Before & After
Room Of The Week
Popular Houzz Series
Popular Houzz Series
Appears in
See also
Fun HouzzFrom The ProsHouzz Around The WorldProject Of The WeekStickybeak Of The WeekQuizzesCreatives At HomeAt Home With...Best Of The WeekRoom Of The WeekDesigner Profiles3 Things I Wish My Clients KnewHow Do I...Buyer's GuidesExpert EyeInnovation AlertSo Your Style Is...Spotted!Picture PerfectBefore & AfterBudget BreakdownHome TimeMade Local
Before & After: A Pool House's Journey From Plain to Perfection
New regulations necessitated a redesign for a luxe Melbourne pool house. See how a designer's interior nous made it work
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Which Houzz Pro tools did you use?
We collated an Ideabook for this project and saved various interior image ideas to use as inspiration and communicate some of the initial ideas to our client.
For example, a large flush ceiling-mounted shower image was saved, which showed that when turned on, it would look and feel like the ceiling was raining
down on them while sitting on their shower seat and enjoying the side wall jets for a Vichy-style shower experience.
Also, the use of large stone-look slab tiles set on all the walls, floors and ceilings in another
of the images showed a natural cave-like effect that we also wanted to achieve.
Tempted to renovate? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz to give your home a fresh new look
We collated an Ideabook for this project and saved various interior image ideas to use as inspiration and communicate some of the initial ideas to our client.
For example, a large flush ceiling-mounted shower image was saved, which showed that when turned on, it would look and feel like the ceiling was raining
down on them while sitting on their shower seat and enjoying the side wall jets for a Vichy-style shower experience.
Also, the use of large stone-look slab tiles set on all the walls, floors and ceilings in another
of the images showed a natural cave-like effect that we also wanted to achieve.
Tempted to renovate? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz to give your home a fresh new look
Brief
A redesign of the interior space was required to make it a more usable, practical set-up and the lounge seating area needed to face out and be more connected to the pool. This project also involved the following:
A redesign of the interior space was required to make it a more usable, practical set-up and the lounge seating area needed to face out and be more connected to the pool. This project also involved the following:
- The owners requested a kitchenette with a wine fridge, standard fridge and a couple of cupboards for glassware and plates.
- We needed to introduce bar bench seating for relaxed dining and to connect to the lounge seat in the space, also with a view out to the pool.
- A TV was to be incorporated into the pool house and positioned in a practical place to be easily viewed from all around.
- A shower and steam room for a maximum of two people needed to be included with a separate powder room worked into the space.
- Bi-fold doors were to be introduced to open up the entire length of the front window area so the pool house, outdoor seating and the pool itself could be experienced as one open, free-flowing and interactive space.
- The client requested comfortable sofa seating, upholstered in water-friendly fabrics, so wet bathers and feet wouldn’t be an issue.
- More suitable lighting was needed, as well as splashes of colour to uplift and add interest to the space.
- Overall, the client wanted a fun, inviting space to play and relax in.
The pool house before works.
Starting point
New pool regulations dictated that the pool house should be divided up into two separate rooms. Originally, the dwelling was completely open, with only the powder room separate.
Starting point
New pool regulations dictated that the pool house should be divided up into two separate rooms. Originally, the dwelling was completely open, with only the powder room separate.
The pool house before works.
The new pool regulations stated
that there were to be no separate rooms inside the main pool house area where children could hide undetected without adding a pool fence between the pool house and pool.
To address this, we created two separate entrances with the lounge, bar and kitchenette designed into the main centre and right-hand part of
the dwelling, while the steam shower, vanity and toilet were worked into the separate smaller left-hand space.
The new pool regulations stated
that there were to be no separate rooms inside the main pool house area where children could hide undetected without adding a pool fence between the pool house and pool.
To address this, we created two separate entrances with the lounge, bar and kitchenette designed into the main centre and right-hand part of
the dwelling, while the steam shower, vanity and toilet were worked into the separate smaller left-hand space.
