Recently, Compass sales agent Cassidy Iwersen felt a shift in her conversations with home buyers: Most of her clients want—no, need—a house with a swimming pool, and they aren’t afraid to delay their hunt until they get one. “Once, it might have been a ‘nice to have’; now it’s becoming a ‘must have,’” says Iwersen. At least, it’s turned into a deal breaker for many living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that she works in, but she suspects others who experienced record-breaking temperatures this year feel the same. 

For the everyday homeowner, the draw of a pool is enjoyment: It’s an amenity a whole family can use. Some buyers with kids have admitted to Iwersen that having one even encourages their little ones to lessen their screen time. Adults feel the same way: “One of my clients with a high-powered job said, ‘There are only a few things that really help me decompress and where I feel really relaxed, and hanging out in the pool is one of them,’” she recalls. 

What does all that zen time translate to in dollar signs? If you’re shopping for a home with a saltwater pool, you might expect to pay more for it and see more competition from other buyers, according to Zillow’s latest research, which suggests homes with saltwater pools sell for 1.5 percent more than comparable homes without one. Fortunately, most people don’t appear to care all that much about what the pool looks like but rather what shape it’s in. Older ones that require significant repairs can drag down the overall value of a property. “I always recommend getting a separate pool inspection,” says Iwersen.  

And what if your budget doesn’t get you a place with a pool at all? Iwersen has witnessed many clients stall their searches as a result, but she is proposing an alternative solution: Commit to the house you love, and if it’s pool-less, build a 5-foot-deep plunge pool. While they aren’t necessarily that much cheaper to construct than your average inground pool (approximately $25,370), these tiny oases come with a ton of perks: You don’t have to have a huge yard to fit one (you can even put one on sloped terrain), it’s easier to maintain and clean, it requires fewer chemicals, and it won’t break the bank if you want to heat it in the cooler months. 

This time last year, Karen Larson, cofounder of Soake Pools, saw record-breaking sales, 15 percent of which consisted of pools smaller than 7-by-13 feet. According to customer feedback, plunge pools fit well into the ever-popular outdoor living concept because they leave more room for other features such as firepits, lawn games, and alfresco kitchens. Read on for some more perks to paring back. 

You Can Get One in a Matter of Months

Chapman Bullock, cofounder of Proper Plunge Pools, says half of its inquiries come from clients who want a pool within three months—a timeline that’s totally doable when the actual installation only takes a matter of days. “The traditional path is going to take [customers] 12 to 18 months,” he says. “People don’t want a construction site in their backyards for months at a time.”

You Can Order One on the Internet

Here’s a short list of a few designer-favorite sources for premade plunge pools:

• Plungie
• Little Dipper
• Proper Plunge Pool
• Soake Pools

You Can Now Turn the Temp Way Down

More of a cold plunge kind of person? Soake Pools recently announced the launch of its first plunge pool designed specifically for cold plunging. The basin is smaller, lighter, and more efficient than its counterparts. Measuring at just 4-by-4 feet, the compact unit is intended for sitting and comfortably fits one person to create a traditionally individual, energizing experience. In addition to selecting your choice of porcelain tile for the interior, there are three cover styles available: lockable wood roll, textured folding spa, or the power safety. 

It Might Boost Your Value, But It’ll Definitely Perk Up a Listing

During the pandemic, it was clear buyers were willing to pay more for a home with a pool—specifically, $27,199 more on average. Generally, though, adding a pool of any kind solely to boost the resale value of your home is a gamble because you might not recover the total cost of putting one in. “I’m cautious to ever say that you can expect to get that back because there are so many other factors when pricing a home to sell, but I do feel that it does add value in most cases,” notes Iwersen. With that said: The appeal is real. “[Pools] used to be buried in the listing photos, and now I see them as the first one more and more!” she adds. 

