At Home Outside

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

A variety of new furniture designs brings the comfort of indoor living outdoors

Patios and porches have become second living and dining rooms, while gardens are being converted into open-air kitchens and even home cinemas—particularly in summer. And as these outdoor areas are increasingly used as extensions of indoor spaces, luxury manufacturers are responding with fresh furnishings and fixtures that can accommodate this newfound flexibility.

“During the pandemic, people started to focus more on their gardens and transforming these spaces into personal sanctuaries and places to entertain responsibly,” says Los Angeles-based landscape architect John Sharp, who is best known for his work on iconic mid-century Modern homes like the John Lautner-designed Garcia House. As with most innovations born out of necessity, this trend is here to stay.

When designing sofas, chairs, tables, and lamps that are as suited for intimate outfits inside as they are alfresco settings, it all comes down to implementing durable materials and accounting for adaptability—but also introducing bold aesthetics, to enhance exterior environments with statement pieces. Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos’ Bombom collection for Roche Bobois, for instance, is colorful, modular, playful, and amorphous in shape while incorporating sturdy, cutting-edge fabrics. The candy-like sofas are joined by equally maximalist carpets that can be used both indoors and outdoors.

“We’re seeing the boundary between interior and exterior become more fluid,” says Chicago native Stephen Burks. Developed out of Burks’ decades-long collaboration with German outdoor furniture brand Dedon, the Kida lounge chair is as much a testament to carefully considered ergonomics as it is to craftsmanship. The cradle-shaped settee’s organic form is defined by an open metal frame wrapped in a thickly-textured and multi-colored fiber cord by dedicated artisans in Cebu Island, Philippines. A soft cushion insert adds an additional layer of comfort. The new design joins the much-celebrated Kida hanging chaise.

“Outdoor spaces invite us to connect with the natural world and our exteriors, which can also mean our communities,” says Burks. “Consider the porch for example. It’s where you might spend an evening in a swing soaking in the last rays of sun and listening to the breeze in the trees. A porch is also the place you might share an intimate conversation with neighbors accompanied by a cool beverage. Designing for the outdoors requires a heightened sense of generosity.”

Heritage Danish design brand Fritz Hansen has joined the outdoor game with the release of the versatile Povl B Eskildsen-designed Tradition sofa system, produced using FSC-certified core teak and championing graphic simplicity. “As much as form and materials are paramount to good design, so are the ways in which we live—how we use furniture in our everyday lives,” Eskildsen says. “I have created a lot of outdoor furniture and can see how the way we use it differs across countries and cultures, as well as over time.” The seating system can be added to or reduced easily to accommodate gatherings, small or large.

Long gone are the days of cheap plastic or brittle wicker pool chairs. Developed by South African talent Haldane Martin for his namesake label, the Contour outdoor daybed comprises a particularly plush, circular bed with a layered rim backrest and a canopy with fabric crafted in a basket-weaving technique. The indoor-outdoor Fiji upholstery used, from Spanish brand Crevin, is UV-resistant and easy to clean.

Translating an existing design for outdoor use is more and more common. Boutique Los Angeles furniture brand Kalon Studios recently launched its first outdoor Material Studies-Rugosa collection. Building on its pared-back Rugosa series—geometric armchairs and side tables—practice co-founders Michaele Simmering and Johannes Pauwen switched out sustainably harvested western sugar pine for powder-coated aluminum, bronzed glass, and GreenGuard-certified, outdoor-rated textiles. Utilizing long-lasting and durable components is as important as responsibly sourcing regenerative and low-carbon-footprint materials. Holding on to furniture for as long as possible is essential. 

Sustainability is a key factor, but one that doesn’t have to come at the expense of luxury or creative expression. Celebrated Spanish-Italian designer Patricia Urquiola recently launched the biodegradable yet water-resistant Alder collection with Danish brand Mater. “It features simple, three-dimensional objects that can also be used as stools and tables,” she describes. “We wanted to give the blend of Matek—a mixture of upcycled sawdust, coffee bean shells, and binding bioplastic—a certain texture, which makes the material more agile, clay-like, and natural. Alder is a family of trees that feature simple conical lines, so we’re referencing nature and geometry in equal measure.” The durable outdoor/indoor products come in beige, brown, light green, and terracotta hues.

Meanwhile, Belgian producer Ethnicraft recently introduced 100% solid, black-tainted, and brushed teak to its gamut of outdoor tables, including the Quatro series. This finish is a sophisticated alternative to other natural materials, maintaining sustainability while offering sleek elegance. 

What would an outdoor dining room be without light? Up-and-coming New York studio In Common With recently released the Dune Table Lamp, which works as well outdoors as it does indoors. Available in five weather-resistant finishes, the dim-to-warm LED fixture has a whimsical yet sophisticated quality. 

As summer invites us outdoors into luscious gardens or sleek terraces, innovative and elegant furniture designs like these enable us to blend the boundaries between inside and out—with flair. 

SOURCE: Sotheby’s