Outdoor rooms: a breath of fresh air

A free-form pool with rock outcroppings and plantings by Bedford Poolscapes. GINNEL REAL ESTATE/X MODERN ANGLES PHOTO

By JOYCE CORRIGAN

Whether or not Frank Lloyd Wright actually said the oft-attributed words, “Stay close to nature. It will never fail you,” they certainly crystallize the philosophy behind his pioneering architecture, which championed a home’s intimate connection to its natural surroundings. 

More than a century later, we’re just catching up with America’s most celebrated design visionary.

Ever since the pandemic shifted many of our daily rituals outdoors — sidewalk dining, Pilates in the park, religious services on the beach — we’ve also been rethinking our own properties. Whether it’s an expansive terrace with an outdoor kitchen and flat-screen TV, a “White Lotus”-worthy poolscape, or a cozy porch built for two, thoughtfully landscaped and furnished exterior spaces have become seamless extensions of the home. Open-air “rooms” are now where we relax, dine and entertain, with patio heaters stretching the alfresco season well into fall.

Greet the day on the deck

“The deck is my absolute favorite room in the house,” said Elizabeth Messinger, whose circa-1940 cottage at 189 Pound Ridge Rd. in Bedford has been home since 2003. “Not only does it vastly expand our 950-square-foot house, it’s also where I greet each day, deadheading petunias, watering tomatoes and encouraging olive saplings.”

A 1940s cottage all decked out at 189 Pound Ridge Road, which is listed by Houlihan Lawrence. DANIEL COONEY, HOUSE OF PHOTOS

In 2016, the family rebuilt the original deck with new wooden railings and Trex decking to keep bare feet cool and splinter-free. Messinger also replaced aging, gnarled yews with crisp boxwood hedging while gradually adding mountain laurels and colorful perennials. 

“They still surprise and delight me each spring,” she said.

Outdoor spaces offer infinite delights after dark, too.

“Not only do we marvel at beautiful sunsets, but on clear nights, we set up the telescope to stargaze, spy on the cosmos, and say ‘Goodnight, Moon,’” Messinger mused.

The deck proved a saving grace when the pandemic hit in 2020, providing a place for safe gatherings — especially after Messinger discovered a generously sized outdoor dining table on Bedford’s Take It Or Leave It (TIOLI) shed Facebook page. Instantly, she had seating for 16.

“The table has hosted birthday parties, countless casual brunches, and summer suppers surrounded by fairy lights and fireflies,” she said. “The view from the deck is what I’ll miss most.”

A final farewell

After 23 years, the family is putting the house on the market.

“Soon it will host one final farewell party under the stars,” she said, “when we all gather around the portable firepit.”

Few things foster outdoor connection quite like fire. As twilight settles over the landscape, the flickering flames of a firepit naturally invite conversation, reminiscing, and marshmallow roasting, while meals prepared on the grill allow evenings to drift effortlessly from cocktails through dessert without ever stepping inside.

Not surprisingly, demand for outdoor fire features has soared since COVID. Business ignited at Pound Ridge’s Wittus: Fire by Design, the family-owned firm specializing in European-designed wood stoves, fireplaces, grills, and pizza ovens. Founded in 1978 by Danish immigrant Niels Wittus, the company has long championed a Scandinavian Modern ethos of clean lines and sustainability.

“Growing up in Denmark, we never rushed inside when it got cold — we tried to see how long we could stay outside,” Wittus laughed. “Sitting by the fire and cooking meals outdoors is a primal impulse — we’re all Vikings in that way. And being outside is simply better for you.”

Fresh air, natural surroundings, and the soothing sounds of birds and rustling leaves have all been shown to reduce stress and promote serenity.

A  teepee-shaped Phoenix Grill from Wittus is a sustainable grill option. WITTUS FIRE BY DESIGN PHOTO

Fired-up for design

Wittus has observed that today’s homeowners are increasingly design-conscious and environmentally aware, and his firm reflects those values with products designed for clean-burning efficiency, recyclable materials, and craftsmanship that not only endures but also doubles as outdoor sculpture.

Among the company’s most popular offerings is the teepee-shaped Phoenix Grill, winner of the Platinum ADEX Award for design and innovation. 

“Its unique conical shape draws smoke upward and away from guests,” Wittus said, “allowing people to comfortably gather around the fire while cooking. And crafted from COR-TEN steel, the Phoenix is built to last for decades, conserving materials, energy, and resources.”

Another conversation piece is the Italian-made Foculus — an elegant ceramic fire bowl that doubles as a compact grill with a removable stainless-steel cooking surface and chestnut wood top. 

“Families have fun with this because it’s small, social, and interactive, like a hibachi,” Wittus said.

Water naturally rivals fire in defining outdoor living. Few amenities capture the essence of the “staycation” like a swimming pool. Residential pool construction has surged across Westchester — in every shape and size. Bedford Poolscapes, for one, has spent more than three decades creating designs that integrate seamlessly with a property’s architecture and landscape, from classic geometric pools to dramatic infinity-edge installations.

Dramatic poolscaping

Ginnel Real Estate broker Lisa Fitz recently represented a striking three-acre Modernist residence featuring a free-form Bedford Poolscapes pool nestled among dramatic rock outcroppings and mature plantings, all furnished with tables, umbrellas and sleek lounge chairs.

“Certainly, pools have become one of the most requested features in buyers’ searches,” Fitz noted, “particularly among weekend and second-home purchasers. But it’s just part of the bigger picture of today’s homebuying. At every price point, it’s not just having space that’s the ultimate luxury — it’s having outdoor space.”