We can’t all live in a forest, but if we design the right outdoor areas with native plants and inviting lighting, we can reap the benefits of spending more time outside.
Also, as the open air space master, the scene planners might impact decisions that influence the design.

Lautner gives the example of a client on the East Coast who wanted a minor remodel to go along with an updated outdoor experience. She stated, “other than to get away from the dramatic elevation difference between deck and yard, the client wasn’t sure what they wanted.”

Lautner designed a system of terraces on multiple levels that connected the various spaces. While the client wanted the wonderful and welcoming spaces, Lautner could see the hidden issue that would hold the new finishing and format back from conveying its most extreme impact — the entryway was in some unacceptable spot and would need to move to empower the best indoor-open air stream.

She pitched her idea to the homeowner and contractor, and it proved to be revolutionary for the indoor and outdoor areas. Presently they have a mass of windows and French entryways outwardly interfacing the spaces, stretching out the indoor sightlines to the (flawlessly lit obviously) open air space and making an indoor-outside stream that allows the home to satisfy its true capacity.

We can’t all live in a forest, but if we design the right outdoor areas with a mix of native plants and warm lighting, we can reap the benefits of spending more time outside, whether we’re actively gardening or just hanging out in the outdoor kitchen. This can be realized with the help of the landscape designer.