Chris Roughan
ROUGHAN INTERIOR DESIGN
Making the most of your home’s outdoor areas can double your living space, says Chris Roughan. “You see this type of living all the time in California, and people on the East Coast have finally caught on,” she says, referring to large retractable glass doors that open a whole wall to a deck or patio. For clients who live on the water, Chris created a four-season “glass house” entertaining area with heated floors, upholstered seating and a dining table positioned for optimal views. The contractor (Tim O’Malley of Argus Development) took Nano doors from Europe and customized them for the structure, she says. Then Chris installed custom decorative drapes for ambience. “It feels like you’re at a spa at night with the soft summer wind blowing the draperies” made of a Corragio fabric that’s waterproof, stain-proof and sun-proof.
CHIC SOURCES
A must-see home and garden shop for unique accessories, Devonshire of Palm Beach sells Balinese hanging lanterns, Spain pottery, Moroccan ginger jars and select items from France, England and Italy, antiques and more. For outdoor furnishings, Chris likes the custom colors from McKennon & Harris. Her favorite outdoor fabrics are Holly Hunt and Schumacher.
PAINT PICK
Ammonite from Farrow & Ball is such a versatile hue. “It really changes in the light,” Chris says. “Sometimes it looks gray. Sometimes it’s more ivory with a hint of light blue.”
Marcia Tucker Interiors
As a designer who also specializes in yacht interiors, Marcia turns to luxe marine-grade furnishings for homes, too, especially for outdoor spaces. Collections such as those by Italian designer Paola Lenti bring color and sophistication to yachts as well as patios, with many pieces made from marine-grade roping that can tolerate extreme weather conditions and still look like new. Marcia draws inspiration from the cocoon-like comfort of yacht cabins. “We focus on comfort inside, making it feel very cozy by bringing in textures, soft carpeting, linens, blankets, lots of layering. All the walls have to be upholstered. Everything inside is wood with textiles on the walls,” she says. “We bring that same feeling of coziness to our residential projects.”
MIX MASTER
Don’t buy the whole furniture set from one collection. Marcia advises mixing styles of furniture—say, a coffee table from a different line. Adding a rug is another way to make the outdoor room feel more cozy.
CHIC SOURCES
Perennials and Sutherland outdoor furniture line is “one of the best,” Marcia says. She loves the outdoor rug line from Loro Piano and many pieces from Paolo Lenti (she is the exclusive marine dealer in our area). For wallcoverings, she likes the hand-painted and hand-embroidered collections from Fromental.
Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design
Trick out your patio or other outdoor space by surrounding it with comfortable cushions and pillows and plenty of comfortable seating, Amy says, as she did here for her family’s poolhouse, which she calls “the ultimate oasis.” Don’t forget the lighting: Install an overscaled light fixture, but as you would with an interior room, make sure it’s wet- or damp-rated.
BLOOMING ACCENTS
Large potted plants enliven a home, whether they’re placed indoors or out. “Flowers and plants just make me happy,” says Amy, who decorates her pool house with “a menagerie” of large potted plants that she brings inside during the winter months. “I love the green so much in my house.”
FAVE WALLPAPER
Amy is a huge fan of the custom hand-painted grasscloth Surfaces by David Bonk, a San Francisco-based artisan. “David is always accommodating for custom colors and open to rescaling and customizing his papers for our interiors,” says Amy. “Of course, we can never do anything simple and standard!”
FRAGRANT TOUCHES
Earthy, scented hand soaps from Aesop are on Amy’s must-have list, especially the Aromatique Hand Wash and Balm.
“I give it as gifts to clients and put it in my studio.”
Amy Zolin
CLARITY HOME INTERIORS
To elevate a terrace, patio or other alfresco spaces, Amy relies on outdoor rugs. “Choose a solid textured weave that’s kid- and pet-friendly, so it’s easy to clean,” she says. She likes the indoor-outdoor selection at Jaipur Living.
GARDEN DÉCOR
Brighten up a patio with patterned throw pillows and table linens. Amy’s pick: Citrus Garden, based on an iconic pattern Joseph Frank created for Schumacher. “It’s infused with color and wit and instantly recognizable,” Amy says. It’s available as a pillow or table linens by Matouk. To light up your outdoor living spaces, Amy recommends cordless Zafferano lanterns, which run on batteries and can be dimmed.
CHIC SOURCES
Her ultimate scented candle is the Baobob Collection in Stones—Lazuli, available at
The Home Boutique of Greenwich. For throws, Amy likes the Nash collection from Uniquity, which is woven in Belgium of a special linen and mixed fibers.
