Augmented World Expo 2025 will draw more than 6,000 attendees, 400 speakers and 300 global exhibitors to its event June 10 to June 12 in Long Beach, California. The speaker lineup includes Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, Atari cofounder Nolan Bushnell and Oculus/Anduril founder Palmer Luckey. If the show is any indication, the XR industry isn’t doing so bad. A variety of market researchers are forecasting fast growth for the industry through 2030. Ori Inbar, CEO of AWE, believes that the XR revolution is “ready to conquer the mainstream.” But to get there, he believes the industry still needs to create “head-turning content that must be experienced.” Of course, the red hot days of the “metaverse,” inspired by Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash sci-fi novel in 1992, is no longer driving the industry forward. With less focus on sci-fi, the industry is focused on practical uses for mixed reality technology in the enterprise and consumer markets like gaming. But will XR and the metaverse be overrun by AI, or will it carry them to the mass market destination? Much is riding on how committed Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta will be even as it reprioritizes some resources away from XR to AI. Meta, which acquired Luckey’s Oculus back in 2014, has invested billions every quarter in the technology, with no profits so far. But, in a very unexpected turnaround, Zuckerberg and Luckey buried the hatchet on the past differences and set up an alliance between Meta and Anduril — the latter being Luckey’s AI/drone defense company. Zuckerberg has new competition from his own nemesis, Apple, which launched the Apple Vision Pro in February 2024. However, Apple has slowed down its development of the next-generation XR headset, while Zuckerberg has put more emphasis on AR/AI glasses. Spiegel, the CEO of Snap, has focused on augmented reality glasses. His Spectacles are now in their fifth generation, powered by the Snap OS and authoring tool Lens Studio. Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese, will deliver a one-of-a-kind talk on the main stage with five of his children, who are continuing his pioneering vision in gaming through XR. Brent Bushnell, Nolan’s eldest son, recently debuted DreamPark, a new XR startup that turns any park or playground into a mixed reality theme parks. Others speakers include Vicki Dobbs Beck – VP, Immersive Content Innovation, Lucasfilm & ILM Immersive; Ziad Asghar – SVP & GM XR, Qualcomm; Brian McClendon – Chief Technology Officer, Niantic Spatial, Inc.; Jason Rubin – VP, Metaverse Experiences, Meta; Hugo Swart, Senior Director of XR Ecosystem Strategy and Technology, Google; Jacqui Bransky – VP Web3 & Innovation, Warner Records; Chi Xu – CEO and Founder, XREAL; Helen Papagiannis – AR Pioneer and XR Hall of Famer; and Tom Furness – Grandfather of VR and Founder, Virtual World Society. AWE Builders Nexus will be a new program focused on startups this year. Startup founders, developers, designers, product managers, and business leaders alike will get the resources they need to build something extraordinary, get advice and funding, scale through partnerships, and win customers, Inbar said. The event will also feature the AWE Gaming Hub. I also interviewed some companies that are showcasing technology at the show. Here’s some snippets from what they are going to show. Pico VR Pico started out in Beijing, China, in 2015 and is now hitting its 10th anniversary. It is making the standalone Pico XR headsets, and it was acquired by ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, in 2021. In September 2024, the company launched the Pico 4 Ultra Enterprise headset, filling out the high end of its product line in addition to its G3 and Neo 3 legacy headsets. Pico also has its set of full-body motion trackers to its product offerings to allow for full-body and object tracking. That’s helping it with its focus on location-based entertainment in markets such as China. It’s focused on WiFi7, hand tracking and motion tracking. Leland Hedges, head of enterprise business at Pico, said that the LBE market in China has grown by 1,000% in the last six to nine months Pico has an app for PC streaming and another app for managing devices over a LAN. Pico can track play spaces with columns or cordoned-off areas. Hedges said the company will share 15 different user stories at AWE in public places such as zoos, museums, aquariums and planetariums. Convai Purnendu Mukherjee, CEO of Convai, showed me a bunch of demos at the Game Developers Conference where it has been able to create avatar-based demos of generative AI solutions with 3D animated people. These can be used to show off brands and greet people on web sites or as avatars in games. At AWE, Convai will also off learning and training scenarios for education and enterprises through a variety of simulations. Convai can render high fidelity avatars that are effectively coming from the cloud. At GDC, Convai scanned me and captured my voice so that it can create a lifelike avatar of me. These avatars can be created quickly and answer a variety of questions from website visitors. The idea is to enable non-technical people to create simulations without the need to code anything. In a demo, Convai’s avatar of me said, “I’ve been covering the games industry for many years now at games beat I’ve seen it evolve from the arcades to the massive global phenomenon it is today. I love digging into the business side of gaming, the technology, the culture, the whole shebang.” Convai will announce pricing for its self-serve platform as well as an enterprise subscription fee. Doublepoint Ohto Pentikäinen, CEO of Doublepoint, has a technology that detects the gesture you can make with your hand. It captures that movement via a smartwatch and allows you to control things on a TV interface or an XR device. With Android XR, Doublepoint is showing off demos where gesture control can unlock a more intuitive and comfortable augmented reality experience for those wearing AR glasses. Xreal is one of the glasses makers that is using the technology for controlling an AR user interface with gestures. “Our technology is able to fully control a XR system. A stat that we can update you on is that there’s 150,000 people who have downloaded the technology so far, and we have a developer community of over 2,000 people since January 2024,” Pentikäinen said. Now the company is starting its own Doublepoing developer program, and this adds layers on top of the enterprise client. So now the company can provide technology for indie developers or startups that are building augmented reality or AI hardware experiences. “We’re empowering developers in AR robotics and AI hardware, and we’re providing everything that we’re providing the enterprise clients, but for a much reduced price,” Pentikäinen said.