You Can Get Creative

The ultimate solution if you are on a tight budget and want a place to keep cool is to buy a stock tank and add a pump. The next best thing? An aboveground pool, which can range from $800 to $5,000. “I feel like people are getting creative with aboveground pools—connecting them to the house with a deck or building out a wood or tiled surround with steps so that they look more inviting,” shares Iwersen. 

And don’t sleep on other water features either. When interior designer Kate Fudim bought her North Carolina home in 2021, there was a tiered fountain in the courtyard—she started requesting quotes from contractors to convert it into a pool ASAP. After a number of contractors quoted her up to $80,000 to do the job, she learned they could simply dig trenches around the lower pool and drill through the bottom of it to add inlets for filtered water and a light. They installed traditional pool equipment, filled it with salt water, and—voilà!—the whole job took three workers three weekends to complete for a grand total of $6,900. “The upper pool is fun because we use our pool floats and lounge around,” she says. “The bottom pool is deeper, though, and it’s in the shade, so I find it the most comfortable.”

The post If Your Home Search Has Stalled Because There’s No Pool, Consider This Petite Alternative appeared first on domino.

In 2016, photographer Winnie Au and her husband exchanged vows in their Brooklyn backyard. With 60 guests filling the outdoor space, you couldn’t see the cracks in the concrete patio, and no one was paying attention to the spiderweb of old telephone cables near the neighbor’s fence. But as years went by and the couple welcomed their daughter into the fold, they made another commitment to each other: to fix up the backyard. 

They turned to landscape architect Lou Arencibia, whose team immediately tore out the old concrete pad, tediously carrying each scrap to the dumpster on the street. This alone was a huge relief for Au. “Just having our child, I wanted her to have a place where she could play where it didn’t feel dirty,” she shares. Still, the space had more issues that needed to be addressed: There was little sense of privacy and the planting areas around the perimeter had gotten out of control. Ahead, Au and Arencibia reflect on the transformation and share how they made it an oasis for her young family of three.

Break It Down Into “Rooms” 

Wanting to create a functional but still intimate-feeling space, Arencibia focused on segmenting the yard into a series of small “rooms.” This included a cozy seating corner, an herb-slash-veggie garden, a dining zone, and a tool storage area.

The plantings were selected to accentuate each of the zones (and hide the couple’s large black compost bin), as were the hardscaping materials. Arencibia designated sustainably sourced Black Locust wood to the lounge area and bluestone to the main dining space. Crushed gravel and evergreen shrubs like rhododendron springtime define the yard’s borders. 

Pick Plants That Thrive in All Kinds of Weather

The stars are the three multistem Amelanchier Grandiflora Autumn Brilliance trees, which boast foliage during three out of four seasons. “I didn’t want it to look barren and sad all winter,” says Au. 

In sunny areas of the garden, they incorporated low-maintenance flowering perennials and ornamental grasses such as fountain grass, Mexican feather grass, echinacea, and silver Russian sage. In shady spots, they went with autumn fern, anemone, and heuchera tapestry. Arencibia was also able to save an existing magnolia tree that Au had picked out with her parents at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden plant sale years ago. “It has always flourished and bloomed beautiful pink flowers every year,” she says. 

Ensure an Edible Garden for Everyone 

The raised herb and veggie garden—now typically filled with tomatoes, basil, thyme, lavender, and peppers—was a must-have for Au. Arencibia made sure the custom-built box was constructed with a deep ledge so anyone who wants to sit and help her tend to the produce (like her toddler!) can do so comfortably. 

Of course, Au and her family aren’t the only ones grabbing a snack out here. Sometimes their dog, Clementine, feels inclined to take a bite of a plant, so for that reason they avoided species that could potentially be toxic to dogs, specifically yew, lilies, crocus, and daffodils. 

Make the Party Invite Only

Before the new wood fence could go up, the yard had to be sealed from other types of neighbors, mainly rats and feral cats. An exterminator recommended running hardware cloth (or steel mesh) underneath the ground around the perimeter to prevent unwanted visitors from digging a personal entrance into the yard. 

