Set on the banks of the Navesink River, this Fair Haven home’s backyard presented an ideal opportunity to create a private oasis that rivals an upscale resort. Designer Kelli Suozzo, principal of Bowerbird and its companion retail arm, Nest, both in Red Bank, describes the homeowner as “someone who moves through the world with intention.” The aesthetic would be drawn from her interests: wellness, yoga and travel. The outdoor space would be an extension of that energy—a restorative, calm, grounding space. “Every decision, from materials to light to proportion, was made to deliver on that feeling,” Suozzo says.
About a year before Suozzo and the Bowerbird team took on the backyard, they gave the main house a refresh. “The home had great bones,” says Suozzo. “Our work was about elevating it to feel current and deeply personal.” Sourcing through Nest, known for curating hard-to-find furnishings and objects with a distinctly collected feel, was an ideal asset in achieving those goals.
Elegant seating surrounds the pool. The pool house’s interior is equipped with plenty of storage. Photo: Jonathan Hokklo
The pool house is intentionally petite, says Suozzo. “The restraint is part of its charm.”
The footprint of the outdoor area is set with Crema Oliva Marmiro pavers, in creamy gray with sage undertones, speckled with aged fossils to create further visual interest. The flooring encompasses the pool and runs from the outdoor space right into the pool house’s interior to create a seamless tie between indoors and outdoors.
The resort-style furnishings outdoors are sourced largely from Bowerbird-Nest’s vendors, including Four Hands, Made Goods, Gloster, DWR, Harbour Outdoor and an array of accessory brands.
Inside the pool house, generous cabinetry provides ample summer storage for towels, swimsuits and the like. The cabinetry is a rift-cut white oak. It is paired with Taj Mahal quartzite countertops. “The relationship between the oak and Taj Mahal is intentionally close in tone for a palette built on subtlety rather than contrast,” says Suozzo. She explains the textures of the two products are intended to create a “quiet conversation between the surfaces.” The warmth and grain of the wood against the cool smoothness of the stone complement one another. “The white oak is a thread that runs through the main house as well, creating material continuity across both structures,” says Suozzo.
A chic vanity inside the pool house. Photo: Jonathan Hokklo
Suspended above the pool house vanity is the Knotty Bubbles rope light by Lindsey Adelman. It is a sculptural pendant that immediately draws the eye with its looping, tactile form. The ceiling light, Suozzo says, “felt exactly right for a space just steps from the water. It nods to the nautical without being literal about it, which is very much in keeping with how we approach design.” Rather than overt beach motifs or predictable maritime palettes, the interiors rely on texture, craftsmanship and subtle material cues to evoke the surroundings.
Flanking the vanity are sconces from L’Aviva Home. Their distinctively framed silhouettes add an earthy quality with the elegance of natural stone. Soft illumination bounces against natural surfaces, while rope, stone and metal create a rustic and refined tone.
The marriage between the outdoors and indoors is nowhere more pronounced than in the pool house’s most standout feature: an open-air shower tucked inside a custom wooden enclosure. Constructed from ipe, a dense tropical hardwood prized for its durability, the enclosure was selected as much for performance as for beauty.
Ipe is naturally resistant to moisture, insects and weather exposure, making it particularly suited to waterfront living. Over time, the wood develops a silvery patina, allowing the structure to age gracefully.
The pool house’s outdoor shower. Photo: Jonathan Hokklo
The shower is decidedly simple, designed to enhance the experience of being outdoors. Its warm-toned planks lend privacy, while the open-air design offers a kind of sensory experience that is exactly what the homeowner ordered. Every detail was chosen not simply for aesthetics, but for the feeling it evokes.
The finished outdoor and indoor spaces afford the homeowners a tranquil spot to enjoy the views and to unwind with all the comforts of a high-end resort and all of the private comforts of home.
