Reclining in a comfortable lounge chair, I hear the sound of water gently cascading and birds chirping in the flower garden as my family enjoys our inground pool. We are looking forward to nightfall when we can enjoy the blaze of an outdoor fire. Then, I wake up.
While I dream that this tranquil setting will be the site of my next vacation, one Cincinnati homeowner enjoys this fantasy each time she walks out of her back door.
The homeowner had grown tired of the existing pool and wooden deck, so she decided to install a larger, freeform inground pool with a walk-in entry point and play area for her grandchildren. The homeowner was inspired by her love of nature and her innate talent for landscaping. She drew on her own visions and abilities, and worked with contractors Alan Hendy of Neal’s Design Remodel and Ben Steele and Jason Steele of B & J Stone Creations to create a final design masterpiece.
Tennessee Quartz Site stones were arranged to form patio sitting areas and pathways around the new inground pool. The stones continue from the pathway into the pool to create a walk-in entry point that appears to flow naturally. A hot tub is separated by a stone wall with waterfalls integrated into the side to camouflage the overflow vents.
The shallow portion of the pool continues to flow under a dry stack stone bridge created by the stonemason artisans based on the home-owner’s vision.
“This type of bridge hasn’t been built since the Roman days,” jokes Ben Steele. When asked how he created it, he simply states, “Very carefully.” Using the bridge as a good place to indicate a change of depth without obtrusive markings, the pool leads into a large flat area about waist deep. The pool then becomes deeper to allow for safe diving from a board.
Keeping with the philosophy of maintaining the most harmoniously natural appearance as possible, the pool does not have a normal straight concrete edge like typical pools. Instead the edge begins at the end of the patio stones and bumps up to the stone walls to provide a more natural appearance. Several large boulders are also incorporated into the sides of the pool.
The landscaped retreat covers approximately two acres. In addition to the inground pool and gardens, the backyard includes a larger entertaining area and several smaller sitting areas. Stone steps lead down into the woods behind the inground pool to a fire pit.
“The fire pit was an afterthought,” the homeowner says. The pit is concreted in with stone and dirt. To add to the woodsy feel, the homeowner sprays a mixture of moss and buttermilk on the areas between the stone pathways surrounding the fire pit to facilitate the moss growth between the individual stones. She also has planted ostrich ferns. “The fire pit is a nice cozy place to sit and get away,” says Ben Steele.