From trending travertine to poolside perfection, here are the latest launches to cultivate your dream outdoor sanctuary.
THE STONE AGE
Dekton Pietra Kode in Vk04 Grafite
Stone has made a deep impact on civilization since the beginning of time. This spring and summer, it continues to make an impact, beautifying our spaces with both style and timeworn function. Achieve this organic look by incorporating variations of stone such as travertine, cement or marble. Dekton by Cosentino, featured here, is the ideal indoor-outdoor stone with its innovative, ultra-compact and durable surface that is resistant to UV rays, scratches, stains and thermal shock. “When I think of elevating an outdoor space, I think of how much of an impact the outdoor furniture has on the overall design, aesthetic and experience,” says Melissa Kostenko, manager of Cosentino City Center Atlanta. “Applying a durable stone, like Cosentino’s Dekton Onirika, to a table, bench or countertop is the perfect complement to any outdoor living space, and it brings the party outside.” Consider adopting these hardscape materials in your outdoor decor pieces too. From large stone planters, fountains and statues that make a statement to more understated stone pedestals and stools, these pieces are sure to give your space a clean yet organic look.
TERRA-COTTA TABLESCAPE
Sutherland Sag Harbor lounge chairs
Sun-soaked skies and patio sipping await this summer. Time to enlist the perfect color palette for the season: neutral notes. Designers have tapped into this seasonal trend, weaving details throughout small accessories and statement pieces—from rattan baskets and raffia flatware to blond woods and caned chairs. Ready to plan your next alfresco gathering? These caramel-colored hues are sure to satisfy.
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
Minnidip luxe inflatable pool floats and beach balls
What can be better than lounging poolside, drink in hand, as the sun shines down? Not very much, except perhaps the right furniture and decor to set the mood. Bring Slim Aarons’ picture-perfect world to life with modern bohemian pieces that capture the joy of a worry-free summer day. To get the look, pair chic, textural pieces with curved, organic shapes, like the Maui daybed from Harbour and Lulu and Georgia’s Tre side table, both of which have a tactile, weathered finish. Sprinkle in accessories in shades of pink and marigold—with plenty of fringe detailing—and top it all off with graphic pool floats in soft, approachable shades. The result? An easygoing, timeless look that says endless summer loud and clear.
GREEN GETS FUNCTIONAL
Outdoor living spaces benefit greatly from vertical green beauty from LiveWall.
Planters festooned with ferns and boxes brimming with peppers are great, but some homeowners are stepping up their outdoor green dreams. Two trends that we’re seeing pop up are living walls—serving as decorative screens or harvestable gardens—and luxe greenhouses that take the growing space to another level. “Living walls are a versatile way to blend artistic and ecological, pollinator-support interests into one beautiful design element,” says Dave MacKenzie, a horticulturist, biologist and founder of Michigan- based LiveWall (livewall.com), which seeks to positively change the world with unique applications of plants. MacKenzie’s team designs vertical living wall systems that provide plants with upright stem orientation, downward growing roots, a soil-based growing medium with beneficial soil-borne microflora and irrigation that moves downward like rain.
SOLAR FLAIR
Les Jardins’ Pendulum outdoor solar floor lamp makes an oversize statement
The latest trend in lighting your outdoor dreamscape? Solar style. As technology improves, the previously clunky format has made some seriously sophisticated moves forward, with chic form to match function. Notes Jennie Oh, director of merchandising for luxury modern lighting brand Lumens, “We are seeing more decorative lanterns that are aesthetically pleasing with design at the center while still being functional, energy saving and sustainable.” Oh is bullish on solar’s future, adding, “Solar lighting is already very technologically smart, including motion sensors and multiple setting options, not to mention cost effective since there is no energy cost from the sun.”
ANIMAL KINGDOM
Ardmore Thanda Collection Pangolin Park outdoor fabric
It’s a jungle out there, and our outdoor living spaces are embracing it. Thanks to elephants and giraffes prancing around weather-resistant textiles, snakes slithering across poppy-orange pillows, and gnarly side tables crafted from reclaimed teak, the outdoors have become even more outdoor than ever. Natural materials like handmade jute rugs ground botanical blooms and tropical leaves for an alfresco space that Mother Nature would be proud of. Even ethically sourced seashells are finding new life as decorative creatures. Whether you’re lounging poolside, gathering around a fire pit, dining on the loggia or enjoying a cocktail on your rooftop terrace, these flora and fauna finds will take you on a safari without ever leaving home.
