The emerald green, warm-season lawn is turning tawny brown as it prepares to go dormant for the winter. Nippy afternoon breezes send multicolored leaves trickling down to the ground, signaling the change of the seasons. It's a great time of year to enjoy the smell of hickory or oak burning, and to feel the warmth of a fire in a garden room embellished with autumn treasures.

All Duane and Lynn Randleman have to do is open French doors on the side of their house to enter a comfortable, enchanting outdoor room. Together with a contractor, they transformed their side yard into a special place with a level area for their children to play and also a cozy spot for entertaining guests. The result? Their garden literally flows from the kitchen as an extension of the house, and it's used often by the little ones and the adults.

The stacked bluestone walls create boundaries outlining the turf. Behind them, colorful annuals and perennials spill out of large raised beds. The height of the beds eliminates the need to bend over, making them easier to work. Through the seasons, the look of the garden changes. This time of year, large, buttery mums beside the fireplace add a splash of yellow that complements the orange pumpkins and fall foliage.