Come summer, the division between indoors and out seems to melt away. Our living space expands, and entertaining becomes more relaxed. Patio, pool, and lawn steal the focus from dining rooms and flat-screen TVs.
But like well-designed interiors, patio and pool spaces should provide a sense of place along with privacy and utility. Because they provide so much pleasure, exterior spaces deserve the same aesthetic consideration that’s given to home décor. Some tips:
“I believe in trying to carry the outside in and the inside out. A bold use of color outside goes a long way. It’s just fabric and cushions; if you get tired, you can change it.” — Birmingham interior designer Jeffrey King
“Ensuring that outdoor spaces can be used through the majority of the year is critical. Elements that help achieve that include fire pits, covering the patio (to create more of an outdoor room), and even heating the patio floor.” — Bloomfield Hills architect Dominick Tringali
“Design a patio space where it can be accessed, viewed, and enjoyed from several different rooms.” — Bloomfield Hills architect Dominick Tringali
“When planning a terrace, consider how much it will be used and what for. Assemble furniture, barbecue equipment, etc., and see how much space it requires.” — James van Sweden, landscape architect
“If you want to raise the value of your home, start thinking about its outdoor living spaces.” — The Ultimate Backyard: Inspired Ideas for Outdoor Living
“I usually design paved areas first. They provide the basic structure of the garden; they define how areas are used, and they act as a framework for planting.” — James van Sweden, landscape architect
Try mixing new outdoor furnishings with vintage or antique accents available from local retailers, including Classic Country Antiques in Birmingham and Materials Unlimited in Ypsilanti.
This rustic setting includes a barbecue, dining and sitting area, and fireplace. A cover extends the use of the space into colder months. The fireplace blends with, and is visible from, the interior kitchen nook. Stone joints feature an over-grouted technique that creates an Old World look. A 2010 Detroit Home Design Award winner. Avripas Construction Management Co., Rochester, avripasconstruction.com, and Dominick Tringali Architects Inc., Bloomfield Hills; dtarchitects.com
This page, clockwise from top left: Owners of an Art Deco-style estate in Birmingham wanted a whimsical outdoor entertaining space. They provided vintage furnishings; landscape architect Merritt Wolson created a series of “rooms” for guests to explore. Large drifts of flowering shrubs and perennials screen the property and soften the setting. Merrittscape Inc., Waterford Township; 248-681-7955, merrittscape.com
Despite being on a busy corner lot in Aspen, Colo., this patio is private. The lounge-like setting is entered from the family room via a wall of mahogany-trimmed Nana Doors that can be fully opened. A grid pattern of large squares of walnut travertine and exposed aggregate form the patio floor. A 2010 Detroit Home Design Award winner. DesRosiers Architects, Bloomfield Hills; desarch.com, and Schaerer Architextural Interiors, Bloomfield Hills; 248-874-0605.
Landscape architect Michael J. Dul created this natural setting where a gravel woodland path joins a stone staircase that meanders through Michigan boulder outcroppings. Michael J. Dul & Associates Inc., Birmingham; 248-644-3410.
Bloomfield Hills interior designer Paul Feiten says his pool is reminiscent of Old Hollywood — “very Joan Crawford.” Feiten went against prevailing wisdom when he bought a home with a 40-year-old in-ground pool. Because they liked the floor plan of the house, he says, “We made the pool work, and now it’s something we love.” Before buying, they had the pool inspected by Huntington Woods Pools. They replaced the coping and installed the blue crackle-glaze tile below the rim. Feiten installed outdoor stereo speakers and created a cabana with a cedar-shake roof, bead-board ceiling, and antique lantern. The drapery fabric is an outdoor sheer from Sunbrella. “Its fluid,” Feiten says. Adding to that sense of motion are spheres from cb2.com that float across the surface. Feiten says the pool “turned out to be a haven. Within my family, it’s the party house. It’s turned out to be a very positive thing.” During summer months, they vacation in the backyard where Casa Blanca lilies perfume the air. A 2010 Detroit Home Design Award winner. Paul Feiten Designs; 248-258-9200.
The renovation of a Spring Lake, Mich., estate included improving a side veranda that’s accessible from the conservatory/sunroom and the living room. French doors, a ceiling with exposed beams, genuine marble columns, and handmade, hand-painted Italian tiles create a European feel. Surpass Renovations, Grand Rapids; we-surpass.com, and J. Berault Design Inc., Grand Rapids and Saugatuck; jberaultdesign.com.
Despite its petite dimensions, this downtown Birmingham patio is private and stylish. A permeable surface of dry-laid bluestone pads and granite banding jointed with permeable sand allows rain to soak through to the ground below, eliminating runoff. Furnishings include Brown-Jordan chairs with a hot burnt-orange fabric. The table was made by Bradley Maddalena. Metalwork is by Tom Myers of Gallery Steel in Waterford Township. Planters are from Detroit Garden Works, Sylvan Lake. Plantings are by Cathy Rosenhaus. Jeffrey King Interiors; jeffreykinginteriors.com; Cathy Rosenhaus, Great Oaks Landscape, Novi; greatoakslandscape.com.
Come summer, the division between indoors and out seems to melt away. Our living space expands, and entertaining becomes more relaxed. Patio, pool, and lawn steal the focus from dining rooms and flat-screen TVs.
