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A Houston
family hired Exterior Worlds as design consultants on a project
that involved the installation of a new pool and the
construction of an arbor, and
outdoor kitchen, and a new
landscape drainage and
irrigation system. Each of these individual elements was
built by contract professionals who came in on this project as
partner companies. Each contributor invoiced their part of the
project separately, but based on the homeowner’s request,
closely followed the specifications and guidelines laid out in
our master plan.
The first
thing we went to work on was the original swimming pool. We
immediately noticed it that it had been built at a much lower
elevation than the surrounding landscape. The drop was so steep,
as a matter of fact, that steps had been constructed leading
down from the patio into the water. Apparently the original
intent was to use the steps to add a sophisticated decorative
aesthetic. In reality, all they did was to divide and waste a
great deal of functional space that could have been used for
other design purposes.
Before
Construction
 We
therefore removed these steps and designed a new pool at the
same elevation as the surrounding landscape. This opened up all
four sides of the structure for more patio area, seating areas,
and more decorations. To give the new pool a truly chic
appearance, we built the coping out of limestone and lined the
interior beneath the coping with glass tile. A travertine stone
patio was then constructed around the pool and the spa using
Groutless joints that fit together without mortar.
To add true luxury to the experience, we expanded a portion of
one side of the pool into a large, heated spa. It was built in
the shape of a square and featured a spillway, underwater
lights, and controls that allow the homeowner to adjust water
flow, temperature, and lighting levels at will.
Between the spa and one corner of the pool, we constructed an
arbor using rough cut pine. We chose rough cut pine because it
costs much less than cedar, and it lasts 3-5 times as long. We
wanted this arbor to be one of the most comfortable and
prominent seating and entertainment areas on the entire
landscape, so we had it constructed it with a number of unique
amenities and decorative features that made it more than just a
place to sit and talk.
Speakers connected to an indoor audio system were carefully
concealed within the arbors trellises and beams to make it seem
like music was magically coming out of the wood from all
directions at once. Special light fixtures and lighting controls
were installed to allow the residents to adjust visibility and
mood-altering effect. A custom stone floor was then constructed
to complete our arbor design. It was built from irregular,
rectangular stones laid over a slab and fitted together by
jointed edges that required no mortar.
To expand the sense of comfortable living space beyond the
immediate vicinity of the pool, we planted a row of Japanese yew
trees behind the arbor and up lit these trees with special
landscape lights. This created something of an
emerald-colored backdrop that set off the warm tone of the
furniture and added an extra layer of illumination to that of
the pool and the arbor.
For more the 20 years
Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's
fine neighborhoods.
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