Shokan Scapes
Private Exterior Space
Shokan, NY
Completed 2022
Design Team:
Marica McKeel
Holdt Jones
Colbi Campbell
Landscaping: Guilded Leaf Landscapes
Outdoor Kitchen: Orchard Group NY
Photos by Rebecca Perez;
Edited by Studio MM
Shokan Scapes is an outdoor renovation for a home with a breathtaking view of the Ashokan Reservoir. To allow our clients to fully take advantage of their gorgeous site, we worked to expand their outdoor experience.
Our clients love hosting family and friends and cooking outside. The first section of the new outdoor area includes an outdoor kitchen equipped with a pizza oven and Argentine grill. The space is functional and conveniently located close to the home’s rear entry, providing easy in-and-out as food makes its way outside. Corten steel below the grilling area provides a durable surface that ties in with the warm wood decking. A few steps below the kitchen is a large dining table for larger gatherings, as well as two reclining chairs that allow our clients to enjoy the phenomenal view in a more relaxed fashion. Herbs fill the planters adjacent to the kitchen, providing a fresh harvest for every meal.
To the left of the kitchen area is a raised deck with a partially built-in fire pit, perfect for gathering during chilly evenings. A paved path extends from the firepit deck to another seating area, providing a new perspective of the reservoir and creating a quieter space for conversation. The Corten steel material is carried through to planters that create a border between parking space and the exterior hangout areas.
The series of moments we designed for this landscape continues down along the slope of the surrounding site. A set of steps with integrated stone planters leads to a deck beyond with a hot tub. By stepping down with the site, we ensured that the expansive views were unimpeded from each new location. This design choice also helps to create the sense that the hot tub deck is a hidden oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the main house.
Shokan Scapes is a hub for family and friends to enjoy being outside with one another, while appreciating a magnificent slice of the beauty that the Hudson Valley has to offer.
