For The Fun of It

When they started their outdoor project, Susie and Shane Sloan were thinking of adding an in-ground hot tub with a seating area and some landscaping to the back of their home.

Then they met landscape designer Rachel Hendricks of Ted Lare Design + Build. “She was so full of ideas for our property,” Susie says. “She opened our eyes to what was possible, and the project grew.”

The Sloans turned Hendricks loose on her ideas. The centerpiece of the 3-acre property is a huge 22- by 44-foot gunite pool installed by Dave Sheridan of A1 Pools. When they see it, visitors want to jump in.

Susie says the strong heaters in the pool and the infrared heaters in the pool house allow the family to use the pool well into October. “It totally has extended our outdoor time.”

The adjacent pool house contains the mechanicals of the pool and includes a seating area, a kitchenette, and a bathroom. “Shane and our three sons love to watch football, so this area has become a must-have,” she points out. The sons are 25-year-old identical twins and a high school junior.

The whole installation has a modern vibe, in line with the family’s contemporary home in Napa Valley.

ITALIAN TILES

Hendricks surrounded the pool deck with a stone patio that is fashioned from Bucine Bluestone, a native stone from Italy. The stone is also used at the front entry to tie the areas together.

Remodelers Crose & Lemke completed many other aspects of the outdoor transformation. Susie had inspiration photos for the style of the pool house.

“Also, originally there were no stairs off a covered deck,” Hendricks explains. “Now there are a beautiful staircase to the pool area, an outdoor television, wall fireplace, and a grill island.” To make the area more inviting, IPE cedar ceiling warms the space visually.

Six chaise lounge chairs add a dramatic touch to the scene. A basketball court, which was already in place, now has newly rebuilt retaining walls and new landscape lighting.

PLANTING VARIETIES

The Sloans wanted a simple plant palette to accent the modern style of the home and landscape design. Hendricks added ornamental grasses to wave in the wind and a variety of evergreens, hydrangeas, and Japanese maples. Susie purchased several white planters and appreciates Lare’s service of coming to fill them with seasonal plantings.

This expansive project is a testament to a strong client-designer relationship. Hendricks notes, “The family really trusted us completely on this whole project. It turned out beautifully.” •