The best way to add a second living room to your home is constructing it without the construction crew, without tear-out of plaster and walls, and without the hassle that could otherwise cloud this lovely season.  I am talking about adding living space to your outdoors! More and more homes are expanding their living quarters to the great outdoors, by adding an outdoor BBQ haven complete with a compact fridge and terra-cotta tiled countertops, or adding a lounge/ sitting area for entertaining or relaxing.  Dining Rooms and party hotspots are other options and there are so many great ideas out there! Take the Bali Rustic Teak Sectional by Pottery Barn; it would be a sensational gathering spot for family lounging.  The turned legs are a great detail and add more formality.

Viking has your outdoor cooking area covered whether you are grilling Kobe or hotdogs. Viking has an entire section devoted to outdoor kitchens; including ventilation, refreshment centers, refrigeration, or stainless steel cabinets.

Think about when you will be using your outdoor space, if you work late and usually enjoy your backyard in the evening hours, or if you like to entertain outdoors, than you should cater to those needs.  Set up fabulous ambient lighting in walk ways, spotlights pointed upwards to dramatically light up your columns or trees, and comfy seats near an outdoor fireplace or bonfire.

If you live near a busy area where traffic can be heard, opt for a pond with a fountain or a water feature that can mask those sounds and create a relaxing atmosphere.  Most of all take a look at your space, whatever you have (even if it is a balcony; which could be turned into a fabulous get away), and think about your hobbies and what you’d like to get your enjoyment out of.  My husband and I spent the sunny weekend hauling flat flagstone rocks to make a secluded nook beside our raised stone deck for a spot for reading and relaxing.  It took us a year to realize the little area existed and how it would be perfect! Take a look in your back yard, you may be surprised by all of your options.

Going green never looked or felt so good, especially to the students at to the new University of Guelph-Humber Building in Toronto, Ontario.  A four-storey Plant Wall in the Atrium is strategically placed under a skylight and designed so the dense plant life is visible from nearly every floor, public space and corridor in the building. In fact, the planted biowall is a prototype for a new filtration system. It acts as an indoor air purifier, pulling air through the wall and into the mechanical air ducts. According to the University, the biowall could supply all of the building's fresh air intake needs. Irrigated by a vertical hydroponic system, it naturally cools the building in the summer and humidifies in the winter.  Not to mention, it is much more attractive than concrete, kudos the University of Guelph for a truly inspirational project!

There certainly are a lot of extraordinary designs for kids, with a couple clicks on the Posh Tot’s website; you can see the fantastical Fantasy Coach Bed ($47,000) that is handcrafted to emulate Cinderella's carriage, or a working child-sized replica of a Mercedes 500 SL .  With warmer weather on the rise, let’s set our sight on the great outdoors, where the options of amazing designs are plentiful:

The Victorian Playhouse has a front porch, turret, cedar-shingled gable, scrollwork accents, octagonal window, shingled roof, and bay window with window boxes. This playhouse can be constructed with countless interior and exterior options, whether its cable, running water, electricity, central air or a wireless communication system. Other architectural styles are also available from fairy tale cottages to rustic cabins or even a miniature replica of your home.

$23,400

And if you think this may be a bit elaborate, just see Sophie’s Magical Windmill Playhouse.

Red Beard’s Revenge Pirate Ship Playhouse is another Posh Tot’s Exclusive. The handcrafted pirate vessel comes complete with captain's quarters, upper and lower decks, and a handcrafted crow's nest for spotting trouble on the high seas. Captain's quarters has enough room for 3-4 seated adults and features leatherette-cushioned benches that double as sleeping bunks, a working door, waterproof recycled composite roof and ample storage space. Other features include 17 windows and peepholes, cannonball-riddled mast and rigging, carved wolf figurehead and ornate helm and rudder. Ship is constructed with the extensive use of mahogany and steam curved poplar planks and features a distressed paint finish. $52,000

From the woods of Maine to backyards across America, Kids Crooked House champions active play that fires kids’ imaginations with outdoor playhouses.  Without a square angle to be found, these designs replicate the playful drawings of homes you may see in a cartoon, with fun colors and exaggerated lines, these playhouses look just as fun as they’d surely be for your 6-year olds’ summer.