Design a Pool House for Year-Round Entertaining

Summer days around the pool are delightful, but in the Northeast, those months when we are partying by the pool are numbered. That was precisely the idea behind this poolside escape in Southport, CT, by Moss Design. The homeowner wanted a pool house that was suitable for all seasons. Moss Design Co-Founders Meghan De Maria, principal designer, and Courtney Yanni, senior designer, took on the challenge of layering neutrals and colors for the right vibe for year-round fun. “While it reads summer, it still feels inviting in cooler months,” says De Maria. 

The team used pops of color as punctuation, rather than flooding the space with blues. “The bold use of pattern, color and textured fabrics feels fresh against the white backdrop of shiplap, rather than feeling cloying and expected,” says Yanni. A reflective Nano glass island and natural floors allow for lots of freedom of color. A working fireplace with marble surround, and an area rug, add warmth to the space on chilly days, and cool spring and summer nights.

Moss Design worked along Segerson Builders and Architect Bob Chagnon on the project, that started as a blank slate. De Maria says when designing any project, whether new construction, like this one, or a renovation, working with problem solvers who can find good, innovative solutions to allow your home to function is critical. “It’s essential to have a good team and it helps that our clients were so wonderful and open to lots of fun in this space,” says De Maria.

Pool houses come in various shapes and sizes, but to ensure it’s a go-to spot for hosting guests year-round consider these few essentials, says Yanni: ample seating, a small but very functional kitchen and powder room, and a few details that elevate the space to make it feel like a natural extension of the home. In this case, the lighting was central to the design, adds De Maria. Three large globes over the seating area made of an organic rope wrapped by hand, emit a soft, natural glow. The pendants hanging over the island are made of a small-scale hand-wrapped string. “We love that they had an artisan feel to the room,” says De Maria.

Photography Credit: Jane Beiles

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