While we’re seeing more examples of the outside being let in, we’re also noticing that the inside is being let out. What used to be called a California room is now popular throughout the country. Outdoor spaces are getting more deluxe, with better cooking equipment, nicer furnishings, and fire pits (more on those in a moment). Many of the outdoor spaces we saw this year are built under a lean-to, providing shelter from the elements. A thoughtfully conceived outdoor living space, it seems, can make the difference between selling a home and not.
Amy Albert is editor of Custom Home and a senior editor at Builder. She covers all aspects of design. Previously, she
was kitchen design editor at Bon Appetit;
before that, she was senior editor at Fine
Cooking, where she shot, edited, and wrote stories on kitchen design. Amy
studied art history with an emphasis on architecture and urban design at the
University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Los Angeles. Write her at aalbert@hanleywood.com, follow her on Twitter @CustomHomeMag and @amyatbuilder, or join her on Custom Home's Facebook page.
