Hilton Carter sees California’s seamless blend of indoor/outdoor living — and raises it. A few years back, he was hanging out at a friend’s place in L.A. and was captivated by the way the living room opened into the pool through a set of stunning accordion doors. “I immediately thought, ‘If I’m ever able to own a home, I want to easily go from inside directly to the outside’,” said the Baltimore native, plant stylist and author. Fast forward to today, and Carter and his family are celebrating a connection to the outdoors every day, despite living in a chillier climate.

With the Folding Outswing Doors open in the spring and fall, Carter effectively doubles the size of his sunroom. But even when the doors are closed during Baltimore’s “freaky hot summers” and chilly winters, the expansive wall of glass still creates the feeling of being outside and makes the entire space feel vast and open. The team also added a hidden, mini-split unit in the ceiling that can be used for air conditioning or heat to help moderate the temps and enjoy the al fresco lifestyle throughout more days of the year. Carter jokes that he’s always looking to turn a wall into a window. It sounds like a life-size “terrarium” is a good start.