Pool project completed- beautiful stonework by local subs! Photo credit: Tim Murphy, Foto Imagery

Jonathan Edwards Media

Shelley Metcalf Photographer

We were contacted by a family named Pesek who lived near Memorial Drive on the West side of Houston. They lived in a stately home built in the late 1950’s. Many years back, they had contracted a local pool company to install an old lagoon-style pool, which they had since grown tired of. When they initially called us, they wanted to know if we could build them an outdoor room at the far end of the swimming pool. We scheduled a free consultation at a time convenient to them, and we drove out to their residence to take a look at the property. After a quick survey of the back yard, rear of the home, and the swimming pool, we determined that building an outdoor room as an addition to their existing landscaping design would not bring them the results they expected. The pool was visibly dated with an early “70’s” look, which not only clashed with the late 50’s style of home architecture, but guaranteed an even greater clash with any modern-style outdoor room we constructed. Luckily for the Peseks, we offered an even better landscaping plan than the one they had hoped for. We proposed the construction of a new outdoor room and an entirely new swimming pool. Both of these new structures would be built around the classical geometry of proportional right angles. This would allow a very modern design to compliment an older home, because basic geometric patterns are universal in many architectural designs used throughout history. In this case, both the swimming pool and the outdoor rooms were designed as interrelated quadrilateral forms with proportional right angles that created the illusion of lengthened distance and a sense of Classical elegance. This proved a perfect complement to a house that had originally been built as a symbolic emblem of a simpler, more rugged and absolute era. Though reminiscent of classical design and complimentary to the conservative design of the home, the interior of the outdoor room was ultra-modern in its array of comfort and convenience. The Peseks felt this would be a great place to hold birthday parties for their child. With this new outdoor room, the Peseks could take the party outside at any time of day or night, and at any time of year. We also built the structure to be fully functional as an outdoor kitchen as well as an outdoor entertainment area. There was a smoker, a refrigerator, an ice maker, and a water heater—all intended to eliminate any need to return to the house once the party began. Seating and entertainment systems were also added to provide state of the art fun for adults and children alike. We installed a flat-screen plasma TV, and we wired it for cable. The swimming pool was built between the outdoor room and the rear entrance to the house. We got rid of the old lagoon-pool design which geometrically clashed with the right angles of the house and outdoor room. We then had a completely new pool built, in the shape of a rectangle, with a rather innovative coping design. We showcased the pool with a coping that rose perpendicular to the ground out of the stone patio surface. This reinforced our blend of contemporary look with classical right angles. We saved the client an enormous amount of money on travertine by setting the coping so that it does not overhang with the tile. Because the ground between the house and the outdoor room gradually dropped in grade, we used the natural slope of the ground to create another perpendicular right angle at the end of the pool. Here, we installed a waterfall which spilled over into a heated spa. Although the spa was fed from within itself, it was built to look as though water was coming from within the pool. The ultimate result of all of this is a new sense of visual “ebb and flow,” so to speak. When Mr. Pesek sits in his couch facing his house, the earth appears to rise up first into an illuminated pool which leads the way up the steps to his home. When he sits in his spa facing the other direction, the earth rises up like a doorway to his outdoor room, where he can comfortably relax in the water while he watches TV. For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.

Pool oasis in Atlanta with large deck. The pool finish is Pebble Sheen by Pebble Tec, the dimensions are 8' wide x 50' long. The deck is Dasso XTR bamboo decking.

This project epitomizes luxury outdoor living, centered around an extraordinary pool that sets a new standard for leisure and elegance. The pool, features a custom-built swim-up bar, allowing guests to indulge in their favorite beverages without ever leaving the water. Surrounded by sumptuous lounging areas and accented with sophisticated lighting, the pool area promises an unparalleled aquatic experience. Adjacent to this aquatic paradise, the outdoor space boasts an entertainer’s dream kitchen and a mesmerizing fire feature, all framed by breathtaking panoramic views that elevate every gathering. Additionally, the estate includes a state-of-the-art all-purpose sports court, offering endless fun with activities like tennis, basketball, and the ever-popular pickleball. Each aspect of this lavish project has been meticulously curated to provide an ultimate haven of relaxation and entertainment.

Sliding doors lead into the office/pool house, perfect for a guest room or focusing on work next to the water.

This blue ice sandstone terrace has a cooling effect to this comfortable outdoor living space that offers a wide-open area to lounge next to the custom-designed pool. The loggia exterior of limed brick connects to the main house right off the hearth room and is embellished with mahogany shutters flanking the French doors with a bleaching oil finish.

This beautiful, modern lakefront pool features a negative edge perfectly highlighting gorgeous sunset views over the lake water. An over-sized sun shelf with bubblers, negative edge spa, rain curtain in the gazebo, and two fire bowls create a stunning serene space.

A new pool house structure for a young family, featuring a space for family gatherings and entertaining. The highlight of the structure is the featured 2 sliding glass walls, which opens the structure directly to the adjacent pool deck. The space also features a fireplace, indoor kitchen, and bar seating with additional flip-up windows.

HGTV DREAM HOME 2020 - Preview Event held by Belgard. Burkhart Outdoors is part of the Belgard Advisory Committee in which we were honored to get an exclusive tour of the home along side Belgard this January 2020. Burkhart Outdoors has no affiliation with Belgard or HGTV DREAM HOME 2020. This work was constructed by HGTV Hired Contractors.

A So-CAL inspired Pool Pavilion Oasis in Central PA

Located in the private Cypress Point neighborhood in Plano, this small backyard was transformed from a small garden area to an updated and modern outdoor living area. In addition to the new covered porch and fire place, we have added outdoor seating for chaise lounges, along with a modern plunge pool & spa with raised backdrop fountain feature. The project also features built-in seating, fountain spillways, decorative pool tile, step stones and all new landscaping to provide a lush, private retreat for the owners.

Christopher Mayer