Low, serpentine walls create handsome planters that frame the entry and tie the house to the garden. The low-maintenance siding has the traditional look of cedar shingles.
Siding: James Hardie Building Products.

Rising out of the polygonal plunge is a round dipping pool ringed by an underwater seat and what landscape architect Jim Ripley calls "a fountain cocktail table" at its center. Outdoor furniture allows dining and lounging poolside, and container pots and Audubon Habitat gardens add richness and color.
Furniture: "Eddie Bauer Outdoor Living" by Lane Venture.

The courtyard between house and tower functions as an intimate cooking and dining area organized around an L-shaped, slate-faced counter containing a sink, beverage center, and built-in grill. The chiseled edge of the countertop gives it the appearance of stone.
Grill: Weber. Countertop: Corian. Accessories: Pier I Imports.