In today’s homes, the boundaries between indoors and outdoors are becoming beautifully blurred, and courtyard design plays a key role in that transformation. No longer just decorative pockets of greenery, modern courtyards are fully integrated living spaces that bring natural light, fresh air, and a sense of calm right into the heart of the home. Whether you live in a city apartment or a suburban retreat, a well-designed courtyard can create flow, function, and serenity. It becomes more than an outdoor space, it becomes a natural extension of your daily life. In this guide, we’ll explore practical, creative courtyard design ideas that help you connect your interior with the outdoors. From lush garden rooms to cozy side patios, each idea is crafted to inspire a home that feels open, grounded, and alive. 1. Open-Plan Layouts That Frame the Courtyard Image Source: The Architect Diary An open-plan layout that wraps around a courtyard transforms the entire home experience. By strategically positioning living areas,like the kitchen, living room, or dining space,around an open-air courtyard, the outdoors becomes an organic extension of your indoor life. Floor-to-ceiling windows or sliding doors allow natural light and garden views to flow freely. This setup not only maximizes the courtyard’s visibility but also encourages daily use, blurring the lines between inside and outside. It’s especially effective in warmer climates, where fresh air and sunlight can be enjoyed year-round. This courtyard design creates a social hub and a serene retreat in one integrated space. 2. Use Vertical Space for Planting Image Source: HomesandGardens When square footage is limited, think upward. Using vertical space in your courtyard lets you enjoy lush greenery without compromising walkability or functionality. Wall-mounted planters, trellises, living green walls, and tiered shelves can host herbs, flowers, or trailing vines. This strategy not only maximizes planting room but also adds visual depth and texture. It’s ideal for urban courtyards or narrow side patios, where ground planting space is scarce. Vertical gardening also draws the eye upward, creating a sense of openness and scale. With thoughtful positioning, these green walls can mirror or complement interior design features, further connecting your indoor and outdoor worlds.  3. Water Features to Add Tranquility Image Source: Houzz A water feature, whether a bubbling fountain, koi pond, or minimalist wall cascade,adds peace and movement to your courtyard design. The gentle sound of flowing water soothes the mind and masks urban noise, turning the space into a true sanctuary. Water also reflects light and greenery, adding a dynamic visual layer. Compact courtyards benefit especially from wall-mounted or vertical designs, which save floor space while enhancing ambiance. Water features pair well with lush plants and stone elements for a naturalistic setting. Plus, they bring an added cooling effect in warmer climates. It’s a small feature with big sensory benefits. 4. French-Style Courtyard Image Source: The Spruce A French-style courtyard adds classic romance and timeless charm to your home. These courtyards often feature symmetrical layouts, gravel pathways, wrought iron furniture, climbing vines, and a central focal point like a fountain or statue. Boxwood hedges and potted lavender or citrus trees evoke the ambiance of a Parisian garden café. Ideal for homes with European-inspired architecture, this courtyard design feels elegant yet grounded. French-style courtyards blend effortlessly with interiors that favor neutral palettes, antiques, and organic materials. Even in modern homes, this style offers a sophisticated counterpoint to sleek lines. It’s a refined yet welcoming space that makes every day feel like a getaway. 5. Don’t Overcomplicate Your Space Image Source: HomesandGardens When it comes to courtyard design, simplicity often wins. Trying to incorporate too many features, like oversized furniture, mixed themes, or excessive décor,can make even a spacious courtyard feel cramped or chaotic. Instead, focus on clear, functional zones: a place to sit, a patch of green, perhaps one focal point like a water feature or tree. Neutral tones and natural textures help create a calm, cohesive atmosphere. Minimalism doesn’t mean boring, it means intentional. By keeping the design clean and uncluttered, your courtyard becomes a restful extension of your home, not an overstimulating departure from it. Simplicity creates harmony and usability. 6. Introduce Outdoor Lighting Image Source: HomesandGardens Outdoor lighting is essential for enjoying your courtyard after dark and for enhancing safety, mood, and aesthetics. Use layered lighting: overhead string lights or sconces for ambient glow, path lights for navigation, and accent lights to highlight plants or architectural details. Solar-powered options make installation easy and eco-friendly. Smart lighting systems let you control brightness or color temperature from your phone. Choose fixtures that echo your home’s interior style,modern, rustic, or industrial,for cohesion. Well-designed lighting doesn’t just extend courtyard use into the night,it also turns the space into a visual feature from inside, contributing to a seamless indoor-outdoor design. 