Three of the four walls of the pool house are made of glass and give the space a rustic feel. Photo contributed
Transforming the expansive backyard into a summer oasis by designing a pool and adjacent pool house.
The combination of sunny, warm weather and the current pandemic can make staying home a wise, but stifling choice. However, one Bethesda, Maryland, builder made that a pleasurable decision for one Great Falls, Virginia family.
Jim Rill of Rill Architects transformed their expansive, but empty and unused, backyard into a summer oasis by designing a pool and adjacent pool house.
The end goal was to combine functionality, style and comfort, says Rill. “The furniture and fabrics are easy to maintain and care for, while also being functional and pretty,” he said.
Originally tasked with building a screened-in porch, Rill’s design process evolved into a space that incorporated the beauty of the outdoors into the interior design. “The owners became more and more inspired to use the building year round,” he said.
Both flooring of the pool deck and pool house are flagstone. The furniture is by luxury design company Janus et Cie and a chandelier by the same company hangs from the ceiling.
Rill and his team added a powder room and changing room. There is a kitchen with an island made of maple and topped with a waterfall countertop of quartz by Caesarstone.
Three walls of the pool house are glass and can be covered with retractable screens.
“The owners wanted rustic with lots of glass,” he said.