Pool House Summer Sanctuaries: 3 Projects from Top Designers

There’s no place like home, especially this summer. And there’s no better way to enjoy your home during the summer months than with outdoor sanctuaries, including pool houses. Three top architectural firms share recent pool house designs that fit each family’s needs.

The idea of retreating to the outdoors was on the top of the list for this young Chevy Chase, Maryland family who worked with George Myers of GTM Architects to not only design their custom home, but also their backyard pool house and outside spaces. A full-size, stainless-steel refrigerator, microwave, sink, and maple cabinets, as well as granite bar with four stools facing a 65-inch, flat-screen TV complete the kitchen area.

With a large lot, about the size of two football fields, the owners transformed the one-time sledding hill into three outdoor zones, including a pool house where they can cook in the covered, but exposed kitchen, as well as gather with family and friends.

Separated from the house by about 100 feet, the pool and pool house provide a sanctuary in the woods for the family. The pool house also includes a shower, changing area and storage room with dryer for the towels.

For a Great Falls, Virginia family, a pool house wasn’t originally in the plan, but when they started discussing the addition of a screened-in space in the open expanse of their backyard with Jim Rill of Rill Architects, the design quickly turned into a year-round pool house.

Sliding glass walls by Solar Innovations encase three sides with the fourth solid wall housing the kitchen, powder room, changing room, and storage.

The kitchen includes Lynx appliances featuring an indoor grill with an outdoor vent hood, refrigerator, ice machine, and warming drawers. The ceiling, walls and cabinets are made of clear stained maple with the kitchen island also highlighting a Caesarstone waterfall counter. Providing sitting, eating and cooking areas inside, the pool house also has heating, cooling and a sound system.

Flagstone finishes the flooring as well as the pool deck. Janus et Cie furniture upholstered in Perennials fabrics, plus a Janus et Cie chandelier round out the amenities of this Rill Architects designed space.