The Lounge Life: Five Homes Ideal for Indoor-Outdoor Living

In desirable locales from East Hampton to San Francisco, these five homes are perfect for the long, lovely days of summer, blending spaces for enjoying the outdoors with easy access to interior comforts and conveniences.

Sleek Modern Style in Sagaponack

Beate V. Moore, Sotheby’s International Realty – Bridgehampton Brokerage

Designed by esteemed architect Steven Harris, this thoroughly modern farmhouse sits on 1.3 emerald acres just a block from the beach. In addition to eight bedroom suites, it features a kitchen, a media room, and a living room where walls of glass disappear, blurring the lines between the indoors and gloriously sunny alfresco spaces—terraces, an open-air kitchen, and a sun-washed pool and spa. Hedges and tall trees create welcome privacy. Furthering outdoor enjoyment is a rooftop deck with a soothing hot tub and kitchenette.

Contemporary Sophistication in San Francisco

Mary Lou Castellanos, Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage

Exemplifying chic contemporary style, this four-level three-bedroom home enjoys some of the finest views in San Francisco. Highlights include a living room with a fireplace and oversized windows; a light-filled kitchen and dining area with an island, superior appliances, and floor-to-ceiling windows; and a primary suite with walls of Fleetwood windows that open to a deck with a Golden Gate Bridge view. The ground-level great room gives way to a landscaped terrace, while the roof deck’s glass railings ensure an uninterrupted panorama.

Modern Houston Villa

Thomas Claffy, Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty 

Steps from Memorial Park in Houston’s inner loop, this magnificent six-bedroom home features an elegant living room with a bespoke bar, a spacious dining room with a climate-controlled 276-bottle wine wall, a well-appointed kitchen with an adjoining family room, a gym, a wood-clad library, and an oversized two-car garage with a high-speed electric-vehicle charger. From the kitchen, walls of steel French doors open to a secluded interior courtyard with an outdoor kitchen, covered living and dining areas, and a refreshing saltwater pool and spa.

Chic Chelsea Penthouse

The Stein Team, Sotheby’s International Realty – Downtown Manhattan Brokerage

This chic penthouse sits high above Chelsea near the Flatiron District and Greenwich Village. On the main level, the fluid living and dining room is joined by a kitchen with top-tier appliances and a butler’s pantry, an office, and two restful bedrooms. The home’s outdoor living spaces are some of the most enviable in the city: the glass-wrapped solarium enjoys a wood-burning fireplace, a kitchenette, and access to a terrace with a dining pergola, a water feature, an open-air shower, and a built-in grill.

A Breezy Beauty in East Hampton

Paula S Butler, Sotheby’s International Realty – East Hampton Brokerage

Perfectly perched to make the most of the waters of Three Mile Harbor, this stylish four-bedroom residence affords effortless indoor-outdoor living and entertaining. The great room opens to a bluestone terrace that descend to emerald lawn, a private beach, and the water beyond. Many bedrooms benefit from private balconies, while a service area that includes a refrigerator, a sink, a dishwasher, and a wine refrigerator gives way to a dining terrace. The home is offered with all furnishings as well as two kayaks and bicycles.

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