Grab the Popcorn

It’s no accident that they didn’t continue the wood fence around the very back of the yard. Au and her family use the brick surface for outdoor movie nights. All they have to add is their portable projector and—voilà!—they’re watching Point Break (the original one with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze) under the stars. “I feel like we’ll be watching something and all the neighbors start watching it, too,” says Au, laughing. 

Go With the (Furniture) Flow

Au’s rule with outdoor furniture is to keep things lightweight. “As a photographer, I’m always thinking about things being able to move around easily,” she says. One wish-list item she gave up on buying? Terrazzo side tables. They’re just too heavy. Instead, her teak and metal pieces can be easily moved out of the way when her daughter wants to run around and swim in their inflatable pool in the warmer months.

Set the Mood at the First Step

With the space coming together nicely, there was one small thing still irking Au: the sliver of concrete at the top of the steps. “I felt like it was a remnant of the old backyard,” she says. “I wanted to find a way to make it beautiful.” Arencibia’s team scooped up some tile from Fireclay, but the scale of the squares looked too big for the teeny patio. So they cut each one down by hand to make a little checkered layout. “On a beautiful day, we like to put floor cushions out on the newly tiled patio and do some seated yoga with my daughter, and we watch the birds together,” says Au. 

The post This Brownstone’s Backyard Welcomes Year-Round Foliage and Hides the Compost Bin appeared first on domino.

Picture this: It’s a beautiful day. You know you should be outside, getting your daily dose of vitamin D, moving your body, reading a book, but you are also three episodes behind on your current favorite show. So you’re faced with a tough choice: Park yourself on the sofa inside or embrace the outdoors and tell yourself you’ll binge later that night. Not everyone has to make this compromise. 

If you happen to have an outdoor TV, you can enjoy the best of both worlds, and home buyers are acutely aware of this fact. New Zillow research finds homes featuring an outdoor TV command 3.1 percent more than expected, which translates to $10,749 on a typical U.S. home. That’s the highest sale price premium of all 359 features Zillow recently analyzed across nearly 1 million home sales in 2023. 

Properties with other desirable backyard amenities such as an alfresco shower, pizza oven, and bluestone patio also fetch higher than expected prices when those elements are mentioned in a listing description. But a TV that’s visible from your swimming pool or firepit? Now that’s the dream.

“When certain features or design styles are highlighted in a listing description, they serve as a signal to a buyer that a home is appealing and up-to-date,” says Zillow’s home trends expert, Amanda Pendleton. As a result, those callouts can help a home sell faster and for more money. 

Of course, securing an outdoor TV setup (whether it’s for yourself or in the hope of sparking a bidding war) is not as simple as plugging a screen into the side of your house. First off, your TV will need to be masked from the elements in the form of a covered patio or pavilion. If you don’t have the time or budget to build a protective structure, consider a lift cabinet that’s clad in weatherproof wood, like this walnut one on Etsy. For those who aren’t as picky about the screen quality, you can also invest in a TV that is specifically designed to go outdoors, such as Samsung’s Terrace series (the brand makes options that can withstand partial or full sun). Now you can click to the next episode with one hand and toss a football with the other.

The post Backyards With This Amenity Can Help Sell a House for $10K More appeared first on domino.

“I don’t know if you know this, but apartments in New York are tiny,” jokes Ryan Dziadul, vice president of PR and business development at Jonathan Adler. So when he and his husband (and their new dog, GoGo) moved into a new roomier apartment in Manhattan’s Midtown East neighborhood, they were thrilled to see it came with a terrace, which they planned to use as another room.

The only problem? The outdoor space is only about 4 feet wide, and even though they wanted it to be where they’d sip their morning coffee, eat dinner, and unwind at the end of the day, a traditional round outdoor umbrella just wouldn’t fit. Enter the half-round outdoor umbrella, which Dziadul’s husband found on Amazon and for only $60. “I did not know there was such a thing,” he admits. “But we’ve had it for two weeks and it’s already a game changer.”

