How to make the most of your outdoor living space.

Porches are perfect places to enjoy shaded afternoons or balmy evenings, where you can feel immersed in your community and neighbors can stop by for a chat.

Design-wise, front porches are transitions from the style of your neighborhood to the style of your interior.

A client of mine purchased a small mid-century beach house, but she wanted the interior to be sleek, contemporary and minimal. Since both the home and community are midcentury style, the porch needed to stay in keeping with the exterior and neighborhood while introducing guests to the interior.

To strike this balance, we updated the porch with wainscoting on the walls, giving the space mid-century ambiance with a modern twist.

We also transformed the ceiling from flat to vaulted for a more spacious feel, and added ceiling fans with light boxes for comfort and to provide light after the sun sets.

The mid-century-inspired chairs we selected complete the transition and are upholstered in sea-blue textured outdoor fabric, which also gives a nod to the home’s beach location.

Entertaining outdoors in warm weather is a pleasure when all the conveniences of your kitchen are at your fingertips. This outdoor kitchen features a grill, stove, oven, refrigerator, storage cabinets — as well as three televisions.

Moving from the front to the backyard, let’s take a look at outdoor entertaining and a solution we chose for a different client.

You don’t have to get stuck indoors when it’s time to prepare meals for your family or guests — take outdoor entertaining to the next level and spend time with everyone while preparing the meal in an outdoor kitchen right in your own backyard.

Outdoor kitchens are very popular, especially since they put all the conveniences of your indoor kitchen right at your fingertips — no need to be running in and out of the house all the time!

There are many sizes, configurations and styles of outdoor kitchens. One features a grill, stove, oven and refrigerator, as well as built-in storage cabinets for all the necessary cooking equipment. And to continue the theme of convenience, a serving cart lets you bring food and drinks from the grill, refrigerator or stove right to your seated guests. When it’s not in use, it can display beautiful potted plants and flowers.

Outdoor living is one of the joys of warmer weather. Your balcony can become your outdoor oasis with proper planning and the right design.

Granite countertops are well-suited for all kinds of weather and are easy to clean, making them perfect for all types of prep work. You can choose a color and pattern that complements your patio or deck, or is in keeping with the color and style of your home’s exterior.

There’s no need for you or your guests to miss “the big game” while the food is being prepared — this particular kitchen has three televisions that swivel so they can be viewed from any chair on the patio or deck. When they’re not in use, the TVs flip up and out of the way. Dining al fresco has never been more enjoyable!

Many experts have said that outdoor kitchens can increase the resale value of your home because they tack on additional living space.

They also can help a property sell faster, especially during the spring and summer months, when buyers are thinking about outdoor entertaining.

These examples of how we helped two of expand their living spaces beyond the walls of their homes and into the outdoors can give you some ideas on how to create your own ideal outdoor retreat.

They can turn any weekend or week off into a real staycation!