Presenting

e design comfortable gathering spaces where we can enjoy the company of friends and family in the fresh air. Backyard cabanas serve as protection from the sun, as well as quiet, shady places to relax and enjoy a good read. "Lanai," a word borrowed from Hawaii, has become a staple of residences in the Sunshine State. Veranda, gallery, piazza…any label given to this architectural element evokes the same feeling—a sense of celebrating the lush, verdant surroundings by blurring the boundary between indoors and outdoors. A fire pit or bricked fireplace is a wonderful addition to this concept of a second family room. The coziness of the welcome warmth on a mildly chilly evening is enhanced by the soft light and shadows that are cast. If ambiance is the aim, a string of vintage Edison lights artfully slung from the rafters of an arbor or trellis will do nicely. Romantic and elegant, they transform a patio into a Mediterranean-style getaway. If the intended mood on the lanai is more functional than fanciful, a big screen television gracing an appropriately sheltered wall truly completes the picture. Rounding up the whole family to take in a movie is as much of a treat as getting together to star gaze. With this versatile space, you can enjoy both. Fully appointed summer kitchens contain all the accoutrements of a gourmet chef. Features such as gas grills with multiple side burners, pizza ovens, warming drawers and wine coolers make cooking alfresco a real delight, even for the most discerning foodies. An adjacent dining area is the ideal place to congregate for a meal, either tucked under an umbrella during a breezy lunch or serving as the best seat in the house for a stunning after-dinner show—a brilliant sunset that sets the evening sky ablaze. The poolside deck is a favorite spot to unwind, and sipping cocktails while perched in a chaise lounge on a burbling Baja ledge certainly sounds like a little slice of heaven. The lull of trickling waters is the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon nap in a hammock swing. If sleep is not on the agenda, it is easy to consider trading a heart-pounding session on the treadmill in an at-home gym for a few rousing and refreshing laps in the pool. At night, creatively designed LED lighting below the surface can transform the pool into a temptingly lovely lagoon. Achieving a harmonious blend of the practical and the delightful is a hallmark of a Floridian backyard, which can thankfully be utilized and relished just about every day of the year. W 12 | Michael Saunders & Company

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