The pool house before works.
The project called for a warm white colour palette to relate back to the main home, but other than that, this place was basically a blank canvas that we could be fun and creative with.
The project called for a warm white colour palette to relate back to the main home, but other than that, this place was basically a blank canvas that we could be fun and creative with.
The floor plan after works.
Key design aspects
Colour palette:
The plan for the colour palette was for it to relate back to the main home, so we opted for a warm white background with grey aspects.
Then, for interest, we introduced touches of pink and plum with
brushed-gold lighting, tapware fittings and door hardware for contrast and to uplift the space.
Colour palette:
The plan for the colour palette was for it to relate back to the main home, so we opted for a warm white background with grey aspects.
Then, for interest, we introduced touches of pink and plum with
brushed-gold lighting, tapware fittings and door hardware for contrast and to uplift the space.
Materials palette (main pool house):
- Limestone pavers are Pietra Grigio with an acid-wash finish.
- The kitchenette and bar benches are in Vigo Lena marble from Artedomus.
- Walls, ceilings and woodwork painted in Dulux Brume Quarter.
- Kitchenette cabinetry is two-pack polyurethane in Dulux Brume Quarter.
- Bronze mirror splashback.
- Kitchen sink and vanity basin mixer are from the Jonas collection from Astra Walker.
- Sofa in Zepel Barbarossa in Cameo fabric.
- Round armchairs are Romo Yara Outdoor in Icicle fabric.
Key fittings and furniture (main pool house):
- Flare 3 pendant in Titanium Gold from Lucretia Lighting.
- Barre wall lamps from Lucretia Lighting.
- Sofa, armchairs and coffee table were custom-designed by Lewisham Interiors.
- Blanco white undermount sink Subline 400-U.
- Ilve single-zone beverage centre, glass-front integrated behind cabinetry.
Why do you think this room works?
Being enclosed within the pool fence walls, this design works to achieve an open path between the pool house, sun-lounge area and the pool itself, so all three zones may be used and enjoyed as one whole space.
Eating and drinking can be enjoyed poolside without needing to access the main home and people don’t even need to get out of the pool when there is a game on TV.
Being enclosed within the pool fence walls, this design works to achieve an open path between the pool house, sun-lounge area and the pool itself, so all three zones may be used and enjoyed as one whole space.
Eating and drinking can be enjoyed poolside without needing to access the main home and people don’t even need to get out of the pool when there is a game on TV.
Tell us about the steam room/spa
The steam room has been designed as both a steam room and a double shower. It also has a tiled bench seat set along the back wall with wall-shower jets set on either side.
There is also a flush 900 x 500-millimetre shower fitting set into the ceiling to give the impression that the room is raining with warm water from above.
The steam room has been designed as both a steam room and a double shower. It also has a tiled bench seat set along the back wall with wall-shower jets set on either side.
There is also a flush 900 x 500-millimetre shower fitting set into the ceiling to give the impression that the room is raining with warm water from above.
Materials palette (spa):
- San Lorenzo 1500 x 750-millimetre porcelain tiles in white from Southern Tile (on the floor, walls and ceiling).
- Jonas mixer in Eco Brass finish from Astra Walker.
- Caesarstone Cosmopolitan White benchtops.
- Polytec Angora Oak Woodmatt shelving.
Key fittings and furniture (spa):
- Studio Bagno Atelier round above-counter basin in Black Gold.
- Jonas mixer in Eco Brass finish from Astra Walker.
- Eco Brass finish flush plate and Kado back-to-wall toilet with Geberit in-wall cistern.
- Faucet Strommen Doccinox flush-mounted ceiling rain shower, 500 x 900-millimetre.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures
The owners wanted to achieve a clear view to the pool from the pool house, so the existing
kitchenette was removed and a seating area introduced into the main centre section of the dwelling, which consisted of a large curved sofa and two generously sized round armchairs with swivel bases that can look out towards the pool or in towards the sofa and bar-bench seating.
