When Jill and Chris Torrente decided to redo their backyard, they relied on their travels for design inspiration. “I pull a lot of ideas from the hotels we go to,” says Jill. “I’ve come to really appreciate their attention to detail. And I wanted every part of our backyard to be an area that I was excited to hang out in. That’s how you feel sometimes when you go to a hotel.”
The Torrentes had lived in their colonial-style home in Woodcliff Lake for several years before embarking on a major renovation of the inside. When that was complete, it was time for the backyard of their dreams. “Before, the backyard was just a pool, a patio and a lot of grass,” recalls Torrente. “I don’t love big, wide open spaces. I like smaller areas with a lot of character that speak to the people who use them and say, ‘This is what you should do here.’” So they hired Mitch Knapp, owner of Scenic Landscaping, Tapestry Landscape Architecture and Tranquility Pools in Haskell to create a backyard sanctuary that would be multifunctional, adding an outdoor kitchen, a stand-alone hot tub, a lounge area and a firepit to the existing pool and patio area, which needed an overhaul.
“The backyard had no screening or privacy, just some old trees that were past their prime and diseased,” recalls Knapp. “We ended up building a boulder wall in the back, which enabled us to raise the grade and make the yard level.” Torrente had spent time in Cape Cod and Connecticut and liked “that new-old look that you see in New England,” she says, and Knapp understood the aesthetic she wanted to achieve. “We blended a naturalistic landscape into a modern design,” says Knapp. “It has a feeling like it’s been there a long time, and it fits.”
Torrente picked a white-and-gray sandblasted marble for the new patio surrounding the pool, which gave the area a lighter and brighter look. Bluestone was used for the top of the new hot tub, which was built next to the pool for year-round use. “My husband does triathlons and Ironmans, and we thought having access to that all year would be great,” Torrente says. “Plus, we wanted it to be as big as possible.” The family has three kids and lots of relatives on both sides, and they entertain frequently.
To that end, Torrente also requested a lounge area, which features an outdoor TV and a coffee table with a fire component to add a little warmth and ambiance to the space. A separate firepit area is another of the homeowner’s favorite spots. “After a dinner party, it’s nice to go out there and sit around with a glass of wine,” she says. “It’s one of the little things that make life a little more fun and make you feel good.”
The outdoor kitchen was designed to allow the chef to socialize while grilling. Orange barstools pull up to the other side of the counter so people can chat with the cook or grab a bite to eat. A mini-fridge and plenty of cabinetry make the space even more functional.
Pops of orange throughout the backyard contribute to the fun and festive vibe. “I like to add color because it gives the space a lot of character and warmth and sends a message that this is how you’re going to feel, whether it’s relaxed and calm or ‘Oh, this is so fun,’” explains Torrente. Orange and blue cushions from Pottery Barn top Adirondack chairs from Backyard Living in Ridgewood, where the family bought most of their outdoor furniture.
The project was completed in record time so that the family could use the pool in summer, and the end result was just what Torrente hoped it would be. “I wanted the backyard to be very peaceful and relaxing and comfortable, but also extremely functional, with each space a place that people would really enjoy experiencing,” she says. “I knew that Mitch understood what we were going for, and I love how it turned out.”