Best Transitional Indoor-Outdoor Spaces From 'Inside Out'

Southern California renovators Carmine Sabatella and Mike Pyle know how to make a home flow seamlessly from outside-in and inside-out. Carmine, an interior designer and real estate agent, and Pyle, a landscape designer, may enjoy a little friendly competition over who gets more budget on each project they tackle, but the spaces they create — and their friendship — exude nothing but harmony. In each episode of Inside Out, the talented duo works to capture the untapped potential in every client’s abode, from front yard to back and throughout every inch of the interior. Discover their best open-air living spaces right here.

Newlyweds Kim and Jamie were ready to turn Jamie’s bachelor pad into a dream house for both of them. The goal: a bright, open floor plan and an inviting exterior. Mike created several outdoor rooms, transforming the overgrown backyard into an oasis that adds living space in spades. Just off the primary bedroom through new French doors, a planter-style water feature can be heard from inside and a cozy sitting area beckons. A pathway of decomposed granite and poured concrete pads leads through a redwood fence, thoughtfully mimicking the front yard entry, to an alfresco entertaining area that brings the heat with a built-in barbecue and outdoor fireplace.

Mike made this small cottage feel larger by transforming the underutilized backyard into a warm, inviting and multifunctional space. Anchored by a stunning outdoor kitchen with a built-in smoker, grill and bar top fronted with geometric ceramic tile; a cozy L-shaped bench and fire pit; and a simple dining set, the space is an entertainer’s paradise. Mike accented the garage facade with a wall of Kayu Batu wood, which is echoed on the fire pit bench. A mural of succulents hand placed by Mike makes for a creative, low-maintenance conversation piece the couple can enjoy for years to come.

Homeowners Nathan, Stephanie and their three kids were bursting at the seams in their 1,500-square-foot home. With help from Carmine and Mike, they turned their old garage into a gorgeous primary suite, complete with a vaulted ceiling, spa-like bath and laundry room. This upgrade left them in need of a new garage, which Mike envisioned as a detached hangout space with two garage doors — one opening to the street and one emptying onto a beautiful new courtyard. He dubbed it “the garage mullet,” because it looks like a standard garage from the street but brings the party vibes inside. The 600-square-foot multi-use space contains a lounge area, a bar and a fun indoor driving range.

Hidden from the street by an attractive new garage hangout, this secret courtyard provides a welcome entry for a family of five. Poured concrete pads framed by stones make for a good-looking and low maintenance base. Mike and homeowner Nathan installed the wood composite wall themselves to save money and create a warm focal point behind the cozy fire pit zone. The team painted the chimney exterior black instead of wrapping it in composite wood to save more money, and they gave the existing front door a makeover by replacing a trio of old stained glass windows with a piece of rectangular glass and applying a happy coral hue. A staghorn fern makes for a cheeky accent on the chimney.

Mike had plans to cover this small front yard area in artificial turf, so it was a no-brainer to take it to the next level with an at-home putting green that the golf-loving couple could enjoy. For a cost of $1,800, the mini course creates a functional and fun place for the whole family to gather and utilize their outdoor space.

Though homeowners Amy and Ryan chose to spend most of their budget on the interior of their fixer-upper, Mike was able to work his landscape magic to create a wow-worthy backyard replete with multiple hangout areas. Instead of a pricier wood accent wall applied to the empty garage exterior, Mike found affordable decorative panels for about $100 each and affixed them with 2-inch spacers to add depth. Large shade trees tower over the outdoor dining table, enabling alfresco meals any time of day. An all-weather sofa and chairs pull up to the sleek fire pit, and string lights run from the garage to the trees, allowing the couple to enjoy the outdoors from morning till night.

Linda, Kyle and their parrot Yoshi call this 1920s Spanish-style abode home. Before Mike and Carmine arrived, the designers and homeowners agreed it “felt tired, like it has an identity crisis, and didn't have the curb appeal we’re looking for.” Those problems are now history, starting with the newly landscaped front yard and freshly painted exterior. Mike installed large flagstones and embraced a less-is-more approach to plantings of Agave Americana, barrel cactus and other drought-tolerant picks, which marry beautifully with the home’s Mediterranean aesthetic. “Our front yard was a nuisance before,” Kyle says, “and now we have the best curb appeal on the street.”