Now the pair can dine alfresco even when it’s drizzling, and when the sun hits the terrace during the day, they can lounge in the shade. With the twist of a knob, Dziadul can easily put the umbrella up or down (though he says on his particular one, the directions are backward), and it’s sturdy enough to withstand New York’s windy winter and prespring showers. 

You don’t need a tiny terrace to use one in your own space. The half-round shape is ideal next to fences and walls or in cramped outdoor spaces. Dziadul’s favorite feature? The sunny orange color, though it’s available in five other shades, too. “I like to think it’s a treat for the neighbors across the street,” he says. “It’s not only a gift for us, but a gift for them.”

Tangkula 9-Foot Half-Round Outdoor Patio Umbrella

Tangkula 9 ft Half Round Outdoor Patio Umbrella in Orange, Amazon ($60)

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Tangkula 9 ft Half Round Outdoor Patio Umbrella in Turquoise, Amazon ($60)

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Tangkula 9 ft Half Round Outdoor Patio Umbrella in Tan, Amazon ($60)

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Tangkula 9 ft Half Round Outdoor Patio Umbrella in Wine, Amazon ($60)

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Tangkula 9 ft Half Round Outdoor Patio Umbrella in Blue, Amazon ($60)

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The post This $60 Half (!) Umbrella Makes Finding Shade in Your Itsy-Bitsy Outdoor Space So Easy appeared first on domino.

We’ll buy sculptural wicker pool chaises, invest in stylish windproof umbrellas, and serve burgers on colorful Splatterware, but still most of us will choose to have boring gray flagstone or red brick terracotta underfoot. Why the disconnect? It’s not for a lack of loving our outdoor spaces. Truthfully, it’s because other options usually aren’t on our radar. Clé Tile realized homeowners, architects, and even landscape designers were missing out on creative alternatives, so the brand recently launched OUTERclé, a website dedicated to the company’s outdoor-friendly products. If you’re gearing up for a pool reno, this is a solid place to start: OUTERclé features one of the most extensive collections of pool tile we’ve ever seen.

Here are a few of the unexpected materials we uncovered on the new platform (and where we’d use them). 

High-Contrast Terrazzo for the Outdoor Kitchen

Dolce Vita Terrazzo: Torrone I, OUTERclé ($33.95 per square foot)

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You can essentially use terrazzo anywhere outside, but we’re suckers for it as a backsplash or countertop in a cooking setting. Grilling hot dogs just feels a little more sophisticated with this speckled composite around.

Lush Green Terracotta for the Pool

Eastern Expression, OUTERclé ($21.95 per square foot)

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Everyone will expect to see reddish orange terracotta lining your walkway. They won’t see it coming at the bottom of the pool—especially in a shade of Kelly green. Psst: The result will look a lot like the zen plunge pool at this Venice, California, home. 

Sandy-Hued Stone for the Driveway 

Pemberley Pavers, OUTERclé ($63.95 per square foot)

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Not sure what materials work where? Navigate to the “Areas” section on OUTERclé’s home page and you’ll see that the company has broken everything down for you. The driveway options are particularly inspiring: No black asphalt here, just stone pavers that come in light, soothing shades. 

Volcanic Ash–Glazed Tiles for the Garden 

ExCinere By Formafantasma, OUTERclé ($161.25 per square foot)

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In the mix, you’ll also find exclusive products like the ExCinere collection by FormaFantasma, which uses volcanic lava in its manufacturing process. While the tiles aren’t suitable for exterior floors, they are perfect for fountains and furniture (OUTERclé carries a coffee table and side table made from the tiles). 

Gradient Cement for the Patio

Colore Frattura, OUTERclé ($20.90 per square foot)

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So what should you lay down on the patio? Meet the brand-new Colore Frattura line. The tiles (available in 2-by-6-inch or 4-by-4-inch formats) are inspired by Clé’s beloved ceramic zellige tile, except these matte cement versions are much more durable. 