7. Use Exaggerated Verticals to Maximize Space Image Source: Living get In courtyards with limited square footage, exaggerating vertical elements can dramatically expand the visual experience. Tall hedges, statement sculptures, narrow water walls, or climbing plants draw the eye upward, giving a sense of height and airiness. This is particularly useful in enclosed or urban settings where lateral space is tight. Pair vertical lines with mirrored surfaces or slim lighting fixtures for added effect. Inside, echo this verticality with tall windows or vertically stacked shelves that overlook the courtyard. These upward design cues establish continuity and give the entire area a modern, architectural flair while making it feel larger and more open. 8. Side Patio Courtyard Image Source: The Spruce A side patio courtyard is a smart solution for homes with narrow or awkwardly shaped outdoor areas. Tucked alongside the house, this type of courtyard can become a cozy, private retreat or a secondary dining and lounge zone. Maximize the space with slim furniture, vertical planting, and clean lines. Use glass doors or large windows to open interior rooms,like a kitchen or hallway,directly onto the courtyard, improving light flow and visibility. Even modest side courtyards can feel spacious when thoughtfully designed. With the right layout and materials, they become stylish outdoor rooms that serve as peaceful escapes or vibrant entertaining spots. 9. Built-In Benches or Daybeds Image Source: BetterHomes&gGardens Built-in benches or daybeds are functional and beautiful additions to any courtyard. These features maximize space and invite relaxation without cluttering the area with bulky furniture. Often integrated into low walls or along garden beds, they offer a clean, minimalist look while providing ample seating. Top them with weather-resistant cushions and fabrics in colors that echo your interior for design harmony. A daybed turns your courtyard into a sunlit lounge, ideal for reading or napping. Built-ins also make cleaning and maintenance easier and can be customized to fit awkward corners. Their permanence gives your courtyard design a polished, intentional finish. 10. Backyard Turned Courtyard Image Source: Living get If your backyard feels underused or too open, consider transforming a portion of it into a courtyard. You can define the space by adding partial walls, fencing, or tall plantings like bamboo or hedges to create a sense of enclosure. Incorporate a central feature such as a tree, water fountain, or fire pit to anchor the space. Add comfortable seating, outdoor rugs, and potted plants to bring warmth and purpose. This approach turns a generic backyard into a functional, intimate zone,perfect for reading, relaxing, or hosting. A backyard courtyard offers structure while preserving openness, giving your outdoor area new life. 11. Bring the Inside Out Image Source: HomesandGardens To achieve true indoor-outdoor harmony, replicate the feel of your interior design in the courtyard. Choose outdoor furnishings that mirror your indoor color palette, materials, and style. For example, use similar wood tones, textiles, and decorative elements like lanterns or throw pillows. Outdoor rugs, weatherproof sofas, and even coffee tables can make your courtyard feel like a living room under the sky. Add art, mirrors, or bookshelves with planters to soften the transition. This strategy helps the courtyard feel like a true continuation of your home rather than a separate zone. It enhances comfort, flow, and everyday livability. 12. Indoor Courtyard Turned Private Garden Image Source: Architectural design An indoor courtyard can become a hidden garden sanctuary with the right design approach. Enclosed or semi-enclosed by glass or open ceilings, these courtyards are perfect for curated greenery, from ferns and moss to small trees or flowering vines. Add gravel paths, benches, or a water feature to create a peaceful retreat visible from multiple rooms. This setup is especially useful in dense urban homes, where privacy is valued. The garden becomes a quiet core for reflection and relaxation, away from the outside world. It not only improves aesthetics but also enhances indoor air quality and emotional wellness. 16. Multipurpose Courtyard Space Image Source: Architectural design Why settle for just one use? Design your courtyard to serve multiple functions,such as a morning coffee nook, a kids’ play zone, or an evening yoga space. Use movable furniture, foldable tables, or modular seating that can be reconfigured as needed. Zone the area with rugs or planters to subtly divide uses without crowding the space. This flexible approach makes the courtyard dynamic and relevant to all members of the household. It’s especially useful in smaller homes where every square meter matters. A multipurpose courtyard adapts with your day, making it not just beautiful, but deeply practical. 17. Courtyard with Kitchen Access Image Source: Decorpad One of the most functional courtyard design ideas is positioning it directly off the kitchen. This setup makes alfresco dining a breeze and encourages more frequent use of the outdoor space. Add a BBQ grill, outdoor sink, or even a full mini kitchen with countertop space. For seamless service, consider installing a pass-through window or fold-up bar. It’s perfect for entertaining or simply enjoying a quiet breakfast outside. This courtyard becomes a social hub and culinary extension, combining practicality with pleasure. With the right setup, your kitchen and courtyard will work in tandem to elevate daily life. 18. Rustic Mediterranean Courtyard Image Source: Houzz Create the warm, welcoming feel of a Mediterranean escape by combining textured walls, clay pots, terracotta tiles, and flowering plants like bougainvillea or rosemary. Wrought-iron furniture, mosaic tables, and rustic wooden beams bring that sun-soaked, timeless atmosphere to life. Use soft, earthy tones, like