, the lush plantings and fabrics soften the concrete surround. A mix of materials, including wood and rattan, will age gracefully. instead of a big wall of concrete, the terraced plantings supply visual interest — it’s hard to believe this seating area is below ground level!

Photographer: Virginia MacDonald

Source: house & home September 2013

Designer: Sally Armstrong, architect, Kelly Buffey (Atelier Kastelic Buffey)

The varied seating areas, as well as the multi-level bar, genuinely makes this the utmost entertaining space. giving plenty of options for seating is crucial for a comfortable outdoor experience, and the mix-and-match materials here break up the monotony of normal uniform outdoor seating.

Photographer: Virginia MacDonald

Source: house & house July 2007

Designer: Peter Fallico

The back terrace of designer Colette van den Thillart’s London home incorporates the best of the English country aesthetic. Mismatched stripes on the armchair mirror the slatted cafe chairs outside. The cerulean pedestal used as a side table evokes a garden bird bath, bringing the outside in.

Photographer: Chris Stubbs

Source: house & home January 2011

Designer: Colette van den Thillart, NH Design

Designer and artist Jay Hodgins’ long screened-in deck functions rain or shine, thanks to a sturdy roofing above. The overhead lighting, soft furnishings and art displayed on the back wall make the space feel like an extension of the house.

Photographer: Alex Lukey

Source: house & home March 2015

Designer: Jay Hodgins

Who says outdoor furniture has to be boring? designer Sarah Hartill brought some glam to her backyard entertaining area with a gold table and chair set. The concrete retaining wall frames the space, giving it a room-like structure, and is topped with pillows for a clever seating alternative.

Photographer: Michael Graydon

Source: house & home February 2014

Designer: Sarah Hartill; architectural blueprints, will Hudson, Hudson Architecture

The central pavilion of this retreat on B.C.’s South Pender Island genuinely blurs the lines between outdoor and indoor. two walls of sliding glass doors indicates ocean breezes come ideal through. The materials used are all ones that reflect the colors of nature and the furnishings are purposefully low-slung to leave views uninterrupted.

Photographer: Janis Nicolay

Source: house & home may 2014

Designer: Carrie McCarthy and Tanja Hinder, McCarthy Hinder interior Design