Room of the Day: An Indoor Pool Laps Up the Attention
This modern addition blends Scandinavian and coastal Californian design
When this tech couple in Northern California decided to have an addition built to house a new pool, they envisioned a simple glass box tacked on to the end of their house. But after architect Chad DeWitt picked up his pencil and sketched out a few ideas for a more sculptural addition, the homeowners decided to take the plunge with something a little different.
The addition’s interior is covered in marine-grade plywood, used in many boats because of its ability to hold up well to moisture. DeWitt loves the material because of its humble appearance. “It has beautiful striations and a lovely hue, but it’s the opposite of bling,” he says. Four operable skylights above the pool add additional light and magical views while swimming. A strip of LED lights is integrated into each skylight for nighttime illumination.
A glass pocket door opens the space directly to the outside. To add to the indoor-outdoor vibe, the same porcelain tiles from Stone Source were used inside the addition and on its exterior ledge. “We love to blur the lines between the interior and the exterior; using the same flooring material is a great way to seamlessly connect the two spaces,” DeWitt says.
A large wall of windows at the north end of the addition lets in soft, indirect sunlight.
The east side of the addition faces neighboring homes, so most of the exterior on this side is covered with wood slats for privacy. A small window at head level lets in some natural light.
The pool is from Endless Pools and was integrated into the space by general contractor Jessie Ososki. DeWitt gives much credit to Ososki for helping to devise and implement the design of the addition. “The quality of craftsmanship is top-notch. All of the plywood walls have mitered edges— everything fits together as tight as a drum.”
Contractor: Jesse Ososki Art
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Contractor: Jesse Ososki Art
See more Rooms of the Day
Who lives here: A young couple who work in tech
Location: Los Altos, California
Size: About 500 square feet (about 46.5 square meters)
Architect: Chad DeWitt of Hwang DeWitt Architecture
The addition’s exterior is a combination of black stucco, glass and a rain screen system made of Western red cedar. The vertical wood slats covering the exterior are a popular treatment in Scandinavian countries, but in a twist from the European tradition, architect Chad DeWitt decided to leave them untreated and unstained, allowing the wood to turn gray over time. “I was inspired by the bleached-out shingled homes in Sea Ranch,” DeWitt says, referring to the beach town in Northern California famous for its gray timber-framed cottages.