“Exterior social gathering spaces have become must-haves, especially for resort homes, where the homeowners and their guests may want to enjoy the outdoors without being out in the sand,” says Suzanne Manlove of Arlington Home Interiors. Manlove worked on this newly designed and built Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, house with its architect, Steve Lawlor of Lawlor Architects.
“The outdoor spaces were always imagined as an extension of the interior spaces—they essentially became the fourth wall of the interior living space,” says Lawlor, referencing the New England modern-courtyard-style house that he designed.
The structure has a rear two-story wall of mostly glass overlooking an 1,100-square-foot inner terrace containing a large swimming pool and spa.
“The screened porch orients directly to the pool area for easy entertaining and outdoor dining,” he says. “Its clapboard siding wall and porcelain pavers seamlessly travel out to the backyard.”
Manlove selected streamlined yet comfortable Brown Jordan furnishings for both the screened porch and pool terrace for a consistent style and reliable durability. Oversized parasols on wheels can be moved around to shade the sun lounges scattered about the area. There are two designated dining areas, one screened-in, the other on the terrace itself beneath a parasol. All the furnishings are indoor-outdoor and easy to maintain, in keeping with the coastal environment.
“We went with coastal blues to complement the palette of the indoor furnishings,” Manlove says of the crisp whites and blues used for the furnishings. “The house’s floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the pool area, so it was very important that all of the spaces complemented each other.”
The powder-coated aluminum furniture is also stackable, lightweight, and on wheels for easy storage during the less inviting winter months.
Feature image by Robert Radifera courtesy Stylish Productions
This story originally ran in our June issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
