Articles by Annie Thornton

A porch can provide the perfect blend of indoor comfort and outdoor connection. Add screens, and your porch enjoyment can extend even longer into the year. The pros who designed and built the following three screened-in porches maximized the spaces’ p…

After living in their 1960s San Diego home for more than 10 years, this family was ready to make some changes. They enlisted designer Melissa Prevost to help them renovate their home inside and out. Prevost started with the underused outdoor areas, wo…

As summer winds down, it’s easy to want to turn our attention toward fall, focus on what’s next. But before we do, let’s take a moment to savor one of summer’s joys — more time with our pets! We asked you to share your best photos of your pets……

There’s a lot to love about summer at home — from long, leisurely days relaxing with icy drinks on the porch to warm evenings enjoying grilled meals on the patio. But what makes this time even better is getting to spend it with our pets — who often se…

This homeowner reached out to Paulina Cervantes and Andrea Fripp of Dual Concept Design in Chicago early during the pandemic to transform her blank-slate pied-à-terre into an elegant, vibrant retreat. She had recently purchased the condo in the Lincol…

Is there anything that feels more like summer than fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden? But with water consciousness on many people’s minds, particularly in California and other parts of the West, it may seem irresponsible to keep up with the s…

Planting a tree is a big investment in your landscape — but one that can have large payoffs, from beautifying your yard and enhancing curb appeal to shading your home and helping cut energy use. With the 10 native trees profiled here, the benefits are…

This Trending Now story features the most-saved deck and patio photos uploaded to Houzz between Dec. 15, 2021, and March 15, 2022.With spring upon us, it’s a good time to focus on updating outdoor areas to fully embrace the warmer months ahead. And if…

Every year, thousands of midcentury design fans flock to Palm Springs, California, for Modernism Week, the city’s celebration of modern design, architecture, art, fashion and culture. Over the course of 11 days, attendees are treated to hundreds of sp…

Having outdoor space can do so much to enhance life at home. But if your yard isn’t designed to suit your needs or entice you outside, it can just as easily become a wasted area or — even worse — an eyesore.In the following three yards, landscape desi…