This formerly simple stone patio was revamped to become a four-season space with separate dining room, living room, and lounge area. The glass doors screen open and close easily for summer, a heated blue-stone floor is great for chilly days, and sheer curtains provide drama without blocking the view.
Photographs by Jane Beiles
Before designer Christina Roughan was hired to transform this space into a beautiful multipurpose outdoor area, it was a nice but simple backyard with a stone patio. “The homeowners spend a lot of time in Germany and Switzerland for work,” says Roughan. “In those areas, a lot of homes have glass rooms or conservatories so that families can really immerse themselves in nature and enjoy the views for all seasons.”
Because of this, the client chose to bring this idea to their Greenwich home and requested a glass addition that would work for all four seasons, with a dining room, living room, and lounge complete with a firepit.
Jumping-Off Point
The goal was to make sure the flow of the outdoor space was consistent with the interior rooms of the home. Designed for a family of six who have a lot of extended family and friends, the space needed to be happy and sophisticated, a place where they could entertain with all of the walls open in the summer and watch the leaves and snowfall in the winter.
“The heated blue-stone floor is an added feature to take the chill off of cold evenings, and the nano-designed glass doors automatically screen and open and close easily,” adds Roughan.
Room With a View
“It was important that the ocean view remain the focal point,” says Roughan. “We were very careful to make sure the furniture did not get in the way of the water and accomplished this by being careful with the size and scale of the furniture.”
Keep This in Mind When Designing an Outdoor Space
After figuring out how you want your space to function, Roughan says, you can then “design the floor plan, source fabrics, furniture, and lighting. A completed space has layers, and without them, your interior is unfinished. Appointing the proper decorative objects not only finishes the space but makes it special. This gives the space a soul and can consist of found pieces, art, hurricane candles, family heirlooms, and throws.”
Favorite Part of the Design
“I must say the entire space is beautiful, but I love the living room [portion],” says Roughan. “The sheers remind me of being away at a beautiful resort with the ocean in the background. All the decorative layers were well thought out and create a magical oasis.”
Materials Used
“We used a lot of rattan, metal, lacquered wood, and all outdoor lush fabrics and flooring from Alt, Holly Hunt, Rogers & Goffigon, and Stark,” says Roughan.
The Team
Designer, Christina Roughan, Roughan Interiors; Contractor, Argus Development; Architect, Jones Byrnes Margeotes Partners