A well-designed outbuilding can be a place for recreation and respite at home, in any season. On the following pages, four chic retreats?each with its own personality and style?offer inspiration for creating the perfect perch in your own backyard.

Modern Barn
When asked to design a large guest house on a Wye River property in Queenstown, Maryland, Kimmel Studio Architects tapped into the rural vernacular of the Chesapeake Bay region. Principal Devin Kimmel envisioned a barn-like structure ?that would harmonize with the landscape and history of the Eastern Shore,? he notes. ?We wanted a modern building with traditional design influences that would be at home on its site.?
Vertical wood panels clad a_ gabled, post-and-beam structure. Small windows on the south and west sides protect against heat gain while larger ones on the northeast façade optimize natural light; the river-facing wall consists entirely of windows. Two-story barn doors welcome visitors into a soaring, double-height great room; a dropped ceiling in one portion of the space delineates the kitchen and dining area, where a more intimate vibe prevails. Inside an attached, corrugated-steel silo, a spiral staircase winds up to the lofted second story, which evokes a hayloft but is modern in style. There, two bedrooms overlook the main level. The completed guest house serves as a comfortable retreat for the owners? relatives with young children. Says Kimmel, ?The open-plan first floor and loft above it maximize th...