Houzz Tour: A Tale of 2 Pool Homes
While most of us can only dream of owning a pool, not as a pool house, it is fun to think about having one someday, is not it? Pool houses and other secondary buildings are excellent places to play regional design elements and use some of them in fresh ways. Now I’ll be showing you two different pool houses designed by New York architect James Crisp. Crisp’s designs are very operational and thoughtfully relate to the main houses and local architecture. Let’s see how he did it:
Crisp Architects
Farm-influenced pool house in the Berkshires:“This really is an easy accessory building that’s not overly complex,” Crisp says. The interior has a small kitchenette for fixing drinks, as well as a changing room and a complete bathroom. Because the owner loves to amuse and because the main house is about 100 yards from the house, it is nice to have these conveniences poolside.
Vernacular touches like the crossbuck detail about the ideal remember the farm buildings that have populated the region for many years (think of a hayloft door).
Crisp Architects
The property includes formerly farmed areas, as well as lovely woods. The main house has clapboard siding, so”using board and batten siding on the outbuildings once the house is clapboard determines a hierarchy,” Crisp says. The surface surrounding the pool is Chinese granite, which is used through the whole property.
Crisp Architects
An outdoor shower delivers another spot for rinsing off after a swim.
Crisp Architects
An insulated outside gathering spot is a fantastic place to lounge after a swim. The rock on the fireplace is local, and the basic columns possess just the ideal touch of formality.
Crisp Architects
The back of the home has a gorgeous view of an old oak tree in a field and beyond, so the pool and pool house were put in a flat field area off the side of the house.
Crisp Architects
No bedroom or living room was needed in the pool house because there’s a guest house/garage on your property. It has a similar style, too with board and batten siding and crossbucks on the garage doors. The roof is painted alloy. The assemblage of vernacular details”are utilized to give it more of a flavor than copying an immediate style,” Crisp says.
Crisp Architects
One last relaxing view of the charming pool house before we move on to another one.
Crisp Architects
Greek Revival pool house in Litchfield County, CT: This second pool house is a more formal accessory construction, inspired by the Greek Revival home on the property. Proportions are crucial. “The columns were designed to feel strong but not overly large,” Crisp says. The lines of this pergolas lineup with the underside of the soffit. They include exterior wings that don’t overwhelm the scale of this construction.
Crisp Architects
A triangular window is a frequent part in Greek Revival homes in the region, but it’s generally smaller and in an attic area. “This was an opportunity to take an element from older homes in the region and use it in a unique way,” Crisp says. “Here we could use it to benefit from the natural light for the interior spaces.”
Crisp Architects
“The owners have a huge family that often gathers here, plus they include all age groups,” Crisp says. “This really is the best guest house/pool house for them.” The large living area has couches that fold out into beds. Crisp made the built-ins to be flexible and adapt changing storage requirements, while for linens, games, dishes, or other amusement gear.
Crisp Architects
The same bluestone you see in your family room floor continues outdoors into the patios. “We wanted to really make the connection between inside and out,” Crisp says.
Transoms over French doors let more additional light into the open area. Large hanging lanterns match the scale of this towering ceiling and large exposed structural beams.
Crisp Architects
A kitchenette gives guests independence and spares pool users from making the trek back to the main house. The pool house is very private, and once you get up there, you have all you want.
Crisp Architects
The pool house is nestled into a hill that overlooks a large pond, and gardens with rock walls all around. In lieu of windows, French doors were used almost anywhere to take in as much of the magnificent views as you can.
Crisp Architects
In this image you can get a sense of the gorgeous atmosphere of the pool house and the way it fits into the property.
More:
Modern Beautiful Pool House
14 Picture-Perfect Playhouses
More photographs of pool homes