sand, stone, and rust, to match your interior and make the courtyard feel grounded. This style blends perfectly with both traditional and bohemian interiors. With some soft lighting and olive trees, your courtyard becomes a rustic retreat that feels far away, even when it’s just a step from your living room. 19. Create a Spa-Like Feel With a Bathroom Courtyard Image Source: Living get Transform your daily routine into a wellness ritual by connecting your bathroom to a serene courtyard. A small, private outdoor space just off the bath or shower instantly adds a spa-like vibe. Think smooth stone pathways, tropical plants, soft lighting, and perhaps a water feature to enhance tranquility. Frosted glass doors or large windows maintain privacy while allowing natural light to pour in. Even a compact courtyard can elevate a bathroom into a peaceful retreat that feels worlds away from daily stress. This seamless connection between your indoor sanctuary and outdoor calm fosters relaxation, mindfulness, and luxurious everyday living Wrap Up  Great home design isn’t just about what happens inside four walls, it’s about how your living spaces connect, flow, and breathe together. Whether it’s a peaceful garden retreat, an alfresco dining space, or a flexible zone for work and play, the right courtyard design creates harmony between indoors and out. At Home Designing , we believe the best homes are the ones that reflect how you live, and how you want to feel. These courtyard ideas are just one way to craft spaces that are not only functional, but deeply personal and inspiring.

First determine if the baby bird is a nestling or fledgling.   Image: jennifer m. ramos / Getty Images Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. The arrival of spring brings many changes to our natural surroundings. Flowers bloom, barren trees fill with leaves, and occasionally, baby birds come tumbling out of those trees. If you’ve ever encountered one of these not-quite-flighted chicks and wondered how best to look after them, you’ve come to the right place.  Your first aim upon finding a chick out of its nest is to work out whether it has accidentally fallen or is simply taking its first steps out of the nest. Siân Denney, who has had six years of wildlife experience for the Royal Society of the Protection of Birds, says you should determine if the bird is a nestling or fledgling. “Nestlings are the tiny, tiny babies with no feathers, and they’re at very early stages and very vulnerable,” says Denney. In contrast, fledglings have feathers but may lack the flight feathers needed to take to the skies.  Helping a nestling If the bird you’ve found is a featherless nestling, it will be at risk if left out of the nest. “The amount of care that birds require is intense. It is unlikely that a very young bird that age that’s got no feathers will survive if it is out of the nest,” says George Bradley, who works for wildlife charity SongBird Survival. If you know which nest the bird has fallen from you should place it back in. Denney and Bradley advise that gloves should be worn for handling birds as a hygiene measure. Some people believe that if a well-meaning human handles a bird, its parents will cease to recognize its scent and reject it. This is a myth, says Denney. “Birds actually have a terrible sense of smell,” she says.  Garden bird species will usually make their nests in hedges or trees. However, other species, like gulls or sparrows, make their homes on rooftops or the underside of eaves. By watching to see if its parents appear to try to help it, you may be able to work out where its nest is hidden and whether it is accessible. If you can’t identify which nest a nestling has fallen from, it will still need to be moved off the ground, where it will be helpless against predators. The best option is to elevate the nestling. Placing them in a bucket or empty flower pot can protect them while still making it easy for their parents to find them.  Fledging is a part of bird life. Image: Getty Images Joni Eskridge Helping a fledgling Denney has different advice if the bird you come across is a feathered fledgling. “They should just be left alone,” she says. “They’ve attempted to leave the nest because they’re ready to take to life outside and beyond,” she adds. Their parents will likely be surreptitiously monitoring them to check they have learned how to fly independently. Denney adds that fledglings can spend days or weeks on their ground as they learn to fly. If the bird is in obvious and immediate danger—your local cat is eyeing it up, for example—it can also be shooed somewhere more secure, like a bush or tree.  How to help an injured bird If a fallen bird is injured, it might be time to contact a local wildlife rehabilitator. These are experts who volunteer to care for sick or injured birds. These resources will vary by state. Humane World for Animals has a detailed list of rescuers and rehabilitators.  The overarching message is that baby birds eventually need to fly from their nest, and unless they are too young or in danger, leaving them alone to learn how to navigate the big, new world they find themselves in is the best course of action.  Humans can also proactively help by avoiding activities that put baby birds at risk of falling in the first place. Denney says that cutting trees or hedges aggressively or without checking for any nesting birds during the summer months can lead to disturbed or destroyed nests. Before you cut, says Denney, “check the area first for a couple of days. If you see signs of activity, it’s best just to postpone that cutting to let those birds nest in peace.”

