Coastal Outdoor Living Retreat in Mantoloking, NJ
This luxury outdoor living project in Mantoloking, NJ was designed to transform a beachfront property into a private retreat that embraces both oceanfront living and effortless entertaining. The homeowners envisioned an outdoor environment that would complement their coastal surroundings while providing comfortable gathering spaces for family and guests.
Working within the constraints of a compact shoreline property, the design balances recreation, relaxation, privacy, and functionality to create a seamless extension of the home.
Custom Pool & Resort-Style Outdoor Living
At the heart of this Mantoloking backyard renovation is a custom swimming pool designed to support both relaxation and family enjoyment.
The pool features a custom sun shelf that allows homeowners and guests to lounge comfortably in the water while enjoying views of the surrounding landscape. Integrated in-pool entry steps provide easy access and create a safe, functional space for both adults and children.
Surrounding the pool are multiple outdoor living areas designed to accommodate everything from quiet afternoons to large social gatherings.
Indoor & Outdoor Cabana Design
A defining feature of the project is the combination of indoor and outdoor cabana spaces that expand the home’s entertaining capabilities.
The outdoor cabana was designed to complement the architecture of the residence while providing a comfortable poolside destination complete with lounge seating, lighting, ceiling fans, and limestone finishes that coordinate with the surrounding poolscape.
Inside, a resort-inspired cabana serves as an entertainment hub featuring a custom bar, television and audio components, integrated lighting, and generous lounge space for hosting family and guests throughout the year.
Accordion-style sliding doors create a seamless connection between the indoor cabana and the pool area, allowing the entire space to function as one cohesive outdoor living environment.
Privacy Planting & Coastal Landscape Design
Creating privacy while minimizing noise from nearby Ocean Avenue was a key component of the project.
A dense evergreen screening was installed throughout the rear of the property to help buffer surrounding activity while creating a more peaceful outdoor setting. The evergreen backdrop is complemented by hydrangeas and crape myrtles, introducing seasonal color, texture, and visual interest throughout the landscape.
Kentucky bluegrass was selected for the lawn areas, providing a lush, soft surface that enhances the property’s resort-like character and encourages barefoot enjoyment throughout the outdoor spaces.
Grilling Area & Arrival Experience
The outdoor living environment also includes a dedicated grilling area designed to support entertaining and outdoor dining.
To complement the property’s coastal setting, a custom driveway was installed using lavender and gray riverbed stone bordered with Belgian block edging. The material selection creates an attractive arrival experience while providing a durable surface suited to the property’s beachfront lifestyle.
Bringing Coastal Living Outdoors
From poolside relaxation to seamless indoor-outdoor entertaining, this Mantoloking project demonstrates how thoughtful landscape design can transform a beachfront property into a private coastal retreat designed for everyday enjoyment.
Let’s create an outdoor living space that captures the beauty, comfort, and lifestyle of the Jersey Shore.
Our project included replacing and expanding our existing patio, installing a drainage system to address ongoing water issues, and refreshing our landscaping. From start to finish, Peter was fantastic. He responded quickly to every email, no matter how small the question, and was always upfront, transparent, and honest throughout the entire process. We never felt pressured into making decisions or adding to the project, the experience was stress-free.
Our town had several additional permit requirements that made the approval process much more complicated than expected. Everyone at Sponzilli stayed on top of the process, keeping us informed along the way.
The installation crew was also great. They were courteous, punctual, hardworking, and kept disruption to a minimum.
During the project, an accident resulted in our neighbor’s tree being knocked down. Sponzilli immediately contacted our neighbors directly, took full responsibility, and worked with them to find a solution they were happy with. They ultimately replaced the tree with a beautiful mature tree.
We couldn’t be happier with how our backyard turned out—it exceeded our expectations. We will absolutely use Sponzilli Landscaping Group again for any future landscaping projects.
We have used them for a backyard refresh and to creating a short stacked stone retaining wall to create a bed along the driveway. Their crew is knowledgable and hard working and we had three great projects. Their design drawings sealed the deal for me, so wonderful to visually see what it would look like!