Modern Breeze Blocks for the Fence

Belgian Reproduction Privé, OUTERclé ($47 per square foot)

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If you’ve got a spacious backyard and aren’t sure how to make it cozier: breeze blocks. If you want to hang out in your front yard without feeling like the neighborhood is watching you: breeze blocks. They are the ultimate room divider to make the outdoors even greater.

The post You Won’t Look at Flagstone the Same After Seeing This New Outdoor Tile Collection appeared first on domino.

There’s something effortlessly charming about shingle exteriors. At first glance, they bring to mind long summer days spent outside where you can admire their looks. Even in cold weather, dusted with snow, they offer a dose of eye candy. They invite you in, either with generous porches, a no-fuss patina, or cozy quarters. Domino home tours serve up shingles all along the Eastern seaboard, and even one in Los Angeles. Ahead, see six inspirational houses that’ll make you want to move right in. 

The Painstakingly Renovated Shingle Exterior

Studio Kestrel’s recent renovation of an 1800s home in Brookhaven, New York, included righting tombstones in a small cemetery on the property, clearing out old duck decoys, and restoring the weathered cedar exterior. “Everyone was like, ‘Oh, you need to replace that,’” says Paul de Andrade, founder and principal designer. “It was a super labor of love,” he says. We’d say it’s worth it, for the curb appeal and the story. Get a dose of what it looked like before in the full home tour. 

The Moody Blues Shingle Exterior

Fashion designer Beth Birkett (aka Bephie) lives with her family in a four-bedroom Los Angeles house that takes after her style—comfortable and authentic. Its central location in Lafayette Square, a historically Black neighborhood, was a draw when they bought it in 2019. It also had properties that reminded her of her family’s Harlem brownstone. But the exterior of this house, clad in navy shingles and black trim, is more reminiscent of other East Coast structures. However, the property’s palm trees are a reminder that they are, indeed, on the other side of the country.

The Porch-Included Shingle Exterior

The Hamptons are practically synonymous with shingle exteriors that are elegant yet laid-back. The same adjectives could be applied to this project, which came with a 50-page brief from the homeowners. New York–based designer Charlie Ferrer mixed patterns and colors in a balanced way that didn’t lean too cottagey. The front porch, with its purple cabana stripe–upholstered chairs, is a perfect example of that against the backdrop of crisp white and classic cedar.

The Stately Shingle Exterior

Designer and shopkeeper John Derian (of the eponymous label) keeps a vacation home in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where he spent summers as a child. He was charmed by an 18th-century sea captain’s house in part because of the “flow on the first floor, where you can walk in a circle”; gatherings move easily from one room to the next. The buttoned-up exterior, complete with prim hedges, ionic columns, and gridded windows, belies a more relaxed vibe inside where help-yourself spreads, casual cocktails, and plenty of comfortable spots abound.

The Row House Shingle Exterior

It’s a party up front and business casual in the back at designer Jen Levy’s Baltimore row house. While she and her fiancé painted the once-gray front of the house pink, they left the back alone in all its shingled glory. The two-tone exterior leads to 1,350 square feet inside, which was already in great shape when they acquired the home. The one big thing to do was renovate the kitchen, focusing on cosmetic updates.

The Easy-Breezy Shingle Exterior 

Cookbook author and TV personality Katie Lee Biegel’s Hamptons retreat is as classic as they come: expansive porches, sloped yet pointed roof lines, a lawn-size pool, and that beautiful gray shingled exterior. The residence expertly blends Southern charm (Biegel is from West Virginia) with a breezy, informal feel, and she wanted the grounds and outdoor features to possess the same energy.

The post 6 Takes on the Shingle House Exterior, From Moody Blue-Black to Classic Gray appeared first on domino.

