The Open-Air Lounge: Carmel on a Southern Terrace

A seating area set on the line between room and landscape changes the feel of the whole house. On a covered terrace it draws the garden in; in a city apartment it brings the outside into an enclosed room.

The Carmel seating collection, with its loose, rounded shapes, sets the tone on this terrace at Château de la Tour, in the south of France. Full pleats and skirted edges add a playful note and soften the lines of each piece. The warm sand of the fabric holds its own against almost any backdrop, whether garden greenery, a snow-covered forest, or a stretch of coast.

The upholstery is soft to the touch: viscose, cotton, and linen. Beneath it, down over firm foam on a solid larch frame gives good support while keeping each piece light.

The palette works in close tones: cream, lifted by muted green and a soft turquoise, with a few graphic black accents for structure.

The room changes character with the light. By day, the sun picks out the texture of the fabrics. After dark, the Sawangi and Minara floor lamps, under their linen shades, give a soft, warm, even light, and the large lanterns add the flicker of a real flame.

The décor follows the same natural theme. The textured rug is a pleasure underfoot, like warm sand on a beach. The rounded side tables and decorative dishes recall stones worn smooth by water.

To keep the space open, the seating is a set of separate pieces rather than a single large sofa. A straight sofa, a pair of armchairs, and a few poufs can be arranged to suit the moment: drawn in for conversation, or turned out to the view.

Our showrooms are the place to try the Carmel collection first-hand: how it sits, how the materials feel. A free design consultation can help put the set together and pick the textiles, lighting, and décor to go with it, so a view-facing corner works from day one.