In 2017, interior designer Lisa Koch, who had recently finished decorating The Faena in Miami, met hotelier Jeff Klein at the Sunset Tower in Los Angeles. He hired her on the spot to freshen up the Art Deco landmark: “I was extremely drawn to Lisa because she wanted to respect the soul and listen to the history and bones of the building,” says Klein, who also owns notable properties like the San Vicente Bungalows and The Jane Hotel. Two years later, Klein and his husband, producer John Goldwyn, purchased a nearby 1937 property built in the style of a 19th-century French manor—and knew Koch could transform the interiors into an inviting and transporting oasis inspired by its original architectural blueprints.Interior designer Lisa Koch sits in the curved breakfast room. “I found this French 1960s chandelier at Carlos de la Puente in New York and sent a picture of it to Jeff,” she says. “He replies yes, go ahead—so I brought it back to Los Angeles.” The house project took her almost five years to perfect. “Jeff and I are quite aesthetically aligned,” Koch says. “We didn’t come into each room with a distinct vision but rather it unfolded very naturally.” With the help of architect Ward Jewell, nearly every inch of the house was overhauled, from the climbing rose-covered stucco exterior walls and dove gray shutters to intricate arched foyers and a walk-in walnut bar. A guest house was removed to maximize space for the gardens by landscape designer Lisa Zeger, and a large swimming pool was replaced with a smaller one at the rear of the property. Unstained French oak floors sourced from an old English country estate cover every room except the kitchen and gym, with each plank laid with uneven spacing to exude the sense they’ve settled, like the house, with time. “Our intention was to respect the integrity of the property so it didn’t feel like a 1970s house Halston could have lived in,” Klein says.In the living room, pigmented plaster done by hand and applied paneling on the walls were inspired by the late-1930s architectural appeal of the original house. “We added thickness to the walls to allow for paneled casing around the French door and windows,” Koch says. Above the fireplace encased in an Italian marble mantle from Jamb hangs an inset brass-trimmed antique mirror that reflects light from the gardens. The painting on the far wall is by Jean Dubuffet, while the sofas are from Roman Thomas. In the living room, dentil crown molding, pigmented plaster, and decorative paneling were added to convey the original 1930s architecture, while the walls were thickened to include detailed casings around the French doors. An inset brass-trimmed antique mirror sits above the Italian marble mantle by Jamb, while a Jean Dubuffet painting hangs beside the grand piano. Pocket doors lead into the library, where a chandelier that belonged to Lord Mountbatten vies with Rosie Uniacke periwinkle armchairs. “We had planned on making the walnut paneling dark and bought dozens of stain samples but in order to remove the cathedral wood grain patterns we had to bleach it out multiple times,” Koch explains. “But after we lightened it, it looked much better, so it was a happy accident.” Above the fireplace, a projector unfurls from the ceiling, allowing it to double as a screening room. A 1958 pen and ink watercolor by Jean Cocteau—the first piece the couple ever bought together—stands between shelves lined with antiquarian and art books. “John is a voracious reader and very particular about organizing his books,” Klein muses.Glass pendants from Gordiola hang above a 19th-century French table in the kitchen that had once been a small room with a fireplace and two sofas. Koch completely reconfigured the space to accommodate large prep stations, two Miele dishwashers on either side of a double integrated marble sink, and a walnut paneled pantry with sawtooth adjustable shelves. It connects to a butler’s pantry equipped with open shelving and a second Subzero refrigerator. A skylight and the pitched ceiling was installed to allow natural light to pour in throughout the day. A proper corridor bar was built into a hallway next to the pantry to replace the original smaller one in the library. Paneled in walnut, the interior glass shelving sits in front of an antique mirror illuminated by backlighting. Salmon marble countertops on the sink and bar mix with colorful Murano glassware on shelves along the window. A grid of antique European maps framed in burlwood on the walls nods to Klein and Goldwyn’s love of travel and history. The kitchen was completely reconfigured with a high-pitched ceiling and a skylight, where sea green pendants from Barcelona hang above a 19th-century French table and a pantry displays Goldwyn’s collection of copper pots and pans he found in the Cotswolds, Paris, and the Hamptons. A dark hallway off the kitchen became a breakfast room with curved floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lily pond and a 1960s candelabra. “We didn’t stick to any formula, but rather purposefully chose furnishings from various centuries and provenances,” Koch