A Sleek City Deck Makes for Cool Summer Entertaining

Talking to Michelle Gubitosa, one gets the impression that her life is one big party. Even our interview was a festive affair, with a gourmet spread generously presented on the white Silestone counter in her glossy IKEA kitchen. “It’s lunchtime — of course I’m going to feed you,” she answers in response to my “shouldn’t haves.” I’m glad she did; the chocolate-dipped macaroons were outrageous.

Gubitosa, 49, co-owner of event-design company Phi Design Group, and her wife, Rebecca Wilson, 35, owner of The Urban Hound, occupy the top two floors of a classic triple-decker in Dorchester’s Jones Hill neighborhood. They entertain often, thanks in no small part to their rockin’ roof deck, a spot their friends dubbed the Starlight Lounge. Gubitosa explains, “We moved here three years ago from the South End, where we had a roof deck that was all Mac Daddy’d out. You had to climb a ladder to get up to it. People called at 11 or midnight asking if the Starlight was open so they could hang out. The name stuck.”

The new and improved Starlight Lounge, nestled among treetops and turrets of neighboring Victorians, has a spectacular, far-reaching view of the city and Boston Harbor. It too is decked out (excuse the pun). Along with leafy potted plants and three large umbrellas keeping things shady, there’s an assortment of weathered teak loveseats and lounges topped with thick cushions. “Our deck furniture is made by Smith & Hawken for Target,” says Gubitosa, who scoured many a higher-end home store before stumbling upon the perfect set. “We really liked the warmth of the wood with the simple design.… And of course, the Target price is always a plus!” Right now, the neutral seating is accented with pink and orange throw pillows, but they change up the color palette every year.

And not only are there now proper stairs leading up to the deck, but an intercom system allows the couple to buzz in guests at the front door. “I’m not about to run down the stairs with a cocktail,” reasons Gubitosa. The deck is also equipped with running water, a refrigerator, and a huge stainless-steel grill. During the summer, they stock napkins, plates, silverware, and condiments up there, so all they need to transport are the food and drink — though Gubitosa admits, “It’s oftentimes more about the drink.” Limona Coronas are a favorite. “You fill the empty part of the neck of the Corona bottle with white rum, add the lime, and it’s a cocktail,” she says. Their newest fav is St. Germain, an elderflower liqueur that they mix with gin, soda, and fresh lime for a perfect summertime sip.

They use the deck in the dead of winter, too. Last New Year’s Eve, they grilled tuna steaks and fillets up there. “But first we had to shovel away the snow to make a path to the grill!” laughs Gubitosa. The sit-down dinner was served in their dining room, which Gubitosa designed along with the rest of the home. The classic round pedestal table was bought specifically for the space at Crate & Barrel, which was the source for the mirrors as well. “I love repetition in design,” Gubitosa says. The shiny black glass chandelier comes from Gallery 484, a source she often uses for props. Acquired for an event, it was too fragile to use, so she hung it here. And the abstract photographs, close-ups of a cross in a cemetery, are her work.

When they entertain, it’s a team effort. Wilson does the cooking while Gubitosa sets the scene, lighting lots of candles, scattering strings of twinkling white lights. She loves the sparkle. It’s a household in which not just flavors, but aesthetics, matter. Wilson, after all, was a graphic artist before she pursued her passion for pups. And Gubitosa studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts before going into business planning parties. “I look at parties as if they’re art installations,” she says. “I want you to have a total experience, to lose yourself in the event and in the moment. That’s what life’s about.” As for their home, Gubitosa says, “I love our house. Every day I’m doing a little dance.”

Marni Elyse Katz blogs about design at www.stylecarrot.com.