With warm summer days beckoning us into the great outdoors, I recently sat down with LaurelRock Landscape Designer Justin Quinn to talk about his approach to designing outdoor living spaces. Enjoy!
Burt: What are clients looking for in an outdoor living space?
Justin: In my experience, people are drawn to clean, designed spaces, and this applies to outdoor living spaces as well. Over the last decade or so, clients have reached out to us to create outdoor spaces for gathering, entertaining, and as a casual spot to extend their living space. Many families tell me that they’re looking for ways to connect with each other beyond sitting in front of a television. Outdoor living areas, especially if they include a fire pit, serve that purpose beautifully.
Burt: What kind of outdoor amenities are growing in popularity?
Justin: The ubiquitous barbecue grill is at the top of everyone’s outdoor amenity list. But the last thing you want is for the grill itself to be the focal point of an outdoor living space. That’s why we frequently build “parking spaces” for barbecue grills, using stone to frame (and hide!) the grill, as well as to provide useful counter space. Fire pits are extremely popular today as well. There’s just something about fire that brings people together. Again, a fire pit should not be the focal point; rather, it should be placed to the side of an outdoor living area, providing an additional gathering place within the context of the larger outdoor space. Outdoor fireplaces are growing in popularity as well, but, contrary to a grill or fire pit, outdoor fireplaces work well as a focal point in an outdoor room, since they mimic an indoor space. Finally, sitting walls are a popular amenity, and are an efficient way to provide additional outdoor seating, as well as to help define an outdoor living space.
Burt: How do you tie clients' outdoor living spaces to the design aesthetic of their indoor rooms?
Justin: When I walk through a client’s home, I learn a lot about their design aesthetic simply by looking at the style of their furniture and the artwork hanging on their walls. Frequently, our clients have worked with an architect and an interior designer, so I can take cues from the defined styles of those professionals. I also interview clients extensively, to learn more about their taste and how they intend to use their outdoor space. We always strive to provide our clients with a context-driven design, so that their outdoor space looks like it belongs there. And we try to offer solutions to make their outdoor space a tranquil retreat. We also take existing variables into account. For example, if a home has roadside noise, we’ll talk about adding a water feature to their design to help mitigate the noise with natural sounds that are more soothing.
Burt: Do you consider the view from the indoors when you design for the outdoor living areas?
Justin: Creating and controlling the view from inside the home is central to the design of every outdoor living space. Recently, working with a client in Darien, I took photos from every window in the home so that I could create memorable landscapes from every vantage point. In fact, creating and controlling views is so important, it’s written into every LaurelRock contract!
Burt: What tips do you have for homeowners who are considering creating an outdoor living space?
Justin: For starters, if they’re new to the home, I believe it’s healthy for homeowners to live in their space for a little bit before making wholesale changes. Spend some time in the yard. Get a feel for the space, the sunny spots, the shady areas, where you envision creating an outdoor room, etc. Not surprisingly, I advocate working with a landscape design professional, who can tie the homeowner’s initial thoughts and ideas into a well-designed outdoor living solution that meets all their needs.
Burt: What's next when it comes to outdoor design?
Justin: Outdoor design is definitely moving in a less formal direction. Today, many of our clients are drawn to a garden design that is more casual in nature, and often with a contemporary or modern theme. From a materials standpoint, sustainability is more important than ever, so sourcing our hardscape and plant materials regionally is a priority.
Burt: Do you have a favorite outdoor space?
Justin: I have two favorite outdoor spaces: Mia Lin’s Vietnam Memorial and Paley Park in Manhattan. I appreciate the simple beauty and emotional power of Mia Lin’s Vietnam Memorial wall, which immediately transports visitors into the solemn space. Paley Park, on the other hand, is an intimate retreat in the heart of a big city. I’m inspired by every detail of Paley Park: it’s elevated from street level, which immediately welcomes you into the defined, yet tranquil space; a beautifully designed waterfall drowns out street noise and creates a lovely focal point. And the white wire chairs, which visitors can move to a favorite sitting point, add a functional, yet simple design aesthetic that contributes to the overall tranquility of the space.
