A picturesque pool house in New Canaan, Connecticut, becomes a family’s destination for year-round entertaining. Architect Louise Brooks of Brooks & Falotico walks us through the project.
How did you decide on the location of the pool house?
The pool already existed, and the area looks out to beautiful rolling hills, so we were set from the beginning on where we were going to construct the pool house. Even though it’s only a two-minute walk from the main house, it very much feels like a destination for the clients, a family with four children. They feel like they’re on vacation when they go over there.
What was on the clients’ wish list?
The homeowners really wanted a full working kitchen here, meaning a refrigerator, range, dishwasher, microwave and sink since they use it often throughout the year for everything from Super Bowl celebrations to sleepover parties. Since it’s meant for entertaining, I wanted to keep the kitchen design straightforward with as little maintenance and upkeep as possible. We actually started with the creamy man-made countertops that can weather any storm or family gathering, and the rest of the scheme stayed in a similar neutral palette.
We love the bright and airy ambience.
The demand for indoor/outdoor spaces continues to grow and, in this case, I went with retractable doors and big windows that stay open during the warmer months for a light and fresh effect. I also chose materials that are very durable and aren’t precious. We kept finishes to a minimum and the entire kitchen is soft, open and very welcoming; it’s all about bringing the outside in here.
For the kitchen, Brooks went with a Rohl farmhouse sink and faucet along with a Sub-Zero refrigerator and Miele dishwasher. Liliane Hart Interiors designed the decor and furnishings for the pool house.
PHOTOS: JANE BEILES
TOP: Louise Brooks of Brooks & Falotico chose retractable doors, a design feature that allows the space to be completely opened up.
