When people think of designing their dream homes, most imagine luxuries like spacious kitchens and fabulous pools—areas which reflect the owners’ favorite activities. But one Troy, Ohio arborist and his family took their commitment to home reflection to a new level, by featuring local wood—much of it harvested from their property—throughout their favorite spaces.
Putting down roots
The homeowner, a Troy native, and his family have lived on their property for over 25 years, but only recently decided to tackle their dream house. They chose to build their new home on the same property, listing the familiarity and privacy as key pieces of their decision.
The family partnered with Dave Swearingen of The Site Group to bring their dreams to life. “We were really excited to work in a space like this,” Swearingen says. “When it comes to the design, we like to bring forward a few initial concepts that play with orientation and build from there. For this family, we wanted to maximize privacy while capitalizing on the sun orientation.”
A labor of lumber
The family’s pool house, one of the primary features of their back yard, invites guests in via wide accordion doors. But a step inside reveals that the homeowner’s love of trees extends far past his profession, with live trees and wood adorning every room.
In the center of the pool house stands a large American elm tree, stretching from floor to ceiling. The tree suffered from Dutch elm disease, meaning it would wilt and eventually die. The pool house was carefully built around the tree, navigating stray branches that could compromise the project. Special floor lights highlight the tree in its entirety, showcasing its size while providing elegant lighting.
The integration of trees certainly isn’t relegated to the center of the space. Next to the kitchen is a wine cooler with a bald cypress tree as a display rack for their expansive wine collection. The branches are fitted with special bottle holders, so each bottle of wine appears to be an extension of the tree itself. The cooler was designed with a temperature gauge, protecting both the wine and the tree from potential damage.
The beauty of wood is incorporated throughout the kitchen as well, with a long, live-edge bar top made from black walnut and cabinets made from ash wood. “It’s rare to see this much ash used in a space,” the homeowner says. “We were lucky to find it with so much color and variation.”
Given the amounts of wood featured throughout the space, most of the design and additional features, like the tiled kitchen backsplash, were specifically chosen to accentuate the natural effects.
Down to the details
The back of the pool house touts a changing room for easy access after swimming. The walls are bordered with decorative tile, meant to mimic the tree leaves visible from the front door. Small, repurposed branches are fitted to the walls as hooks for bathing suits and towels alike.
But, despite the various live wood features, wood decay will not be an issue thanks to the homeowner’s expertise. By managing the oxygen and humidity levels in the pool house, he is able to preserve the wood for many years to come, ensuring the natural focal points will stand the test of time.
Branching outside
To match the uniqueness of the pool house, the rest of the back yard was curated with the same amount of intention.
The homeowner was quick to install an in-ground pool, complete with a water feature and sun shelf for his wife to enjoy. Swearingen validates the rise in popularity of sun shelves, explaining their perfect balance for loungers and swimmers alike. “Sun shelves make it easy to relax and acclimate to the water. People can dip their ankles in, or slowly submerge themselves in the water.” And the attached spa means the relaxation can extend year-round.
The travertine flooring featured around the pool extends across the patio and throughout the pool house for a durable, cohesive feel. “I had travertine in mind even before we got started,” says the homeowner. “I knew it was important to use a porous material so it wouldn’t be so slick around the pool, and we loved the idea of our entire back yard feeling like one big space.”
The outside of the patio is framed by beautiful landscaping, all designed and planted by the homeowner and a close friend. They specifically chose native plants that would thrive in their southwestern Ohio alkaline soil and adorn the pathways leading to the back yard and up to the pool house. A fire feature adds an elegant, visual element to the space, especially for fireside conversations along the stone border.
A strong family tree
Even with the number of gathering places throughout their home and back yard, the homeowner says one of his family’s favorite places to gather is their outdoor living room. “It’s got the perfect amount of space, and it’s something we can enjoy all year long.”
To make enjoyment last through late nights and the darker seasons, a series of lights were installed under the stairs and across the patio for increased visibility. “Low voltage lighting is becoming more common,” Swearingen explains. “It makes the whole space more usable.”
And, to no surprise, the outdoor patio also boasts its fair share of natural wood. Between the white oak used for the outdoor posts, the natural wood siding, and the fireplace, there’s no shortage of wooden elements that incorporate this family’s passions.
When asked to reflect on the project, the homeowner is proud of the ways they could salvage lost trees. “We had to excavate a few trees while we were building,” he shares. “We were able to save these trees and repurpose them. Having them here is quite the happy accident!”
RESOURCES
Landscape design The Site Group Pool Mid-American Gunite Pools Outdoor lighting Archalite A/V Total Network Technologies Custom woodwork/millwork Stull Woodworks
Article by Sydne Santo | Photos by Kelly Settle
Article originally appeared in March 2024