In the backyard of this Spanish-modern home, Mike used his refurbishing prowess to repurpose two old garage doors into chic focal points for the price of a bucket of stain. Large flagstones lead to an intimate fire pit with a built-in bench that can seat up to eight friends. Mike chose decomposed granite for most of the space surrounding the flagstones, and set the fire pit area apart with dos rio pebbles. “I can’t believe we didn’t do this sooner,” homeowner Linda says. “I didn’t know it could be so nice.”

Homeowners Cheryl and Grant were ready to resuscitate both their 1,600-square-foot Craftsman home and the additional dwelling unit (ADU) on the property. Carmine and Mike crafted spaces that pay homage to the home’s artisanry and its serene spot on a private wooded lot. The ADU features sweeping bifold doors that open seamlessly to a charming new courtyard with low-maintenance pavers, a privacy hedge on the left, and slingback-style chairs gathered to create a quaint sitting area.

The exterior of this Pasadena Craftsman felt forgotten and overgrown, but Mike saw potential throughout the lush space. An existing sunken fire pit area just needed a little TLC, including some fresh plantings, a new half-sphere-style fire pit and creative seating from a long-ago fallen tree, which the team relocated to round out the cozy, natural hangout space.

Paul and Jeff’s Burbank home was in dire need of a floor plan and backyard upgrade to accommodate their love of entertaining indoors and out. Mike extended the footprint of the covered patio to transform it into a true California room, essentially an additional living room. The space is connected to the indoor living area via grand bifold doors for the ultimate indoor-outdoor living. The homeowners also got the pool of their dreams.

What was once only a grassy expanse is now an adult playground decked out in green and blue. “This is a place where everyone can come and have a good time, a space that feels like an extension of the home,” say the homeowners. The new pool features all the trappings of a resort oasis, from the hot tub to the tanning shelf and sunken bench that extends the length of the pool. Beyond an outdoor kitchen is a dining set, fire pit and duo of chaise lounges — everything the couple could possibly need for relaxing alfresco together or with friends and family.

Homeowners Katie and Michael’s family of four has outgrown their 850-square-foot cottage, and Mike and Carmine are here to come to the rescue. Carmine plans a 1,000-square-foot addition, leaving Mike with a reduced backyard footprint that he nonetheless knocks out of the park. The centerpiece of the space is a towering fireplace and pizza oven combo, which can be seen through the house upon entry through the front door. Mike installed low-maintenance, kid-friendly artificial turf, a charming playhouse, and an outdoor dining arrangement that can fit the whole family.

Ashley and Brad’s Huntington Beach backyard is now a family-friendly haven, thanks to Mike’s magic-making moves to use every square inch of the small space. He installed new concrete pads, an L-shaped outdoor kitchen, dining area and inviting fire pit, with plenty of shade in the form of patio umbrellas and sail shades.

What better way to keep two kids — and their boisterous friends — entertained on a hot day than a built-in splash pad in their own backyard? Mike installed this fun fire hydrant-themed creation, which pays homage to the dad's job as a firefighter, as a fun way to keep kids entertained while parents can enjoy the fire pit, dining area and outdoor kitchen steps away. Artificial turf keeps things easy and low maintenance, and a fun, oversized sign adds a whimsical touch.

Mother-daughter duo Evelyn and Rebecca’s post-modern track home desperately needed a refresh. Inside, Carmine knocked down walls, transformed dated bathrooms into relaxing havens, and upgraded the kitchen. With so much work inside, the exterior didn’t get the ultimate makeover treatment, but Mike delivered a stunning update nonetheless. Evelyn splurged on a large, above-ground spa, which Mike wrapped in built-in ipe wood decking to give it an elevated, custom finish. He added concrete pads and artificial turf strips for a clean, contemporary ground cover and refreshed the original brick patio with two attractive seating areas that invite relaxation.