Trading homes for your vacation? Leave yours in great shape for your guests and help them enjoy a happy break with these 12 tips

Houseplants and eclectic decor have turned this 1920s Craftsman into a gathering place for local creatives and musicians

Plants, pests and even weeds have a place in this landscape, which offers an edible bounty and a feast for the eyes

Working with cedar, steel, stone and planters, a landscape architect rethinks a backyard to make it a more inviting space

DIY patience pays off for an interior designer and a contractor who transformed their landscape for the party of their lives

Openness to the patio and mountain views give this 1950s home an appealing connection to nature

A newly retired couple remodel their home to make it more beautiful, energy efficient and accessible

Taken down to the shell, this Tudor-Craftsman blend now maximizes island views, flow and outdoor connections

A new hot tub, fireplace, shower and even a mini stage take a backyard from uninviting to ‘Come on out!’

A pleasing paint palette, fold-out windows and room for art let a small home live large