says. Pieces found during their travels range from chandeliers and busts bought at Flair in Florence to antique Irish dining room chairs and 17th-century Four Seasons goddess statues salvaged from a torn down European count’s palazzo which now line the pool.Alongside the curved windowed walls of the breakfast room, Lisa Zeder installed a circular pond with floating Egyptian lotuses, lily pads, and a bubbling fountain. Climbing vines, rosemary, jasmine, and lush varieties of flowering perennials in planting beds border the Belgian antique cobblestone terrace. “We wanted every room to have views of the gardens, so the original staircase was moved and reduced into a spiral shape with a banister I found in France,” she explains. An oval ceiling oculus was added above, as well as a proper foyer where Robert Polidori’s 1986 photograph of Versailles’s interiors hangs beside an antique table with carved lion’s paw feet. Leading into the primary sitting room (which had been an office), a nook with a George Smith sofa is surrounded by prints by English artist Rose Wylie. “They were cut out of an art auction catalogue and framed in burlwood—I’m not too grand to admit that,” Klein says with a laugh. In the primary bedroom, a four-poster by Rose Tarlow flanks a Francis Bacon lithograph and working marble fireplace. Three sets of French doors lead out to a balcony with aerial views of the gardens, terraces, and round lily pond.A loggia with four arches was installed to allow views of the terrace and gardens below, and the exterior walls are clad in stucco. Old Belgian pavers cover the floor while a wooden ceiling gives the space both texture and intimacy. Liza Zeder Design Group designed the arrangements of plants, ferns, and trees in antique pots. The furniture is a mix of custom and vintage Baker upholstered in Pierre Frey fabric. “The loggia truly connects the interior to the exterior,” Koch says. “We didn’t want anything in here to feel like it belonged strictly inside or outside.” A sense of quiet serenity radiates from a rectangular lily pond directly across from the front entrance to the house, setting the tranquil tone of the property. Verdant hedges, vines, and lush flowering bushes of white rain lilies surround its borders. An outdoor fireplace and seating area on the south side of the house adorns the upper terrace, where grass pavers reclaimed from Belgium imbue a geometric motif. The exterior furniture is Formations and McKinnon Harris. The much-frequented spot has become a calming respite for Klein and Goldwyn and often used whenever they’re hosting friends or having parties. Goldwyn, an avid gardener who can often be found with pruning shears in his pockets, and Klein collected all of the art together by trawling through flea markets, antique stores, or auction houses. Meanwhile, in a former concrete open box with irregular walls, a loggia with four classical arches and Belgian antique pavers was built in the downstairs entry hall with lush potted plants and succulents selected by Liza Zeder. “Every night, we sit in the loggia, turn on music, and have a drink while watching the sunset,” Klein says. “The light dapples across the gardens and the smell of jasmine wafts into the house—I look forward to it everyday.”The façade of the house remains largely unchanged since it was built back in 1937. The steel troweled, unpainted stucco exterior wall finishes were designed to patina and crack with age, French ardoise slate covers the roof, and three dormers inspired by the original architectural plans were refabricated. Climbing white, orange, and pink French roses from Rose Story Farm in Carpinteria cover virtually all of the exterior walls, blooming four to five times a year. Limestone steps and dove gray wooden shutters were added while the French copper lantern hanging above the door is circa 1880. Floor to ceiling shelves and cabinetry were installed in the primary sitting room to accommodate books and photographs. Chairs and a sofa from George Smith create a cozy reading nook underneath artist Rose Wylie’s framed prints, and French doors lead to a terrace that looks out to the back gardens. Goldwyn, a producer, reads at least two books a week—from novels to European histories—as well as countless Hollywood scripts. The sitting room also includes a hidden midnight kitchen. In the dining room, curved walls cladded in linen juxtapose a late-19th-century French dining table surrounded by antique Irish chairs upholstered in burgundy leather from Hawker. Klein and Goldywn found the chandelier at Flair during a trip to Florence, while the mauve silk rug was custom designed. “We open the French doors leading to the upper terrace surrounded by flowers during dinner parties—and you can hear the peaceful murmur of the fountain in the lily pond,” Klein says. Cased in light walnut wood paneling, the library features blue armchairs by Rose Uniacke, a 19th-century Italian card table that seats four, and a sofa and coffee table from Roman Thomas. In addition to the two tall bookcases, low shelves line the side walls to accommodate the hanging