Every family has their own way of getting away from it all. For some it might be a trip to the beach. For others it might be a drive to the casino or even a night at the bowling alley. Whatever it entails, it often takes careful planning and time off work.
But for one Southwest Ohio family, quick getaways are an everyday occurrence. That’s because in just a few short steps, their everyday living quarters moves into a 20,000-square-foot oasis including an indoor pool, bowling alley, poker room, car museum and full-court gymnasium. The family didn’t plan to build an entertainment hub. Rather, it just blossomed from an original plan that was much smaller. “The main thing we wanted to do was add on garage space because my husband was collecting cars and he had them here, there and everywhere,” the home’s owner says. “Then it moved from that to wanting a space where the kids could go and enjoy indoor activities.”
The addition’s main attraction is its naturally designed pool, which resembles a tropical getaway. While the pool area was the last feature considered for the addition, it now acts as the main body of the new building. The room in which the pool is housed resembles a rotunda, but feels more like the Bahamas. Dry, hot desert air pumps throughout the room, consistently keeping the space at or above the pool’s water temperature to avoid condensation on the windows.
Large boulders make up the pool’s perimeter creating a natural, grotto-inspired look. The pool can be accessed at several points including a graduated beach entry. In addition to the waterfall, a pool slide is tucked inconspicuously into the rocks.
A hot tub haven was made within a cave cut out of the rocks where the waterfall flows into the pool. The cave is accessible via a tunnel cut through the rocks or by simply swimming up under the waterfall.
Once inside, the family can enjoy the peace and quiet while gazing up at the LED lighting in the ceiling or they can turn on one of the numerous flat screen televisions that are sprinkled throughout the entire addition.
For those looking for more of an adventurous swim, take a dip into the main pool and float alongside the exotic fish and sharks that inhabit an 8,500-gallon tank in the center of the pool. The kidney-shaped tank, created and serviced by Cincinnati Aquarium Design and Maintenance, is filled with 160 fish—including sting ray and guitar fish—and 16 sharks, which will grow to three feet long. “The homeowners wanted as much variety as they could get so we chose animals that swim close to the bottom as well as those that swim more freely,” says Adam Elkus, owner of Cincinnati Aquarium Design and Maintenance.
To complete the exotic theme, the pool area is filled with foliage. Much of it is real, with the exception of the palm trees surrounding the pool, which were designed by Shehan Pools in Northern Kentucky.
When the family needs a break from the water, they can take a seat at the tiki bar, enjoy a drink, and catch a game on one of the two flat screen televisions behind the bar. A set of pocket doors behind the bar leads to a full-service kitchen, complete with a sink, dishwasher, oven, refrigerator and freezer.