K+BB - October 2008 - (Page 66)

Additions Making a Splash A designer goes poolside to create a waterfront luxury When approached by a client to design entertainment and recreational areas for a 10,000-sq.-ft. home, Portland, OR-based interior designer and space planner Liz Murray created a blueprint of several multipurpose spaces to accommodate a family with four children, ages 9 to16. From entertaining guests poolside to working out in comfort, the additions would greatly expand the homeowners’ lifestyle with more activities centered around the swimming pool. The home is located in Tualatin, OR—a bustling, upscale suburb that is situated 12 miles outside of Portland. According to Murray, the community was once agricultural-based but has experienced signiﬁcant growth in the past 30 years, drawing more afﬂuent residents. Consequently, while the homeowners’ entertainment, recreational and functional requirements were extensive and luxurious, they are not atypical to the neighborhood. To respond fully to their needs, Murray not only designed a two-story, 4,000-sq.-ft. building, which houses a gym, adjacent to the main house and 100 ft. from the swimming pool, but also a new pool house. Before entering the pool house, bathers can rinse off in an outdoor shower (above), which is adjacent to a cabana. Inside the pool house, a kitchen (right) takes care of all of the homeowners’ entertaining needs. EQUIPPED FOR ENTERTAINING According to Murray, the pool house serves three main functions. It provides shade from the sun, offers an area for social gatherings and gives bathers a place to change out of their wet bathing suits. Because the clients’ home is outﬁtted with European-inspired furnishings, Murray wanted to carry the look to the pool house. To this end, she chose antique terra-cotta brick for its exterior, which gives the structure an Old-World appearance. Before entering the pool house, bathers can rinse off in a 51/2-ft. x 12-ft. outdoor shower. Contained under the same roof as the pool house, the shower is formed of granite and equipped with overhead lighting. The interior of the pool house, which measures 25 ft. x 12 ft. and boasts a 12-ft.-high vaulted ceiling, was conceived to accommodate guests and large family gatherings. In the center of the space, visitors can relax on a sectional sofa set upholstered in material typically used on outdoor furniture. The fabric, said Murray, “wears well for people in wet bathing suits.” In the kitchen area, terra-cotta ﬂoors and a pale blue backsplash are offset by antique cabinetry made from Port Orford cedar. Murray chose the wood not only to keep food safe from condensation in the surrounding environment, but also because it resembles antique waxed pine, which works well with the clients’ aesthetic preferences. In addition to storing dishes and other items used for entertaining, the cabinets conceal a large refrigerator that provides ice and cold storage for beverages and popsicles. According to Murray, “Everything is convenient for entertaining and it’s easy to maintain.” The bathroom is sleek and simple and features a wall-mounted, concealedtank toilet and an elegant pedestal sink. Located off the dining area, yet closed off with a door, the dressing room also contains a sink, as well as a built-in bench, which allow guests to dry off and change in comfort. POOLSIDE ACTIVITY With a 12-ft.-wide opening, the pool house enables guests to eat and mingle while enjoying a generous view of the pool and the cabana area, which is furnished with lounge chairs and sofa sectionals. When not in use, the building is shuttered with folding doors, whose installation, noted Murray, enabled her to design such a large opening. Based on the clients’ reaction to the design of the pool house and the other additions, Murray feels confident that she has succeeded in providing family-friendly spaces that offer convenience and luxury. “The look is classic, European traditional,” she said. “This estate’s additions bring a level of luxury to the home as well. It’s beautiful and well-appointed. The family is enjoying it everyday.” s —Matthew Marin 66 + K BB October 2008 / www.kbbonline.com / The Ofﬁcial Sponsor of K/BIS www.kbis.com http://www.kbbonline.com http://www.kbis.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of K+BB - October 2008

K+BB - October 2008
Contents
Online Contents
Online News
Editorial
Feedback
Dates
Digits
Focus
Consumer
Trends
Products
Options
Profile
Design
Paradise Found
Graded on a Curve
Green
Access
Additions
Practice
Education
Editorial Index
Ad Index
Favorites

K+BB - October 2008