Interior designers hope that when a former client moves into a new house, they come back to them wanting more. Sarah Sherman Samuel and Mandy Moore have built that special repeat bond. The now-Michigan-based designer has worked on the This Is Us star’s mid-century Pasadena home and her Paramount office. Now the actor has apparently added a new home to her real-estate portfolio and she’s already tasked Samuel with putting some finishing touches on the backyard. Lucky for her, the designer just launched her first-ever collection of outdoor decor and furniture. 

Samuel’s latest collaboration with Lulu and Georgia spans weatherproof rugs, walnut serving platters, and sculptural planters, but the stars are the major pieces of furniture. “I wanted to bring some different shapes into the outdoor space. I feel like everything is usually very boxy,” explains Samuel. 

The poolside piece that Moore has already ordered for her own backyard? The Marisol chaise, Samuel reveals. It retails for $1,898, and its wicker silhouette is totally solid, meaning there’s no ugly backrest mechanism stopping you from putting the chair, say, in the corner of your bedroom (in fact, the product’s name specifies it for outdoor and indoor use). 

The same goes for many of the other items in the collection, including the Peggy sofa, which sits atop a wavy iron frame—a silhouette inspired by ornate bistro sets, notes Samuel. Her hot tip: For a supercozy setting, pair the airy pieces of furniture (the teak dining chairs, the cement coffee table) with the Shere brown-black handwoven rug. “It’ll just offset those; it’s very grounding,” she says. The outdoor living room lives on.

Shop the Collection

Marisol Indoor-Outdoor Chaise, Lulu and Georgia ($1,898)

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Peggy Indoor-Outdoor Sofa, Lulu and Georgia ($2,598)

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Levata Hammock, Lulu and Georgia ($268)

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Littu Indoor-Outdoor Striped Disc Pillow, Lulu and Georgia ($68)

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Mini Bowls (Set of 3), Lulu and Georgia ($78)

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Shere Handwoven Indoor-Outdoor Rug, Lulu and Georgia ($128)

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The post Mandy Moore Already Ordered This Outdoor Staple From Sarah Sherman Samuel’s New Collection appeared first on domino.

String lights, portable lamps, outdoor sconces—these are all the regular suspects we expect to see illuminating patios, backyards, and porches. Floor lamps? Not so much. Aside from concerns about stability and longevity, cords and power are a conundrum to deal with. But with the increase in indoor-outdoor living over the past several years, resulting in our living rooms spilling onto yards and balconies, there’s something to be said for more permanent light fixtures outside—or at least a spot for a movable one to land.

Outdoor furniture brand Neighbor is betting that its newest release will scratch that itch: The all-weather Acorn lantern, a portable and rechargeable outdoor lamp, and its elegant partner, Stand, debuted today.

Neighbor Acorn Lantern

Acorn Lantern, Putty, Neighbor ($195)

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Acorn Lantern, Black, Neighbor ($195)

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Acorn Lantern Stand, Putty, Neighbor ($195)

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Acorn Lantern Stand, Black, Neighbor ($195)

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Throughout the design process, Neighbor’s team was looking for a way to expand on their dining and seating collections that made people want to linger and relax.

“We knew we needed some type of light that lends itself to quick changes in use,” explains Gene Bunger, senior industrial designer at Neighbor and the Acorn creator. “The overall shape and construction, particularly the ergonomic stem handle, were heavily inspired by nature, both in its shape and functionality.” That handle (and its removable rope) makes the piece easy to carry and ready to hang, as it slides in and out from the stand to be used on other surfaces. “In my testing, I found the leash convenient for lighting the dark trees in the corners of my yard where I don’t have fixed lighting,” says Bunger. 

How the piece would withstand the elements was considered from the get-go. According to Bunger, water and dust protection were critical, especially to achieve an IP65 rating (an international standard that indicates an electrical enclosure is dust-tight and watertight). Material choice was paramount for wind protection and stability, too, which is why a 1/4-inch-thick steel plate was used on the stand. The team chose solid machined aluminum over plastic for the lantern’s handle in hopes of avoiding breakage when it inevitably weathers a tumble.

