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Reality House: Great Outdoors

Outdoor living spaces come standard in balmy Florida, where lounging poolside and dining al fresco are part of everyday life. But in The Reality House, those requisite spaces aren't quite where you'd expect.

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Reality House: Great Outdoors

Outdoor living spaces come standard in balmy Florida, where lounging poolside and dining al fresco are part of everyday life. But in The Reality House, those requisite spaces aren't quite where you'd expect.

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    BIG HUG What's not to love about a floor plan that wraps its arms around the ultimate fresh air suite—complete with a hot tub that spills into a swimming pool, a sturdy grill kitchen, outdoor dining area, and an open air fireplace under an intimate pergola? Being at home is like being on vacation.

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    ARCADE GAME Crisp arches add character to exterior elements such as the poolside loggia, which shelters a serious outdoor kitchen, and, on the opposite side of the house, the porte cochere. The arches are framed wood with a stucco skin.

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    FIRST IMPRESSION A forecourt terrace next to the front door provides an informal greeting area for guests. It sets an immediate tone for the house: casual, yet elegant.

HIGH TILES Crossville's Empire Series porcelain tiles have the look of marble but the durability and maintenance of porcelain, which makes them perfectly suited to the shower in the pool bath just off the outdoor terrace. The wall installation is made up of 1-inch-by-3-inch mosaics in a basket-weave pattern in Palais Taupe and Corsican Cream, and a chair rail in Palais Taupe. Corsican Cream in an unpolished finish graces the floor. All pieces have precision squared edges, which allow grout lines to be neat and even. www.crossvilleinc.com.