We Turned This Pool Deck into an Outdoor Living Room in 6 Easy Steps

Mid-century modern houses dot the hills of Los Angeles, their courtyards oases of the lifestyle that we long for come summer when the sun is high and swimming pools beckon. It’s a timeless scene we never tire of—and exactly what appealed to the young couple who bought this iconic post-and-beam house and envisioned raising their growing family and entertaining friends throughout the changing seasons.

To make the outdoor spaces as functional as possible, and to nearly double the usable square footage of their house, they approached the project as an indoor-outdoor great room of sorts, an open-plan space with distinct areas for dining, hanging out, and relaxing after the sun goes down.

Here are the key takeaways from their pool patio upgrade.

Cabana Life

The outdoor living room is taken to resort-level luxury with umbrellas and a furniture set that creates flexible seating for six and movable shade. The clean lines of Terra Outdoor Living’s teak Belvedere loveseat, lounge chairs, and chaise ($2,585, $1,392, $1,120) echo the minimalist lines of the low-slung house while Casa pillows and Placed fringe blankets from Barefoot Dreams ($68, $99) offer comfort and shade.

Teak Is Trending

Thomas J. Story

Terra Outdoor’s teak furniture combines high design with a consistent look across the various spaces. Over time, the pieces will naturally patina and go from a handsome gold to weathered gray.

Go High, Go Low

Thomas J. Story

Matching coffee tables in differing heights offers maximum flexibility so your drink or book are in reach no matter where you’re sitting. Terra’s Redondo small coffee table and side table ($466, $300) do just the trick.

Night Moves

Thomas J. Story

The homeowners embraced their concrete floor and repeated the color palette with Terra’s Monte Rio loveseat and lounge chairs ($2,195, $1,275) in weathered teak as well as a Tahoe Square Fire Table ($3,969) to create a cozy gathering area with a unified look. Placed lumbar pillow from Barefoot Dreams ($78).

Cool Kitchen

Thomas J. Story

No outdoor great room is complete without a grill and Traeger raises the stakes (and steaks!) with its all-new, electric Timberline XL, a pro-level culinary workshop with class-leading pellet smoker technology, wifi app-enabled smart controls, an induction burner, and double-wall insulated construction. ($3,799)

Curves Ahead

Thomas J. Story

Terra’s svelte Cavallo dining table and chairs ($2,544, $522) soften the hard lines of the modern space while top-grade teak picks up amber veining in the flagstone patio.

Read the Current Issue Here!

Get one year of Sunset—and all kinds of bonuses—for just $24.95. Subscribe now!