Summer Trends Worth The Hype, According To The Pros

“We enjoy designing backyard patios that maintain a connection to the main house by using tile or concrete flooring similar to what is inside. We can then create a pergola by extending the house beams over this patio and plant it with wisteria, which provides natural shade in the summer while still allowing warmth and light to filter through.”

–CHRISTINA LINDAL

“We have found our clients are trending toward California-type materials, such as natural white-oak flooring, bluestone materials for porches and patios, oversize front doors that allow lots of natural light and black and brass tones for hardware, lighting and plumbing fixtures. Open floor plans are still a must, with clean lines throughout– less is more these days.”

–JAY RIORDAN

“We love incorporating truly custom details that are unique to the client and the home. For instance, we had a client who is a chemist, so we designed a wet bar to replicate the skeletal formula of a particular chemical bond with a series of hexagonal custom cabinets. Details like this are what sets a home being built for you apart from just a new house. ”

–LISA PICKELL

“Our team is currently working on an amazing rooftop terrace at a private residence overlooking Millennium Park. The vision is a complete transformation starting with the flooring, where we are combining a seamless blend of three materials: green SYNlawn grass, large-format porcelain pavers and ipe decking, all flush on the same plane.”

–MICHAEL MILLER

“A lot of people want to add a transitional look and feel to their home. They still want classic lines and forms as a backdrop but not as heavy in terms of detailing. These classic elements, usually in the form of moldings and flooring materials and patterns, are paired with more modern and streamlined elements, such as tile and stone.”

–RODGER A. OWEN

“Clients are anxious to extend their living space to the outdoors, especially after enduring the storms of this past winter. Whether it is a New York brownstone with a rooftop terrace or a Greenwich estate featuring a pool pavilion, our clients’ movement is toward living outdoors. Kitchen gardens are all the rage, because farm-to-table and buying local have become a movement of their own.”

— GEORGE PUSSER

“We are creating some of the most incredible outdoor spaces in the Hamptons. For our custom work, we’ve used different cultured and natural stones to create hardscape features like fire pits, oversize fireplaces, sunken amphitheater pools and spa-side seating. Massive outdoor kitchens and bars are also garnished with sophisticated lighting and decorative stone.”

— JOHN C. KEAN

“We like working with new pavers that are made of ceramic material instead of stone, which often gets discolored and chips. We’re doing a terrace right now for a famous actor; it looks like limestone, but it’s ceramic. There’s also a product called Taboo veneers, which looks like wide-width wood veneers. You can stain it, and it’s better for the environment.”

–JOSH WIENER

“Creating a travertine marble-tile paver terrace or patio extends outside living spaces for unique entertaining areas. A natural stone, travertine adds timeless Tuscan beauty to a patio or terrace. For a different look, you can install 24-by-24-inch tile pavers right into the lawn in a chess-board design of grass-and-stone squares.”

–SAMI KELMENDI

“Architects, designers and owners seem to be figuring out how to put an urban flare appropriately into suburban or country settings using metal, glass or more exotic woods while still making the spaces feel appropriate to a house. Then add trellises, pergolas, fences and even a pair of Adirondack chairs on the lawn, which can all help people feel relaxed and even more at home in a natural setting.”

–SCOTT HOBBS

“The most prevalent trend is the integration of contemporary elements in interiors and exteriors. We are seeing requests for modern farmhouses, and Spanish- and Cape Cod-style residences. People are referring to classic historical forms yet want to be forward-thinking, to create a home that’s fresh and relevant.”

–ROBERT KLEIMAN

“Our clients want fire, water and shade. Fire pits with surrounding seating have been popular for years. Features such as water walls or vertical fountains are soothing and impart a sense of coolness in hot weather. Plus, shade is a growing trend. People are much more health conscious and want to be around the sun without being in the sun.”

–MICHAEL GROSSWENDT