June 16, 2014 | Sandy Giardi
From the views to the vibe, we can’t get enough of this heady, relaxed season.
Landscape by Schumacher Companies
Ella Fitzgerald was spot on when she warbled that the living is easy in summertime. Here in New England, we are entering the long, lazy days of cutoffs and convertibles, and it is sweet. Rhythmic tides, salt air, fiery barbecues and cold, frosty drinks, backyard snoozes and lamplit soirees—we love most everything about summer. But there are a few seasonal standards that just say summer to us. We are hotly anticipating….
Outdoor Showers
Whether you’re just waking up to a cleansing under the sun or washing off the salt and sand after a day at the beach, we’re hard-pressed to think of anything as reviving or restorative as a shower under the elements. Design styles for these refreshing alfresco alcoves and stalls run the gamut, and range from sensible and utilitarian to luxe and Edenic, with varying degrees of modesty levels. S+H Construction’s streamlined, custom wood shower for a Rockport home is equipped with two showerheads and recessed lighting, while Katherine Field and Associates’ vision in stone, tile and wood, boasts a built-in bench and beautiful fountain effect with a cascade of water.
Landscape Architecture by Katherine Field and Associates; photography by Richard Mandelkorn
Construction by S+H Construction; photography by Eric Roth
Flip-Flops
If we must shed our Frye boots we’re glad to be donning the ubiquitous summer sandal that shows off perfect pedicures and can be shed in seconds flat when sand or cool grass beckons bare feet. Flip-flops come in a vast array of styles and hues, and can be casual and surf-inspired like Havaianas’ comfy, colorful kicks, breezy as cotton for those great summer sundresses à la Tory Burch’s crocheted version, or chic and polished like Burberry’s line in their signature check—the perfect choice for the well-heeled and a day of shopping.
Havaianas
Tory Burch Schaeffer Crocheted Rubber Flip-Flop
Burberry’s Haymarket Check Flip-Flop
Water Views
To us, being by the water’s edge is what summer is all about. Sun-kissed white-crested surf or rippling lake waters instantly put us in vacation mode. We’re more than happy to sit a spell and soak it all in, gazing out at a serene, pine-lined lake from the comfort of an Adirondack chair or scanning the ocean’s blue expanse from an easy yet elegant porchside perch. From the coast to the mountains, architects Shope Reno Wharton are masters at making the most of magnificent views.
Architecture by Shope Reno Wharton; photography by David Vanden Brink
Architecture by Shope Reno Wharton; photography by David Vanden Brink
Architecture by Shope Reno Wharton; photography by Durston Saylor
Grilling
In our minds, the perfect summer meal doesn’t involve a pan, but it does involve crisp, cool salads; juicy veggie kabobs; fresh, flame-grilled seafood; and smoky, tangy meats with an aroma that entices from houses away. There’s simply no better time to “fire up the barbie;” it’s easier than ever to prepare an entire meal in your backyard. Landscape architects and contractors are including full outdoor kitchens within terrace designs, while Wellesley’s Jarvis Appliance and Boston Appliance in downtown Boston feature top-shelf, high-performance, freestanding grills.
Clarke, New England's Official Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom and Test Kitchen
Summer Cashmere
There’s something undeniably luxurious about summer cashmere—whether you’re wearing it or wrapping yourself up in it. That ultra soft, featherlight weave against the skin is a treat for the senses; have it within reach when the sun dips down at dusk or when a sea breeze is blowing. Summer cashmere makes an extravagant, memorable gift; Nantucket Looms weaves the extraordinary fibers in their upstairs Island studios, using the same creative process since the company’s inception in 1968.
Pure Collection summer cashmere
Handwoven cashmere and silk throws by Nantucket Looms
Handwoven cashmere by Nantucket Looms
Hammocks
Let’s hear it for the season that not only allows—it encourages—afternoon siestas! (How else are you going to be dazzling for that fireworks display or ramped up for a round of golf?) Hammocks, with their gentle swing and shady vantage, are an optimal place to catch a few winks. Twin Oaks handcrafted hammocks, available at Patio Place in Burlington, Mass., please traditionalists with vibrant, fabric styles, as well as rope renditions that can fit the whole family. Modernists, take note of furniture purveyor IL Décor’s contemporary riff on the hammock. It boasts a cushioned, self-suspending design and an overhead canopy to help you keep your cool.
Bahama Modern Dream Chair, available at IL Décor
Fire Pits
Marshmallows? Check. Beverages? Check. Folk songs? Perhaps not, but we are delighted that a grown-up incarnation of our fondest summer camp ritual has found expression in the outdoor living spaces of homes across the region. More popular than ever, people are drawn to dancing flames, and fire pits make any night of the week festive. Best of all? Most homeowners can have one, as fire pits can be embedded in a backyard hardscape, as in the beautiful work of Schumacher Companies and Northern Lights Landscape, or purchased as a stand-alone amenity like the gaslit Caluco beauties found at IL Décor.
Landscape Construction by Schumacher Companies; Photography by Warren Jagger
Caluco fire pit, available at IL Décor
Entertaining
With barbecues, clambakes, family get-togethers and alfresco dinner parties, summer can feel like a string of celebrations. Intimate and large gatherings can benefit from small touches that make a big impact. One thing we don’t like about summer? Bugs. Prep your outdoor space for the season with ohDEER repellent to ward off ticks and mosquitoes, then ready your guest lists. Have bocce and/or other yard games at the ready, and craft a signature summer cocktail: sangria loaded with fresh fruit is a crowd-pleaser. Lastly, illuminate your space with lanterns inspired by the sea. Shiplights’ nautical antique globes cast a warm glow over exteriors, while Anthony Catalfano Home’s lanterns with polished nickel and an anchor detail brighten up any backdrop. Use them indoors or out; they pair beautifully with the Maine-based company’s distinctive linens, and Simon Pearce blown glass barware, available at Didriks. Cheers!
Simon Pearce barware; available at Didriks
Bilowz Associates, Inc., landscape architecture and design
Durachill beverage dispenser; available at Frontgate
Shiplights Residential and Exterior Lighting
Anthony Catalfano Home; photography by James R. Salomon
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