Access to the backyard and pool is from the

living room—via an extra-wide slider that's

always open—so Marena chose sturdy woven

rugs and indoor-outdoor upholstery fabric for

this high-traffic space. Relocating the fireplace

from a front wall to the back corner made

furniture arranging easier. Now the seating

area has views of both the fireplace and

outdoors. Putting pairs of chairs, rather than

big upholstered pieces, opposite the sofas

sets the room up for conversation without

blocking views or traffic flow.