As for the glow, Acorn’s LED is dimmable and will last up to eight hours at full brightness or up to 24 hours on lower light settings. (For the lighting geeks out there, it’s 200 lumens.) That means you can create cocktail party ambience or illuminate a snack table with just a quick tap, and then leave it for quite some time.

More New Neighbor Launches

The Acorn collection isn’t the only Neighbor launch of late. The brand recently introduced metal to its dining portfolio with the XY Dining collection, which includes a welded, powder-coated steel round table and chairs in five earthy colors. The chairs are available in arm or armless versions, and (bonus) they’re stackable. Additionally, two new solid teak benches have come onto the scene: one that pairs with the Haven furniture collection and another quite perfectly fit for an entryway or front porch.

Neighbor XY Dining Collection

XY Round Dining Table, Neighbor ($2,090)

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XY Dining Chair, Set of 2, Neighbor ($650)

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Neighbor Teak Benches

Haven Bench, 55 Inches, Neighbor ($850)

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Low Bench, Neighbor ($1,300)

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The post This New Portable Light Turns Into an Outdoor Floor Lamp Just Like That appeared first on domino.

Natasha Lyon, the creative force behind U.K.-based Appreciation Project, meticulously revamped every corner of her kitchen only to be left with a sad view when she looked out her brand-new windows. The long-neglected backyard was barren with the exception of one big tree, a cracked concrete patio, and an unusable flower bed. Suddenly, she realized her reno was not yet complete. She had to tackle the outdoors, too. 

When Lyon finally embarked on her quest, it led her to an unexpected treasure: an affordable, off-the-shelf garden shed with whispers of a Victorian orangery. Braving the British winter, Lyon dedicated a season to crafting her dream garden retreat. Nearly a year later, the space has morphed into a treasured hideaway, shielding her from the boundless energy of her children, and has provided solace to her husband when unanticipated rainstorms have rudely interrupted family barbecues. Here’s how she brought it to life.

Step 1: Prepping the Stage

Before the charming retreat could take root, Lyon faced the task of removing an impractical flower bed, thereby extending the garden by an additional 5 feet and creating the much-needed space for the shed’s concrete foundation. To stay within her set budget, Lyon creatively repurposed slate tiles from a previous kitchen renovation to cover the concrete base, turning what was once discarded material into a cost-effective and environmentally friendly flooring solution. This ingenious approach not only aligned with Lyon’s commitment to minimizing waste (a fundamental principle of Appreciation Project, which started as a dried floral bouquet shop) but played a key role in sticking to the project’s financial constraints.

Step 2: Building the Bones

In Lyon’s pursuit of an enchanting escape, she stumbled upon a uniquely designed shed online for roughly $2,200 that had a whimsical pointed roof and arched windows. This particular structure came exclusively in flat packs, requiring every piece to be meticulously assembled. She enlisted her trusted carpenter, who proceeded to tell her he could have easily built it from scratch. But for Lyon, there was no turning back. “I love it exactly as it is,” she says. “I wouldn’t have changed a thing, apart from the quality of the wood, perhaps.” 

Step 3: Adding a Rainbow of Colors

When selecting paint colors for the garden house, Lyon carefully considered its visibility from her main home. Despite her husband’s initial reservation, she convinced him to embrace a red hue on the exterior, pairing it with powder blue on the inside, a color combination that has become an unintentional signature inside Lyon’s home. To help her navigate the winter painting process, she chose Little Greene’s outdoor paint in the shades Baked Cherry and Sky Blue for its quality and built-in primer (a major time-saver). When it came time to paint the floors, Lyon didn’t have to trek all the way to the store: She reused leftover paint (Farrow & Ball’s De Nimes) from a previous hallway project. 

The inspiration for the window film came from a past client project, where Lyon hadn’t had the opportunity to utilize it; it’s available in various colors and sold by the meter. She carefully cut and arranged the film, using soapy water and a squeegee to adhere it and a credit card to smooth out any air bubbles. But she didn’t cover every last square. By leaving parts of the glass untouched, Lyon ensured an outside view: “Our kids and their friends have named it the Rainbow House.”