They also wanted an uninterrupted view from the pool to the TV inside the pool house, so a large swing-arm wall bracket was installed so the TV could be swung out generously.
The kitchenette was important to be a part of the entertaining space, so it was set into the smaller right-hand section of the main open-plan area.
The owners wanted to achieve a clear view to the pool from the pool house, so the existing
kitchenette was removed and a seating area introduced into the main centre section of the dwelling, which consisted of a large curved sofa and two generously sized round armchairs with swivel bases that can look out towards the pool or in towards the sofa and bar-bench seating.
They also wanted an uninterrupted view from the pool to the TV inside the pool house, so a large swing-arm wall bracket was installed so the TV could be swung out generously.
The kitchenette was important to be a part of the entertaining space, so it was set into the smaller right-hand section of the main open-plan area.
What challenges did you work around?
Our brief was for there to be no pool fence in between the pool house and the pool. To make this possible, we couldn’t have separate rooms within the open-plan space that could be closed off for children to hide inside.
Our brief was for there to be no pool fence in between the pool house and the pool. To make this possible, we couldn’t have separate rooms within the open-plan space that could be closed off for children to hide inside.
There also could not be any enclosed cupboards that children could climb into and hide inside, which would open the possibility of them accidentally being left unattended in the pool house. Therefore, we introduced drawers and glass-fronted fridges into the under-bench joinery in the kitchenette and completely separated the powder roomand steam shower from the pool-house space with a dividing wall.
Door handles were also installed high up and out of the reach of children.
Door handles were also installed high up and out of the reach of children.
The separate steam shower and powder-room space work well even though they are accessed through a separate entrance, as they are still part of the pool area and let people shower after a swim, enjoy a steam-room experience or run in to the loo rather than having to access the main home.
The steam room is particularly well-positioned for the ‘fire and ice hot sauna, cold pool plunge experience,’ which the homeowners do on a regular basis for the health benefits.
It was important for the view looking out from the steam shower to be visually pleasing and the overall space to have a lovely ambience.
We wanted to make a feature of the vanity area, so we introduced stepped vertical walls highlighted with vertical LED strip lighting set on either side of a full-height mirror. The vanity basin was set into this for a floating look. We also incorporated an area for display shelving opposite the steam shower that is set up with scented oils and other day spa necessities. It was all very well-received by the homeowners, who use these spaces on a regular basis.
Your turn
What ideas have you picked up from this beautiful pool house renovation? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another great transformation? Check out this Before & After: An Open-Plan NZ Kitchen That Says Welcome Home
The steam room is particularly well-positioned for the ‘fire and ice hot sauna, cold pool plunge experience,’ which the homeowners do on a regular basis for the health benefits.
It was important for the view looking out from the steam shower to be visually pleasing and the overall space to have a lovely ambience.
We wanted to make a feature of the vanity area, so we introduced stepped vertical walls highlighted with vertical LED strip lighting set on either side of a full-height mirror. The vanity basin was set into this for a floating look. We also incorporated an area for display shelving opposite the steam shower that is set up with scented oils and other day spa necessities. It was all very well-received by the homeowners, who use these spaces on a regular basis.
Your turn
What ideas have you picked up from this beautiful pool house renovation? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another great transformation? Check out this Before & After: An Open-Plan NZ Kitchen That Says Welcome Home
Who lives here: A couple with three children
Location: Hawthorn, Victoria
Size: A pool house of about 40 square metres
Purpose: The pool house was to be an indoor/outdoor space to enjoy poolside and was to consist of a relaxed lounge area, kitchenette with a bar bench for cocktails and snacks, a large TV that generously turned all the way around to watch from the pool, and a steam room for two with a shower to wash off after the pool, with a separate powder room.
Did you use Houzz Pro for this project?
Yes, these homeowners found our Lewisham Interiors profile on Houzz and engaged us in January 2015 to assist them with their main living and dining areas. Over the years we have worked on various interior stages, with the pool house being the latest and one of the most exciting!