of art. Perched upon the Jamb fireplace mantel is a Jean Cocteau pen and ink watercolor from 1958. On the right, three sets of French doors provide direct access to the back garden. In the primary bedroom that adjoins the sitting room, an intricately paneled octagonal coved ceiling was built to add height and scale. A very pale pink plaster was applied to the walls while the furniture is a mix of Rose Tarlow and bespoke pieces all upholstered in cream velvet fabric by Nobilis. The doors flanking the bed lead to matching closets and bathrooms, while French doors on the south wall open out to a balcony. The lithograph is by Francis Bacon and a pop-up lift for a television comes out of the custom curved desk. One of the two identical primary suite bathrooms, which connect to the walk-in closet and the primary bedroom, features walls clad in full slabs of Calacatta viola. Unstained antique French oak sourced from an old country home in England used throughout the majority of the house covers the floors. “We added a pitched ceiling for additional height along with a Jamb hanging globe,” Koch adds. All the plumbing fixtures are Waterworks while the vanity was custom made. Painted in an obsidian dark green high gloss lacquer from Fine Paints of Europe, the downstairs powder room opens into a floor-to-ceiling mirrored alcove. Koch added traditional crosshead basin taps from Lefroy Brooks to the custom-made marble and bronze vanity with an integrated marble sink. The room looks out to the front garden while full marble slabs cover the lower walls and floors, imbuing a seamless visual high impact. The sconces were found on 1stDibs. The breakfast room off the kitchen furnishes a generous view of the garden due to the installation of a curved window. “The Paul McCobb dining chairs, which originally belonged to my clients, were restored and reupholstered in ultra suede,” Koch says. A French 1960s bronze chandelier hangs above the limestone dining table and, on the opposite wall, Koch designed floor-to-ceiling cabinets to accommodate a collection of 19th-century silver and crystal glassware. A view of the back exterior of the house, which now features a loggia leading out to a rolling lawn and lush leafy gardens. To maximize the space of the gardens, a guest suite that had been added in the 1990s was removed from the north side of the house. All the landscaping and plantings were designed by Lisa Zeder Design Group. Below the terraces, Zeder set twelve linear Platanus x Acerifolia trees into beds teeming with green and white plantings—creating an homage to the style of old estate gardens in France and Italy.

A few summers ago, when the culture was moving through micro trends as fast as they could be Instagrammed, Cottage Core was born. The trend, which came out of a Covid-influenced romanticism for living close to nature (but not ruffing it, à la gorpcore, fashion’s cousin trend), inspired an infusion of chintz and whicker-filled interiors, and, of course, lush English-style gardens.Flash forward to 2025. All those cottage gardens planted in early 2020—rustic, sophisticated, chic—are at their peak. And there really is something to an outdoor space that merges with the indoors, is there not? On a warm summer evening, when the bougainvillea is in bloom, and the grass is a bit damp, what could be more appealing than a home built to nestle into a fantastical garden.Here, we’ve collected some of our favorite cottage gardens. They range from fairy house gardens to campground landscape, historical (Anne Hathaway’s famed cottage that has inspired Shakespeare devotees the world over) to contemporary compound gardens in the woods.While we may have a specific notion of a cottage garden, but they are—and should be—as unique as the people who tend them. One lesson for planting your own? A small space is an asset rather than a limitation.Below, you’ll find 15 of our favorite cottage gardens from Marin County California to Stratford-Upon-Avon, England.William Jess LairdThis Amagansett cottage was literally designed for “summertime snoozes.” It’s also a good reminder that a delicate slate garden pathway can take you far. Designer Melissa Lee noted how “unexpected” the whole place felt, surrounded by the many mansions of the Hamptons. As she rightfully notes, the charm is in the surprise. A suggestion of mystery always adds to a cottage! Think The Secret Garden or the unexpectedly expansive Weasley Family home.Noe DewittVines climb up this 1920s English Art and Crafts style cottage in the Hamptons. The elegant and eclectic cottage was re-designed by Nick Olsen to emphasize outdoor living with comfy couches, a tiled patio and a pool.William James LairdThis pink cottage kitchen looks out over a garden in Litchfield County, Connecticut. Designer Clive Lonstein’s work is vibrant and unexpected, particularly for a modest Connecticut cottage built in the late 1800s. In a way though, the bright colors all throughout the house are a reflection of the original design for the house. The architect, Ehrick Rossiter was known for his own whimsy, and even included a turret