The allure of indoor/outdoor living is often framed as a contemporary luxury, but its roots run far deeper. “Indoor/outdoor living is about the places in a home where the walls begin to feel less confining,” explains
Meghan Henning, vice president and general manager at Ledge. “It’s where the structured boundaries of being inside start to fall away, and you somehow feel lighter simply by stepping into the space.” These transitional zones, she notes, have evolved into something more than architectural features. “Indoor/outdoor rooms and transitional spaces have become the emotional centerpiece of the home because they truly change how the home feels,” Henning says. While the concept is often associated with the open-air ease of California modernism, as Henning notes, the East End has their own, equally rich lineage. shingle-style porch and the sleeping porch were the original indoor/outdoor rooms.”
Photo: Ledge
From Seasonal To Year-Round
In recent years, indoor/outdoor living has shifted from a design aspiration to an everyday expectation, designers say, driven as much by lifestyle changes as by architecture itself. “Indoor-outdoor living removes the barrier between interior and exterior, making outside space a true extension of your home,” says Corey Lee, senior vice president of SunVilla. “The aim isn’t just to furnish a patio, but to create an area reflecting your indoor lifestyle, whether lounging, working, or entertaining.” This reframing, from backyard to fully realized living space, has redefined how homeowners think about function and flow. “A major shift happened in 2020, as people invested more in their homes and saw outdoor areas as key parts of daily life, not just occasional use,” Lee adds. “Comfort, flexibility, and thoughtful design now define outdoor spaces.”
Playing By The Rules
“On the East End, successful indoor/outdoor living is rooted in cohesion and intention,” says Kerith Flynn, founder of Margali & Flynn Designs. “What works is continuity, like matching materials, a consistent color palette, and architectural elements that tie the spaces together.” Equally critical is thoughtful zoning, she says: “layering covered areas for shade, open lounge spaces for sun, and transitional zones like pergolas or cabanas that bridge the two.” What falls flat? “When outdoor spaces feel like an afterthought with mismatched finishes, under scaled furniture, or layouts that don’t support how people actually entertain and relax,” Flynn advises.
Flexibility and climate responsiveness — “shelter, shade, airflow, and lighting” — are non-negotiable, Henning agrees, warning that “underused space is not just a design miss, it is a value miss.”
Photo: Tim Hill
At the same time, innovation is shaping how these environments are used. “One cool design feature that has become popular is a motorized pergola with louvers that open and close at the touch of a button,” Lee adds, alongside glass-enclosed outdoor rooms that function year-round.
Designing The Next Chapter
Looking ahead, indoor/outdoor living on the East End is poised to become more refined, flexible and experiential. “We’re seeing a move toward even more integrated and flexible spaces,” Flynn says. “Outdoor areas are being designed for year-round use, with features like retractable enclosures, heating elements, and more advanced lighting and technology.” Rather than a single patio or poolside setup, the future lies in thoughtful diversification: “There’s also a greater emphasis on creating multiple ‘rooms’ outdoors,” she adds. “Spaces that serve different purposes throughout the day and evening.”
The aesthetic is changing as fast as life as we know it, Henning says. “The next few years should be especially interesting because the conversation is starting to shift from how open we can make a space to how beautifully we can make people live in it,” she explains. Performance, wellness, and durability are becoming central to design decisions, as are climate-conscious strategies that ensure spaces are not just beautiful, but permanently usable.
