Inside Out
A simple patio is passé; outdoor rooms are in. Here, top designers share their tips for creating the perfect exterior space. By William Kissel
 A colorful oil painting of a North African nobleman on horseback that once graced the breakfast room at Mar-a-Lago, the famous Palm Beach residence built in 1927 by Marjorie Merriweather Post and currently owned by Donald Trump, now dominates a wall in a nearby residential poolside cabana. New York designer Geoffrey Bradfield acquired the artwork at a Christie’s auction and subsequently made it the centerpiece of an outdoor Moroccan fantasy room he designed which features a Moorish mural and orange and rose-colored furnishings.
“It was a total departure from the interior of the house, which is neoclassical and modern,” says Bradfield of the elaborate outdoor setting. “Sometimes you want an outdoor room to be harmonious with the house, but I don’t think it always has to be spelled out. In this case, the outdoor room is truly an element of surprise.”
Indeed, designs for outdoor living that were once considered formulaic have changed considerably over the past couple of decades. Simple groupings of weather-resistant chairs and chaise longues just beyond the back door have given way to “lavish and extravagant outdoor rooms with all the amenities that would have been inside -- from televisions, chandeliers, heaters, and fans, to fireplaces, lamp lighting, daybeds, and full kitchens with Viking and Thermador appliances,” says Los Angeles-based designer David Dalton, whose exterior commissions run the gamut from the courtyard of a Mediterranean palazzo in California to the gardens of Olympic ice skater Scott Hamilton’s new home in Nashville. Dalton also produces his own indoor/ outdoor furniture collection.
“Don’t think a poolside arrangement has to be a chaise longue; you can have a daybed next to your pool now,” says Dalton, noting how everything from water-repellent area rugs to opulent weather-tolerant drapery fabrics is now graded for outdoor use. “Even barbecues aren’t just grills anymore; some are as professional as an indoor kitchen range.”
Hospitality designer Cheryl Rowley, who has designed for top hotel companies including Rosewood and Four Seasons, adds art, accessories, and even technology to exterior spaces. “Premium hotel cabanas often include ceiling fans, sound systems, mini-bars, and flat-screen televisions,” she says. “But, of course, sometimes all you need are comfortable furnishings in a beautiful, natural setting.”
 Regardless if they exist adjacent to a hectic hotel lobby, outside the busiest room in the house, or even hidden within the isolated acreage of a great estate, the best garden rooms grow out as an extension of their environments, blending seamlessly with the vegetation, sculpture, surrounding architecture, and hardscapes -- fountains, fireplaces, and pools, for instance.
In addition, the most successful outdoor rooms are designed to weather the elements. “The most common mistake people make is not taking the climate into consideration,” says Rowley. “For example, umbrellas offer great relief from the sun, but if the location is known for high winds, they can be problematic and may need to be bolted down or taken in at certain times of the day,” she says. Likewise, sitting on metal furniture that has been baking in the sun can cause burns, while plastics become brittle in frigid temperatures. “Every climate has some limitation that needs to be addressed,” notes Rowley.
Then there are the matters of logistics. Should the outdoor room be close to the house or out in a field? Should the space reflect the interior of the house or be the fancy of the homeowner’s imagination? Should the furniture be grouped for large gatherings or clumped in small clusters to accommodate private conversations? Do you need a fireplace or a water fountain to create a calming outdoor environment? While there are no established rules, experts say the size and layout of the property, as well as the entertaining habits of the homeowners, should serve as a guide.
To maintain the feel of your home’s interior, relate what’s going on outside to what’s going on inside. “That way, it extends the room and the view and gives you double the space,” says Michael Booth of BAMO, the San Francisco-based design firm responsible for the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii and the new Montage Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, as well as numerous residential properties. Also key, says Booth: “The space should always have a sense of enclosure on at least two sides, achieved with hedging, a garden wall, or even a side of the house. If you don’t have some sort of enclosures, they typically aren’t successful spaces.”
Think of it as another room in your house, advises Anouska Hempel, the London-based designer well known for her elaborate garden landscapes, including that of the new James Bond-inspired Warapuru beach resort in Itacaré, Brazil. “If you have a room with a Japanese table in it, make a similar one for the room outside so you can easily, and cohesively, move from indoors to outdoors,” says the designer, who feels that outdoor spaces should be arranged with lighting, draperies, and artwork just as they would be inside your home.
 And don’t forget the view. “With most real estate you pay more for that special view, so by all means take advantage of that by orienting the furniture toward it,” says Dalton, noting that when a distant view isn’t available, a fountain, prominent sculpture, or even a particularly beautiful tree can serve as a substitute. “The object is to make sure you’re able to see the best feature that exists in the garden while having a conversation, and preferably without having to turn your head,” he says.
Of course, sometimes you don’t have a view at all, “especially if you live in a townhouse or a high-rise in the city,” notes Hempel, who uses another indoor trick outside to solve the dilemma: “I use mirrors outdoors to reflect back the indoor room, and that way the room just looks like it goes on and on,” she says.
New York designer Bradfield agrees. “Outside mirrors make people think there is another room beyond, or as if the garden doesn’t end,” he says.
In the end, the design principles are the same regardless if you’re doing it indoors or out, adds Dalton, noting that weather is the only real distinction. “We still hang drapes and roll out rugs,” he says. “But what we really do is set the stage for people’s lives to unfold. Some people just have a more elaborate stage.”
7 Trends in Outdoor Living
1 Water Features. “Water features are a good way to cool you off and provide some light noise if the space is adjacent to a busy road or other urban sounds,” says designer Michael Booth. One great resource: Simply Fountains. simplyfountains.com
2 Heaters. Blue Rhino makes outdoor heaters that resemble elegant floor lamps and use 1,200-watt halogen bulbs. Visit patioheaterstore.com.
3 Outdoor Fireplaces. “Every home has to have an outdoor fireplace that is indicative of what’s inside,” says designer Anouska Hempel. Stone Age Fireplaces offers many style options. stoneagefireplaces.com
4 Water-repellent accessories. Draperies, area rugs, and pillows that were once exclusive to the indoors are now graded for outdoor use. Check out Ballard Designs for suggestions. ballarddesigns.com
5 Elaborate lighting. “Hang candelabra chandeliers from a tree or trellis,” says designer Michael Booth, who also likes hanging iron or tin candle boxes such as those found at Smith & Hawken. www.smithandhawken.com
6 Upscale outdoor kitchens. “You want to have your barbecue somewhere in proximity to the existing kitchen,” says designer Clodagh, noting that grills and kitchen appliances by such brands as Viking, Weber, and Thermador all offer units that can be built in to blend seamlessly with the landscape. vikingrange.com, weber.com, thermador.com
7 Sun protection. “Umbrellas can be really fantastic things. But avoid stark white -- it’s too reflective. Instead, choose a darker orange or red for interest and comfort,” says Booth. Santa Barbara Designs is among the outdoor industry’s many innovators. sbumbrella.com
 Design Inspiration
These designers can help you create your outdoor oasis.
Michael Booth/BAMO
(415) 979-9880, bamo.com
Geoffrey Bradfield Inc.
(212) 758-1773, geoffreybradfield.com
David Dalton, Inc.
(323) 525-3155, daviddaltoninc.com
Anouska Hempel Design
011-44-207-938-1515, anouskahempeldesign.com
Cheryl Rowley Design
(310) 843-0101, cherylrowleydesign.com
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