Step 4: Cultivating a Cozy Atmosphere

In case she ever needs to use the shed for storage, Lyon chose to bring in two chairs rather than build out a permanent bench. She initially intended to reupholster the ’70s pieces (which she scored on Etsy), but the fabric turned out to be in pristine condition. Preferring a gradual decorating approach, Lyon slowly “shopped” her own home, eventually pulling a side table she once used for styling shoots. “My husband jokes that my side tables have side tables,” she says with a laugh, emphasizing the delightful reuse of one in her garden retreat. The cringe Lyon once felt when she looked out her kitchen window has been replaced with a smile. 

The post Colorful Window Film Will Convince You It’s Always Summer in This Designer’s Tiny Backyard Shed appeared first on domino.

When Bobby Berk first laid eyes on the backyard of his Los Angeles design firm’s HQ, two words sprang to mind: sad and boring. Massive concrete slabs dominated the limited square footage, hemmed in by a drab retaining wall. The existing plantings and small patch of grass felt random and purposeless. 

“There was this beautiful—by which I mean hideous—fountain that looked like it was from Versailles or something,” says Berk, “and the hillside was just completely underutilized.” Cut to the finished project—a luxe outdoor oasis that now functions on multiple levels, literally, but more on that in a sec: It’s ideal for business meetings, team brainstorms, and off-duty gatherings around the gigantic marble table. “It may be the ‘office house,’ but this is the house that I have all my friends over to for dinner parties,” the designer adds. Here’s how he created versatile digs equally suited for work and play. 

Start From the Bottom 

The original patio footprint featured a mix of red clay tile, brick, and grass. He swapped it all for gravel and large inset pavers. “This may be controversial, but I’m not a fan of turf between the pavers. My Virgo ass walks in and all I can see are the squares,” Berk says with a laugh. “I like using gravel that’s almost the same color because it adds texture and pattern without that pattern becoming all you can see.” The brick retaining wall got a glow-up in the form of brushed concrete that echoes the underfoot palette, while a monochrome mosaic added visual interest and defined the dining zone from the kitchen. 

From there, Berk worked his way up to previously untapped parts of the yard. New steps lead to a Trex pergola and seating area that peers toward the area’s iconic Wisdom Tree Hike path, while a firepit spot at the highest point of the property is the perfect place to take in a sunset. “The way we set up the hill, it’s like every space has a different view,” he says. 

Put Pots and Plants to Work 

“Without the planters, this would be a very different space—kind of cold,” Berk says. “They not only add texture through the materials but also greenery.” And while, yes, some of the pots were definitely on the pricey side, he is a champion of cheapies, too: “We brought in smaller ones that look like terracotta but are actually plastic.” A perennial rule? “Don’t be afraid to mix and match and do high and low!” 

Team Berk tapped the landscape firm Orca to rework the hillside and incorporate greenery at the ground level, too. “I’m not a huge flower fan,” admits Berk. “I really like to achieve drama and interest with different colors and textures of green.” Fringe-y ferns, structured succulents, climbing vines, and fuzzy foliage form a lush garden that’s water wise and low-maintenance. 

Get Your Kitchen in Gear

Just like indoors, everyone wants to crowd around the cook: The large island (by Trex Outdoor Kitchens) is great for predinner cocktails while the chef is on prep mode or at the Caliber grill. Berk also sourced a marble-topped Sutherland dining table big enough for 10, which lately he’s been setting with finds from Minted. “It has a whole designer marketplace now that we’ve been using a lot, from textiles to napkins and plates, and a lot of it is from the individual makers,” he says. Though he did away with the original fountain, he wound up adding his own next to the dining zone. This one is aesthetically on point but also plays a pragmatic part: drowning out any freeway noise you might otherwise hear echoing through the canyon hills. 

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