Create a Garden Getaway: Escape Without Leaving Home

No luggage, traffic, or airports required. Step into a garden pavilion and your mind drifts free. "You feel like you've gone halfway around the world, yet you haven't left home," says Ann Foster. Two distinct retreats show the range.

Dream Boat: A Balinese Escape in Santa Barbara

Ann and Hank Foster descend steps through a canopy of fishtail palms and timber bamboo to a teak-floored, tile-roofed pavilion straight from Bali. Tropical plants surround it; rustling fronds and splashing water create instant serenity. "It's like I've drifted off to the islands," Ann says. Mostly a personal retreat, it's also "the perfect nap spot."

GARDEN DESIGN: Pat Brodie, Santa Barbara, CA (805/969-4157)
INFO: Pavilion, the Sacred Space, Summerland, CA (from $3,900; 805/565-5535)

Party Platform: A Casual Japanese Teahouse in Woodinville

Jane and Tom Greene wanted a teahouse, only more relaxed. Tom built it in three days for about $500 atop an existing deck, using a galvanized steel frame cloaked in split bamboo secured with copper wire, and reed fencing for the roof. Electric lanterns garland the roof; a Leyland cypress screen provides privacy.