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Outdoor spaces are getting cooler, cozier, and a lot more living room–like. These days, we’re looking for double-duty function, sustainable materials, and classic silhouettes reimagined, just like you’d see inside. Luckily, the 2024 Domino Good Design Award winners in the Backyard and Outdoor category can withstand the elements and our style expectations.
A Cold Bench’s BFF: Hot Seats by Mylle
Hot Seats
Mylle
Keep outdoor hangs going well into the fall with seat cushions that use the same carbon heating components found in Tesla cars and Toto toilets. The charge lasts up to four hours, more than enough time to get to dessert.
Greatest Comeback: Copacabana Outdoor Lounge Chair by Gubi
Copacabana Outdoor Lounge Chair
Gubi
When it was first designed by Mathieu Matégot in 1955, this tubular lounge chair was meant for indoors only. This year, Gubi reengineered the piece as part of its ongoing Al Fresco series, adding drainage holes, weatherproof upholstery, and a newly angled backrest.
Comfiest Cooler: The Hemingway Cooler by Business & Pleasure Co.
The Hemingway Cooler (35 Quart)
Business & Pleasure Co.
Your glamping packing list just got shorter: This retro cooler features a detachable magnetic cushion you can sit on and an acacia-wood lid that functions as a mini countertop–slash–cheese board.
Trailblazing Paver: Terrazzo Clay Paver by ORCA
Terrazzo Clay Paver ($14 to $16 per square foot)
ORCA
Landscape design firm ORCA continues its mission to rid our yards of crack-prone concrete with the debut of its permeable clay terrazzo pavers, which let rainwater pass through and nourish the soil below.
Brightest Nightlight: Acorn Lantern by Neighbor
Acorn Lantern
Neighbor
Pair this portable lamp with Neighbor’s sleek stand and suddenly you get a floor lamp. Flip it upside down and it’s a makeshift pendant light. There are no fussy cords involved, so you can mosey about your deck without fear of tripping.
Top-Secret Planter: Dzek + Formafantasma ExCinere Side Table from OuterClé
Dzek + Formafantasma ExCinere Side Table
OuterClé
Product designer Dzek and Milan-based studio Formafantasma put ExCinere—a volcanic ash-glazed tile that was three years in the making—to creative use with this side table that cleverly doubles as a home for a plant.
Chicest Dry-Off: Busby Pool Towel by Baina
Busby Pool Towel
Baina
At first, the stripes that separate this funky towel’s checkerboard pattern appear to be solid. Take a closer look and you’ll find they’re actually made up of even tinier squares.
Best Indoor-Turned-Outdoor: Muse Outdoor Sofa by Ellison Studios
Muse Outdoor Sofa by Ellison Studios
Design Within Reach
Ellison Studios’s sculptural Muse sofa sheds its beloved caramel-colored velvet and bouclé fabric choices (rated for indoors) for sun-resistant upholstery with a quick-drying foam filling.
Most Whimsical Wicker: Ziggy Indoor-Outdoor Dining Chair by Sarah Sherman Samuel x Lulu and Georgia
Ziggy Indoor-Outdoor Dining Chair by Sarah Sherman Samuel
Lulu and Georgia
For her first-ever outdoor collection, designer Sarah Sherman Samuel took classic wicker and paired it with a black iron chair frame. The result would look just as sophisticated under your pergola as it does at your desk.
Cubist Curb Appeal: Cubelite Sconce by Bill Curry and Schoolhouse
Cubelite Sconce by Bill Curry
Schoolhouse
This powder-coated aluminum cube, a reintroduction of Bill Curry’s 1960s design, casts light both upward and downward, helping guests locate your house number and your doorbell in one glance.