Renson® Algarve | Outdoor dining area
Accessories include down lighting, fixed Loggia® panels, and retractable screens
Wyckoff, NJ
Until a few years ago, the word pergola might have evoked an image of a rustic patio structure, wisteria vines charmingly entwined in its decaying wooden cross beams. But no longer.
Today’s pergolas are slick and modern, typically constructed of powder coated aluminum and making them conveniently impervious to decay and wood-boring pests. And like everything else these days from washing machines to cellphones, they’re packed with technology. Smart remote-controlled technology like rain and wind sensors, enabling a pergola’s louvered roof to close at the first hint of rain—no more mad dash to bring in the sofa cushions!—or rotate with the angle of the sun. Letting in as much, or as little, of the sunlight you desire. These pergolas actually adapt to the climate. In other words, bioclimatic. And they’re the hottest new trend in outdoor living.
If you ask Aaron Thall and Chris Wehmeyer, co-owners of PergolaHaus, a New Jersey-based authorized pergola dealer for three different European manufacturers—Renson®, Solisysteme, and Markilux—they’ll tell you the trend is only getting hotter as homeowners continue to embrace new features, functions, and technologies.
Accessories include Lineo® blade lighting and retractable screens
Franklin Lakes, NJ
“Before 2020, most homeowners wanted shade solutions for outdoor dining or poolside lounging,” says PergolaHaus’ Thall. “But COVID changed all that, accelerating a shift towards multi-purpose outdoor living and entertainment. First it was rain sensors and rotating louvers, then it was retractable screens, dimmable lighting, and slatted privacy panels. Now everyone wants heaters, Loggia® panels, outdoor fireplaces, and custom entertainment walls, complete with flatscreen TVs and wireless speakers.”
Accessories include Lineo® blade and Columno lighting, Loggia® panels, Bromic heaters, and retractable screens
Sinking Spring, PA
“It’s astounding how inventive homeowners are getting in their efforts to create unique and luxurious outdoor spaces,” added Wehmeyer. “Pergolas used to be thought of as a summertime shade thing, but with these high-tech upgrades, they can be enjoyed all year round, in all sorts of weather.”
Montclair resident, Erin Crawford, agrees. She purchased a Renson® Camargue pergola from PergolaHaus for her back deck in 2021 during the height of COVID. “I wanted a safe place for 6 people to enjoy some food and watch a sporting event on TV, and PergolaHaus offered the perfect answer. I added integrated lighting, a retractable screen for privacy and additional warmth, and a heater which allowed me to host outdoor parties even in 40-degree weather. COVID may be in remission, but I’m still using my pergola 12 months of the year. It’s like I added an extra room on to my house!”
And Crawford isn’t alone. According to PergolaHaus data, heaters, custom entertainment walls, and Loggia® panels are the most commonly requested accessories heading into 2024, reflecting New Jersey residents’ clear desire for year-round outdoor living.
#1: HEATERS
Montclair, NJ
Brooklyn, NY
#2: CUSTOM ENTERTAINMENT WALLS
Glen Rock, NJ
Renson® Linius® wall
Summit, NJ
#3: LOGGIA® PANELS
Allenhurst, NJ
Potomac, MD
Clearly, options for pergola customization are unlimited. In the words of PergolaHaus client, Michael Ribeck, of Glencoe, IL, “To say that I have hit the jackpot is truly not giving this product (or should I say “lifestyle”) justice. It has become a neighborhood gathering spot, a winter haven, and a spring/summer/fall entertainment zone. Our backyard is the envy of all our friends and has become the 2nd most used space in our home.”
For more information on PergolaHaus, visit www.pergolahaus.com