in this design. This cottage is a great reminder to leave the door open all summer long.Stephen Kent JohnsonThis former fishing shack in Provincetown proves that a sprawling garden can fit into a small space. From Windex yellow fox gloves to arching lavender, this is a bucolic slice of heaven. A classic shingled home, complete with flower boxes and a white picket fence, it has a deeply cottage-core sequence backstory. It was used as an artist studio for William Maynard until his death in 2016, and when it was sold, prospective buyers were asked to write why they wanted to live there.Rachael SmithWe love an indoor / outdoor cottage garden. Ideally, you have a branch that grows through a window, like this one in Suzie de Rohan Willner’s English Country Garden. It is a charming marriage of dynamics: English and French, contemporary and historical, and, of course just as eclectic as a cottage should be. Willner notes, “The whole house is a collection of things from each period of my and my husband’s lives. I love to pick up bibs and bobs and it all comes together very happily.”Chronicle / Alamy Stock PhotoKate Middleton’s Adelaide Cottage conjures images of an Arthurian fantasy. The Wales family made this their Windsor home since 2023. Built in 1831 for Queen Adelaide (the German-born wife of William IV, who was the Uncle of Queen Victoria). It went through a transformative renovation in 2015 which left the historical decorations in tact. Fun fact: the Wales family pay market rent for their use of the home.Photo 12//Getty ImagesThe poet, actor, and playwright Anne Hathaway’s famed cottage and accompanying garden must have inspired her husband’s plays (that would be Shakespeare). This might be what comes to mind when you think of a cottage garden. Now open to the public daily, it was originally built more than 500 years ago, and is the site of Hathaway’s own birth in 1556.CostcoThis Costco (yes, Costco!) shed turned cottage is an ideal backdrop for your cottage garden fantasy. If you’re feeling very DIY this year, start here. Priced at $6,499, it measures 12’ x 24’ feet, a perfect amount of space for your own summer hide away or gardening shed.Richard PowersThis glass house is a reminder that a cottage garden doesn’t have to follow a prescribed style. The Amagansett cottage, originally built in 1960, is a marvel of mid-century design, an aesthetic reflected in the mod-furniture choices. Again, we love a stylistic mix in an updated cottage. Japanese Maple Trees complete the woodsy vibe.© David Hockney, Photo By Jonathan WilkinsonDavid Hockney illustrated his own cottage garden during the Pandemic. His drawing is illustrative of the benefits of an English garden: a bit wild, extremely lush, and more green than anything else. If we could, we’d jump right into this scene like Mary Poppins on a rainy day.John M. Hall for ELLE DecorHere’s a rule of thumb: trust Ina Garten. This cottage-like structure, on the grounds of the East Hampton home Garten shares with her husband Jeffrey, is perennially perfect. Note, too, the green and purple color scheme here. This is perhaps the dream cottage garden and something of a childhood playhouse. It has just enough space for a cozy chat and is a reminder that you can build your own little cottage on a very small plot of land.Photo 12//Getty ImagesMarie Antoinette’s Hamlet on the grounds of Versailles still sets the standard for the cottage garden with a thatched roof, hedges, and roses straight out of a fairy tale. During the former French Queen’s reign, her hamlet was used as a faux farm house, where she and her young daughter, Princess Marie Thérèse, would dress as idealized versions of French peasant farmers and milk cows. The interior, though, of this modest cottage, is appropriately grand with silk furnishings and canopy beds.Douglas FriedmanA garden that proves succulents and cottages are a match made in heaven. This one, in Marin County, California, adds a bit of desert flair. On the other side of this cottage is a water way and a perfect little dock for launching paddle boards. We love how the greens liven up this side of the house and create a completely different, almost modern desert-like, aesthetic. As with any great cottage garden, there is a distinctly transportive factor.Michael CliffordA light wood sauna and cold plunge on the grounds of Jenni Kayne’s Hudson Valley farmhouse are hidden behind shrubbery for a sense of privacy against a wide open landscape. We love the idea of adding a spa-like ambiance to a cottage garden as well as finding inventive ways to use the space. This is exactly where we want to be in the summer!Getty ImagesThis is sort of cheating, but Bunny Williams is a necessary inclusion! Williams’s Oak Spring Garden in Upperville, Virginia continues to inspire garden and cottage enthusiasts the world over. Rather than one cottage, the grounds of Williams’s large estate feature a guest cottage and a basket house, both of which are charming in the extreme.Dorothy ScarboroughDorothy Scarborough (she/her) is the assistant to the Editor in Chief of Town & Country and Elle Decor.