Renovating
Outdoor Living: Throw Open the Doors to Welcome Summer
It’s time to fling open the doors and let the sunshine in. These stylish homes celebrate the sunniest season
We don’t typically enjoy a long, hot summer in the UK, but it pays to be prepared! A house that can quickly be opened up to let warm breezes and bright sun in makes the most of our hit-and-miss climate and capitalises on those welcome blasts of seasonal heat. Clever architecture helps here, allowing the outside and inside to merge so alfresco dining and outdoor lounging are easy and immediate, and we can enjoy the best of the weather, even while sitting inside. Take inspiration from this collection of summer-friendly homes. Just add sunshine!
Go green
The garden outside this stylishly converted old telephone exchange begins close to the house, with space for just a small terrace outside the French windows. This increases its connection to the house’s interior, so it can easily be enjoyed from within.
The garden outside this stylishly converted old telephone exchange begins close to the house, with space for just a small terrace outside the French windows. This increases its connection to the house’s interior, so it can easily be enjoyed from within.
Be flexible
It’s much easier to move a chair outside when the sun comes out than it is to move a pool indoors when it’s cold or wet. That’s the thinking behind the modern extension on this house, which has living space above and a heated indoor pool below. The pool can be opened to the elements when the weather permits and leads onto a handsome terrace for sunny-day lounging.
It’s much easier to move a chair outside when the sun comes out than it is to move a pool indoors when it’s cold or wet. That’s the thinking behind the modern extension on this house, which has living space above and a heated indoor pool below. The pool can be opened to the elements when the weather permits and leads onto a handsome terrace for sunny-day lounging.
Big up your balcony
This fantastic balcony looks over the sea and has been decorated with cheerful seaside stripes, to capture the summery vibe year-round.
See how to create an urban oasis
This fantastic balcony looks over the sea and has been decorated with cheerful seaside stripes, to capture the summery vibe year-round.
See how to create an urban oasis
Plant vertically
This house in London has a planted ‘living’ wall that works as a kind of vertical garden and is visible from the lower two floors. This is an inspired way to introduce some lush, summer green to a small courtyard space.
This house in London has a planted ‘living’ wall that works as a kind of vertical garden and is visible from the lower two floors. This is an inspired way to introduce some lush, summer green to a small courtyard space.
Unwind in style
This modernist house was built withing the ruined walls of a property that had burned down. It was designed to be a peaceful place to relax, regenerate and think of new ideas. Oh, and have a swim, too (weather permitting!).
See how to throw the perfect garden party
This modernist house was built withing the ruined walls of a property that had burned down. It was designed to be a peaceful place to relax, regenerate and think of new ideas. Oh, and have a swim, too (weather permitting!).
See how to throw the perfect garden party
Maximise the views
This beautiful boat house on the south coast is the perfect place to watch the summer sun come up, climb in the sky and set again, with long views over the sea and a wide deck to relax on.
This beautiful boat house on the south coast is the perfect place to watch the summer sun come up, climb in the sky and set again, with long views over the sea and a wide deck to relax on.
Open on any floor
This Victorian water tower has been extended with the addition of a three-storey cube. Now, its residents can throw open the glass on this ultra-modern extension and let the summer breeze blow in.
This Victorian water tower has been extended with the addition of a three-storey cube. Now, its residents can throw open the glass on this ultra-modern extension and let the summer breeze blow in.
Create a floral view
Raised flowerbeds positioned close to the rear of this house mean the view from the basement living space is directly onto plants and flowers. A glass surround to the upper balcony makes it safe without obscuring the summery vista. The bed is filled with a mix of scented plants, including lavender, so their perfume drifts indoors.
Raised flowerbeds positioned close to the rear of this house mean the view from the basement living space is directly onto plants and flowers. A glass surround to the upper balcony makes it safe without obscuring the summery vista. The bed is filled with a mix of scented plants, including lavender, so their perfume drifts indoors.
Hang some shade
A sail shade protects this tiny courtyard from strong sun, making the space in front of the French windows somewhere that can be enjoyed all day. Tubs planted with colourful annuals soften up the deck and there is lots of room for alfresco dining.
TELL US…
How do you welcome the summer into your home? Share your tips in the Comments below.
A sail shade protects this tiny courtyard from strong sun, making the space in front of the French windows somewhere that can be enjoyed all day. Tubs planted with colourful annuals soften up the deck and there is lots of room for alfresco dining.
TELL US…
How do you welcome the summer into your home? Share your tips in the Comments below.
This is perhaps the slimmest house in London, little wider than the garden doors, and with a long garden adjoining it. By positioning a dining space right by the doors, you don’t have to be sitting outside to feel the fresh air and hear the birdsong.