"From June through the end of September, we have great weather in Chicago, and people like to take advantage of it," Schreiber says. "There's not a lot of opportunity for private green space in the city," Schreiber says. "You have to make a different type of place to escape."

• On the garage-top terrace, durable Trex decking is arrayed at an angle. "This gives visitors a sense of procession leading up from the outdoor kitchen," says designer Aimee Nemeckay, of Susan Fredman and Associates. Low, comfortable seating is arranged around a wood-burning fireplace.

"The plant material is designed for maximum drought tolerance," says landscape designer Aldo Burcheri, of Christy Webber Landscapes. "The trees are bonsai-like in that the container keeps them from growing like a tree in the wild," Burcheri says. "These will grow to about 15 feet, helping to shade the space without overpowering it."

Pure Sofa, Side Chair, and Coffee Table: Henry Hall/Bradley-Terrace; Decking: Trex