15 Backyard Escapes Worth Taking a Vacation Day For
You don't need a plane ticket, a fancy hotel or even a new town to
take a vacation. All you need is a slight change of scenery, a slight
change of pace and some peace of mind. For these homeowners vacation
happens every time they step outside their houses, thanks to these
outdoor escapes in their own backyards. Whether its a greenhouse-turned-studio,
a playground-turned-pavilion or a grain-shed-turned-getaway, each of
these beautiful backyard escapes has everything it needs for plenty of R
& R.
Imagine waking up in the morning,
fresh air coming filtering through on all sides, the sun rising over an
ocean view and whales breaching on the horizon. That's the vision this
designer had in mind for this hideaway on the California coast. Salvaged
redwood bark siding and a native living roof allow it to blend with its
surroundings, while hinged sides and a retractable glass door open for
natural ventilation and a view on almost every side.
See more: Great Escape: A Tiny, Off-the-Grid Hideout in the California Woods
See more: Great Escape: A Tiny, Off-the-Grid Hideout in the California Woods
Seattle's rain can hamper serious
gardening for a good portion of the year. These homeowners didn't let
that stop them; they swapped a tennis court for a greenhouse and
toolshed to keep up their gardening year-round. Raised vegetable beds, a
flagstone patio, a fire pit and a bocce court complete this cozy backyard escape.
See more: Patio of the Week: A Cozy Backyard Escape Warms Seattle Gardeners
See more: Patio of the Week: A Cozy Backyard Escape Warms Seattle Gardeners
A backyard spa sounded like a
great way to make use of an empty space in Sloan Schang's Portland,
Oregon, backyard, but the price tag for a hot tub wasn't ideal. So he
took matters into his own hands and built his own bathhouse in less than
a week and for a fraction of the cost, using an antique cast iron tub
with a hot-water hose, and including a wood pergola and a DIY light
fixture.
See more: See a Soothing Backyard Bathhouse Born From a Salvaged Tub
See more: See a Soothing Backyard Bathhouse Born From a Salvaged Tub
With their children grown and out
of the house, this Minnesota couple no longer needed a play structure
in their yard. After recycling the playground, they used its prime
location for an entertainment area of their own: an indoor-outdoor
retreat complete with an authentic South American–style barbecue for
year-round use.
See more: A Minnesota Pavilion Gets Cooking, South American Style
See more: A Minnesota Pavilion Gets Cooking, South American Style
This little grain shed
behind an Ohio farmhouse was the perfect size and shape for a backyard
getaway. The owners moved it to a better location with clear countryside
views, then refinished and decorated it with era-appropriate antiques.
Colorful accents and an awesome antique Quick Meal stove give it even
more character; now the little shed is comfortable and cozy enough for
an afternoon nap.
See more: A Backyard Getaway Emerges From a Grain Shed
See more: A Backyard Getaway Emerges From a Grain Shed
With the help of his three
children, this homeowner painstakingly built this tree house to fit the
shape of a 100-year-old California coast live oak.
Nothing is bolted or nailed to the tree, and the construction accounts
for future tree growth, too. Outfitted with bunk beds and simple
amenities, it's now a charming guesthouse that the owners rent to
visitors.
See more: A Northern California Tree House Makes Memories
See more: A Northern California Tree House Makes Memories
The impeccable hand-crafted quality of this Brooklyn playhouse is obvious: Raw cedar, brass hardware,
copper screens and antique lighting give it a timeless look. But the
designer managed to take it beyond basic aesthetic appeal. Spots for
speakers, inside seating and a genius steel tub that serves as a
sandbox, ice chest and water pool make it a perfect fit for the clients,
a New York family.
See more: A Playhouse Grows in Brooklyn
See more: A Playhouse Grows in Brooklyn
This Monterey, California, couple built a prefab barn house out of Cor-Ten steel
and plywood to make use of their property's permit for a barn with a
bathroom. The simple material palette cut costs and allowed them to
build a spacious setup suited for big dinners (including their annual
Thanksgiving festivities), parties and game nights.
See more: See a Party Barn Shaped Like a Game Piece on the California Coast
See more: See a Party Barn Shaped Like a Game Piece on the California Coast
This lush greenhouse couldn't be
more different than the clients' Manhattan home — and that's just the
way they like it. Built as an extension of a summer house in Bucks
County, Pennsylvania, the greenhouse is home to plenty of plants but
also has space for lounging and dining. Heating (including radiant
heat), air conditioning and a fireplace make it suitable for year-round
use.
See more: A Luxury Greenhouse Lures Manhattanites to the Country
See more: A Luxury Greenhouse Lures Manhattanites to the Country
Although this Santa Barbara,
California, couple initially needed space to store their garbage cans
out of sight, the designer ended up giving them much more. The modern
90-square-foot structure has recycling and garbage cans tucked away on
one side, and opens up on the other side to a sun-filled art studio and
patio with a backyard view.
See more: A Compact Shed Makes Room for Storage, Creativity and Style
See more: A Compact Shed Makes Room for Storage, Creativity and Style
This fantastic home office
was designed in Austin, Texas, built offsite, shipped in parts and
assembled in five days. The entire process took six weeks and resulted
in a stunning 96-square-foot backyard space. The designer charred the
sides in shou-sugi-ban style for its interesting look, but the exterior finish process also makes the structure resistant to fire, rot and pests.
See more: Ecofriendly Home-Office Shed in Austin
See more: Ecofriendly Home-Office Shed in Austin
These homeowners were tired of
looking at the dilapidated and depressing shed at the end of their
driveway, but they didn't want to spend a lot of money to fix it up.
Doing the work themselves and relying on salvaged furniture and the
miraculous effects of new paint cut the costs to less than $300.
See more: Dig This Garage Shed Makeover for Less Than $300
See more: Dig This Garage Shed Makeover for Less Than $300
When building a prefab studio
proved to be too much on his San Francisco yard's steep site, this
clever designer went with a greenhouse kit instead. The small structure,
set on a custom deck, suits his needs and takes full advantage of the
California sunshine. Engineered wood floors, Ikea storage and opaque
glass treatments give the reinvented greenhouse e a surprisingly homey
feel.
See more: Studio Solution: A Kit Greenhouse Becomes a Creative Private Office
See more: Studio Solution: A Kit Greenhouse Becomes a Creative Private Office
