You Know You Love Your Pool When You Build It A House.
On the North Fork, pool houses aren’t a new trend, but how they’re designed changed with the stay-at-home culture ushered in by the pandemic, designers say. Once utilitarian spaces to store towels, tools and noodles, they’ve morphed into multifunctional living spaces where you can watch TV, have a drink and eat. “Pool houses have become more of an extension of the home and another place of solace,” said interior designer Debra Geller.
“With so many people spending more extended amounts of time at home, and therefore wanting to make their homes as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, pool houses definitely surged in demand and value,” said Kathy Kuo, founder and CEO of Kathy Kuo Home. “The trend towards upgrading poolside patios and pool houses — and turning them into chic and comfortable sanctuaries — fit naturally into this movement of making the most of a home’s amenities and luxuries,” she said.
Nothing sums up indoor/outdoor living like a pool house, added Amy Kalikow, founder of Amy Kalikow Design. These days, they’re often built “with large sliding doors so you feel a part of the outdoors while being indoors,” she said.
Pool house must-haves
When asked for the one thing that must be in a pool house, Geller’s response was quick: “A washer/dryer.” And don’t forget, added Kuo: it is a pool area, and dangers abound. “It’s necessary to provide proper safety precautions in and around the pool area especially if you have children,” she said. “It’s best to have ample walking space [to the] pool area as well as fences or self-locking gates.”
Sufficient storage for towels, pool toys and furniture, when it needs to come in, is key too, designers said, as are flooring and carpets that can hold up to high traffic and moisture.
Don’t forget the aesthetic
When it comes to what a pool house should look like, “it depends on what you’re using it for,” Kalikow said. Some of her clients want an outdoor spa, so their pool houses include features like a sauna and massage area. In a recent project, she focused on ample storage to keep the interior nice and neat. “We extended the millwork to incorporate more storage so everything was put away and accessible,” she explained. “You want to feel relaxed at home so having clutter around is never a great idea.”
Some trends have sunk in the last few years — thankfully, Kuo said. “I think we’ve seen the last of pool areas with different colored lights and over-the top tropical or nautical design motifs,” she noted. “The most stylish and serene pool houses serve as a graceful extension of both the pool itself and the interior design of the main house.”
But it doesn’t have to be too matchy-matchy, Geller added. “I usually make them similar to the main house but a little bit different,” she said of her pool house designs. “Sometimes I try to make them a little architecturally different and a bit more funky so it’s complementary but not the same.”
Think outside the ‘house’
Be creative with your ideas, designers said. After all, the typical household pool is the center of fun.
For a recent client on the North Fork, Geller included a full kitchen with a walk-up bar window, “like at the beach,” she said. With that approach, folks can hang in the shade but partake in the poolside activities, she explained.
“My team and I recently worked on a gorgeous pool house that is the ultimate combination of stylish and functional,” Kuo added. The property features a white house surrounded by lush greenery with an expansive outdoor space perfect for al fresco dinner parties, she recalled. Organic materials and a neutral color scheme accommodated a wabi-sabi scheme both in the main home and the pool house. “The effect was relaxing and elevated,” Kuo said. “It made the pool house feel like a natural and effortless extension of the home as a whole.”
