Indoor/Outdoor Oasis
This gorgeous space is the perfect reprieve from the hot sun to watch a movie or grab a cold drink and relax. Tara Kantor, who designed the space for her own Scarsdale home, says her favorite part is the flow. “The pool is really close to the house, which makes it feel inviting,” says Kantor. “You can move easily from one area to the next, and everyone stays connected rather than spread out.”
She was inspired by the layout of a friend’s home in the Hamptons. “They had a pool house with a couch facing the pool and doors that opened fully to the pool area—we took that idea and made it our own by creating a bar instead.”
With the kitchen right next door, hosting is a no-brainer. There’s also an adjacent bathroom, and the stairs to the laundry room are right there as well making cleanup a breeze.
As for the palette and décor, Kantor wanted the whole area to feel like a vacation. “I always envisioned this space being white,” she says. The room features reclaimed wood beams which give it an organic touch plus plastered walls.“It has a Greek villa feel, mixed with a Miami-Hamptons vibe,” she adds. Completing the look are lights from Allied Maker, stone from Marble America, and stools from Thomas Hayes.
“It has a Greek villa feel, mixed with a Miami-Hamptons vibe,” says designer and homeowner Tara Kantor.
Kantor relied on indoor/outdoor fabrics throughout—including terry and boucle—to withstand wet bathing suits. “They’re spill-resistant and perfect for wet bodies straight from the pool!” she says.
Modern Amenities
Resort-style living are the words that best describe this indoor/outdoor space in Chappaqua by Scott Hirshson of Hirshson Architecture + Design in Greenwich. “The family wanted the backyard to feel like a private sanctuary for playing football, swimming in the pool, and relaxing around the firepit,” says Hirshson.
The outdoor living space is composed of a veranda that’s connected to the family room, a dining patio that parallels the kitchen, and a pathway near the kitchen that provides direct access to the pool.
The veranda was designed around the firepit which is surrounded by an oversized Restoration Hardware sectional—a perfect cozy area for watching the outdoor TV.
Plenty of doors and windows play a critical role in connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces, says Hirshson. He used Marvin to source both which allowed him to “create the corners of glass in the breakfast room, the oversized sliding door, and the matching fixed French doors at the veranda.”
The palette is “timeless modern” according to Hirshson. “We juxtaposed new windows with bronze cladding against clapboard siding in Benjamin Moore’s Pure White,” he adds. “The exterior furnishings all use performance fabrics to withstand sun and moisture. And whenever possible, we sought out materials that reflect the summer sun rather than absorbing the heat.” For this project they used porcelain tile with thermal bluestone for barefoot comfort.
The design includes covered areas for shade and as well as an easily accessible bathroom and changing space for guests.
The homeowners love the flow for entertaining. “There are multiple areas for adults and kids to gather—whether it’s relaxing under the veranda on a hot day, gathering around the fire on a cool night, or catching a game on TV,” says the homeowner.
Classic Cottage
This guest cottage in Bronxville boasts an open floor plan with sweeping views of the backyard including oversized French doors that lead directly to the pool. The goal of the project, designed by Amy Andrews of Greenwich, was to create a space for the homeowners to entertain their extended family and friends.
Working with architect Charles Hilton, also of Greenwich, and builder Significant Homes in New Canaan, Andrews was inspired to make the space feel like a vacation home, a more casual version of the formal, historic main house. The design includes millwork and architectural details throughout, and Andrews kept everything fresh with a warm white palette.
“We worked to create an inviting and comfortable living space that can transition to large family gatherings with ease” says the designer. “I love layering sophisticated neutral colors and natural textures”
To create the layered look she introduced a neutral base of gorgeous tone-on-tone materials that blend with the creamy hue of the exterior stucco, along with hints of color that echo the treelined property designed by Renee Byers also based in Greenwich.
The airy cottage’s large windows and doors gave Andrews the opportunity to design a seamless indoor/outdoor living experience. “[We wanted] to create a bright and open feel that draws the outdoors into the main living areas and the beautiful interior,” says Andrews.
Now the family can enjoy dinners indoors in the kitchen or dining area or outside under the canopy, cozy up by the outdoor fireplace, or take a dip in the pool with all the amenities close by.
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