Best of the Week: 25 Rooms With Indoor-Outdoor Flow
Enjoy our pick of the very best indoor-outdoor spaces on Houzz
We Australians love our indoor-outdoor spaces, using stylish furniture and sophisticated materials to blur the lines between the interior and exterior parts of our homes. If you’re looking to get your home summer ready and need some inspiration, our roundup of the top indoor-outdoor spaces on Houzz is a great place to start.
2. Location: Coogee, NSW
Why we love it: The clever addition of a glass roof here means the owners can enjoy their leafy outlook come rain or shine, from all angles.
Why we love it: The clever addition of a glass roof here means the owners can enjoy their leafy outlook come rain or shine, from all angles.
3. Location: Armadale, Victoria
Why we love it: Carrying through the simple palette of timber, black and white from indoors to out creates a sense of cohesion between the two areas, but it’s those sculptural curves overhead that really have us swooning.
Why we love it: Carrying through the simple palette of timber, black and white from indoors to out creates a sense of cohesion between the two areas, but it’s those sculptural curves overhead that really have us swooning.
4. Location: Sao Paolo, Brazil
Why we love it: Surrounded by greenery on both sides and with a view of the ocean, this really is indoor-outdoor flow at its finest.
Why we love it: Surrounded by greenery on both sides and with a view of the ocean, this really is indoor-outdoor flow at its finest.
5. Location: Balmain, NSW
Why we love it: Proof that you don’t need an awful lot of space to enjoy a charming indoor-outdoor connection. Thoughtful little touches, such as how the timber of the kitchen cabinets matches the door frames, reinforce the sense of cohesion between the two areas.
Why we love it: Proof that you don’t need an awful lot of space to enjoy a charming indoor-outdoor connection. Thoughtful little touches, such as how the timber of the kitchen cabinets matches the door frames, reinforce the sense of cohesion between the two areas.
6. Location: Perth, WA
Why we love it: Curved decking creates drama and interest here and is cleverly echoed by the roofline above. The area has also been designed for maximum flexibility; the kitchen and dining room can be closed off or the whole area can be opened up to create one big space that flows outside.
Why we love it: Curved decking creates drama and interest here and is cleverly echoed by the roofline above. The area has also been designed for maximum flexibility; the kitchen and dining room can be closed off or the whole area can be opened up to create one big space that flows outside.
7. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: Carrying through the same flooring from indoors to out is one of the most effective ways to create a sense of flow between two parts of your home. The choice of pale grey tiles reinforces the minimalist Japanese-inspired feel here.
Why we love it: Carrying through the same flooring from indoors to out is one of the most effective ways to create a sense of flow between two parts of your home. The choice of pale grey tiles reinforces the minimalist Japanese-inspired feel here.
8. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: Timber cladding on the walls and ceiling of this bedroom connects it beautifully to the garden, while concrete adds a rugged, industrial touch.
Why we love it: Timber cladding on the walls and ceiling of this bedroom connects it beautifully to the garden, while concrete adds a rugged, industrial touch.
9. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: Small but perfectly formed: the combination of trees, raised beds and potted plants of different shapes and sizes makes for a warm and inviting outdoor setting in the compact garden of this 1850s bluestone cottage.
Why we love it: Small but perfectly formed: the combination of trees, raised beds and potted plants of different shapes and sizes makes for a warm and inviting outdoor setting in the compact garden of this 1850s bluestone cottage.
10. Location: Mont Albert, Victoria
Why we love it: There’s a lot happening in this narrow alfresco area – a pool, garden, outdoor kitchen and dining setting, just for starters. The owners have cleverly chosen a minimalist palette of timber to prevent the space from looking too busy.
Why we love it: There’s a lot happening in this narrow alfresco area – a pool, garden, outdoor kitchen and dining setting, just for starters. The owners have cleverly chosen a minimalist palette of timber to prevent the space from looking too busy.
11. Location: Wayville, SA
Why we love it: Concrete flooring with an aggregate finish is an unexpected, but thoroughly appealing, flooring choice here. It sets a modern tone indoors and out, and requires far less maintenance than solid timber.
Why we love it: Concrete flooring with an aggregate finish is an unexpected, but thoroughly appealing, flooring choice here. It sets a modern tone indoors and out, and requires far less maintenance than solid timber.
12. Location: Wayville, SA
Why we love it: In the same home, the owners have carried the kitchen cabinets through from inside to outside, reinforcing the connection between the two areas. They score extra points for the mirrored base that makes the unit appear to float in mid-air and the entire area appear larger than it is.
Why we love it: In the same home, the owners have carried the kitchen cabinets through from inside to outside, reinforcing the connection between the two areas. They score extra points for the mirrored base that makes the unit appear to float in mid-air and the entire area appear larger than it is.
13. Location: Los Angeles, USA
Why we love it: Extending the textured wall beyond the lines of the interior space draws the eye outside and blurs the lines between the two areas.
Why we love it: Extending the textured wall beyond the lines of the interior space draws the eye outside and blurs the lines between the two areas.
14. Location: UK
Why we love it: What could be dreamier than waking up to the sounds of the ocean right outside your bedroom? It’s a reality for the owners of this coastal home, where full-height sliding doors can be opened up completely and then tucked out of sight in a pocket recess in the wall.
Why we love it: What could be dreamier than waking up to the sounds of the ocean right outside your bedroom? It’s a reality for the owners of this coastal home, where full-height sliding doors can be opened up completely and then tucked out of sight in a pocket recess in the wall.
15. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: With minimal detailing and visual obstruction, the deck, pool and countryside appear to flow seamlessly into one in this valley home outside Melbourne.
Why we love it: With minimal detailing and visual obstruction, the deck, pool and countryside appear to flow seamlessly into one in this valley home outside Melbourne.
16. Location: Coogee, NSW
Why we love it: Wide-opening French doors fill this Sydney kitchen with light and cheer, making it a delightful spot to whip up a meal.
Why we love it: Wide-opening French doors fill this Sydney kitchen with light and cheer, making it a delightful spot to whip up a meal.
17. Location: Paddington, NSW
Why we love it: Clever allocation of space in this renovated Paddington terrace by MCK Architects means there’s more than enough room for a casual living area, compact deck and backyard. Small but beautiful.
Why we love it: Clever allocation of space in this renovated Paddington terrace by MCK Architects means there’s more than enough room for a casual living area, compact deck and backyard. Small but beautiful.
18. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: A timber-decked courtyard creates a smooth transition between two living zones and fills both areas with natural light.
Why we love it: A timber-decked courtyard creates a smooth transition between two living zones and fills both areas with natural light.
19. Location: Hawthorn, Victoria
Why we love it: Using touches of timber inside and out – on the floors, the exterior screen and facade – reinforces the connection between the two areas in this cosy family home.
Why we love it: Using touches of timber inside and out – on the floors, the exterior screen and facade – reinforces the connection between the two areas in this cosy family home.
20. Location: Neutral Bay, NSW
Why we love it: A huge pivot door is an appealing alternative to the usual stacking, sliding and bi-fold styles, and one that can add real drama to the space. The slatted timber wall that extends from the interior to the deck is another feature we’re loving here.
Why we love it: A huge pivot door is an appealing alternative to the usual stacking, sliding and bi-fold styles, and one that can add real drama to the space. The slatted timber wall that extends from the interior to the deck is another feature we’re loving here.
21. Location: Orange County, USA
Why we love it: Specifying wide-opening doors and polished concrete flooring for both inside and out makes this tiny courtyard appear to be a natural extension of the indoor space.
Why we love it: Specifying wide-opening doors and polished concrete flooring for both inside and out makes this tiny courtyard appear to be a natural extension of the indoor space.
22. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: We adore how sliding doors on both sides of this little Japanese-inspired courtyard draw nature inside the home with barely any effort at all.
Why we love it: We adore how sliding doors on both sides of this little Japanese-inspired courtyard draw nature inside the home with barely any effort at all.
23. Location: Elsternwick, Victoria
Why we love it: Frameless glass doors have a contemporary feel and create a seamless flow between indoors out in this renovated Victorian terrace.
Why we love it: Frameless glass doors have a contemporary feel and create a seamless flow between indoors out in this renovated Victorian terrace.
24. Location: North Fitzroy, Victoria
Why we love it: Carrying through the timber detailing from the built-in shelving inside to the outdoor kitchen and shed is a simple but effective way to draw the two spaces together.
Why we love it: Carrying through the timber detailing from the built-in shelving inside to the outdoor kitchen and shed is a simple but effective way to draw the two spaces together.
25. Location: Artarmon, NSW
Why we love it: Bi-fold doors that open up to a sunny deck, a leafy outlook, and lashings of natural light – a simple but effective indoor-outdoor arrangement.
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Best of the Week: Rainbow Interiors Across the World
Why we love it: Bi-fold doors that open up to a sunny deck, a leafy outlook, and lashings of natural light – a simple but effective indoor-outdoor arrangement.
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If you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, share it, bookmark it and join the conversation.
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Best of the Week: Rainbow Interiors Across the World
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Why we love it: With its generous proportions and relaxed feel, the outdoor room in this renovated 1930s Queenslander by Penman Brown Interior Design works equally well for chilled-out family time as it does for entertaining.