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Houzz Tour: Modern Gothic Pool House
Feast Your Eyes on Unexpected Textures and a Wine Cellar that Wows
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
When it came time to design a pool house for her Gothic-style estate in Nashville, Interior Designer Jamie Beckwith took a no-holds barred approach. She used the opportunity to experiment with innovative ideas she had floating around in her head — as well as unique products she designs. The house is full of unexpected textures, including a walnut bathtub, wood tile floors, murals, travertine walls and, amazingly, furniture and rugs that can stand up to Jamie's young children and people still wet from the pool. The space is such a success that the family not only uses it for out-of-town guests and apres-pool fun, but it has become their primary entertaining space. The only catch? Ladies, be sure to wear pants. More on that next:
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I bet most of you are doing a double-take when you look at this picture; I know it was a real wow for me. Yes, you can see through the floor to the surreal acrylic Gothic arches of the wine cellar below. Ladies, this is why you may want to opt for pants when you head over to Jamie's place. The floor works both ways — you can look up through the floor from below!
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Jamie thought the cellar's design "would be so cool, why not have another way to view it?" Designing a wine cellar that is viewed from above meant making things look good from all angles. All wood had to be finished from above and the lighting wiring hidden away. Wine does not like light, so the glass floor has a retractable screen that closes when they aren't entertaining.
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| Up to 2,000 bottles can be stored in futuristic Gothic arches that are made out of acrylic and illuminated by LED lighting. Jamie had to make sure that the acrylic would be able to withstand the weight of the wine bottles without cracking.
Jamie loves to experiment with unexpected textures, materials and patterns, so much so that she created her own collection. The material used on the wine cellar floor is called Mosaic, which is a patterned wood block that is finished after installation. |
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| The Gothic touches are inspired by the main house, which is a more traditional Gothic style. This nook off the wine cellar is primarily used as a cozy place for wine tastings. "I wanted to continue Gothic touches through to the pool house but explore how I could modernize it. I wanted touches of it mixed with the cleaner lines." |
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Believe it or not, this elegant building is actually quite waterproof and childproof. "Most fabrics in the poolhouse are Perennials fabric (indoor/outdoor), which was important so that guests can sit down on the furnishings with wet bathing suits. The floors are epoxy floors, impervious to staining and scratches."
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Continuing her celebration of textures, this fireplace wall is surfaced with travertine stone, reflecting the natural and organic elements that are key throughout the entire design. It is sleek and contemporary but warm at the same time.
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| The family uses the pool house for all kinds of activities, from housing guests to gathering outside for family barbecues and hosting charity events.
Wondering about those vibrant yellow kitchen counters? They are 3-Form Chroma in Marigold Yellow, a resin that is under-lit here. |
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The unique and sculptural light fixture in the kitchen is Cicatrices De Luxe 5 Pendant Light, designed by Philippe Starck in 2000 for FLOS.
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Texture continues to star in the space with this mosaic wall made from western red cedar. Called "Projection," it's another product that Jamie created for her collection, and it's manufactured in Jamie's factory right in Nashville. "Beautiful stains set off the wood," Jamie says, "and lighting is also key in bringing out the shadows and light."
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The floor is covered with an ivory patched-cowhide rug. Hide has a luxurious texture and can take abuse from wet feet, so it's a great fit for a poolhouse.
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For Jamie, the finishes of a home are most important — possibly more important than the items placed inside. "There are so many beautiful ways to use texture, through stone, tile, paneling, textured paint and wood. Drywall is so boring," she says. "Why not use different surfaces to mix it up? I like mixing smooth with rough; the juxtaposition is very important to making it feel interesting. When you are dealing with a neutral palette you need a little more texture in the fabrics, walls and floor coverings. An easy way to add texture is through the walls. If your budget doesn’t allow for a full stone wall, there are amazing ways to dress the walls. Fabric on walls, wallpapers are amazing again, stucco textures and of course the wooden blocks from the Jamie Beckwith Collection are cool!"
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Jamie turned to sunny yellow in the otherwise mostly neutral palette. "I thought the yellow looked fresh for a pool house and was a color that I had not explored," she says. "If the project is for a client, I open my ears and listen ... how they live, how many children do they have, do they entertain, what colors do they gravitate towards ... the list is endless. I start a project by being open, listening and learning. For myself, I make myself crazy ... challenging myself, always trying to do something that no one has done and trying to figure out the best way to do it. I never want to be stale. I always want to stretch and try things that have never been done, or at least interpreting them in a different way."
The Portia Lounge Chair here is from Artefacto.
The Portia Lounge Chair here is from Artefacto.
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Large-scale artwork was chosen to match the proportions of the large walls and open floor plan. They were chosen also for their graphic nature and to add to the bold punches of yellow throughout the space.
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| Where to rinse off and change after a swim? This large bathroom is on the main level with the living area and kitchen. |
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In addition to being an interior designer and creating her product line, Jamie has a showroom in Nashville where she has curated design products that are unique, beautiful and innovative. This includes collections from Hickory Chair, Oly, and Lee; hand-blown pieces from Atlanta glass artist Elizabeth Lyons, beautiful silk rugs from Tamarian, unique lighting from Marjorie Skourkas and a new company she loves called Bourgeoisie 3D. You can also check out The Jamie Beckwith Collection here. Jamie also has a design blog on her site.
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| Perhaps the most unexpected use of a material in this house is the bathtub – it is solid walnut with birdseye maple inlay trim. Another one of Jamie's creations, inspired by luxury wooden yachts, it is made entirely of wood and sanded with several layers of polyurethane for the shiny, smooth finish. |
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The beautiful arboreal walls in the bathroom were hand-painted by a Nashville artist.
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Continuing with the Gothic style, this staircase features a solid wood railing that incorporates dramatic spires. Other details such as the circles under the hand rail and the custom acrylic light incorporate modern touches to this traditional style.
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| Moving upstairs, there is a more private guest lounge. The rug is called Otto Grape and it's by Madeline Weinrib; the side tables that make up a coffee table were purchased from Wisteria. |
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| I wondered if Jamie has a hard time getting guests to leave; after all, these accommodations take Southern hospitality to a whole new level. "It seems our home has a revolving door….but we love having guests," Jamie says. "The pool house gives our guests a little more privacy than staying in the main house, which is full of endless activity with three children and pets."
Thanks so much to Jamie Beckwith and her assistant Ashleigh for taking the time to show us this incredible project. Learn more about Jamie Beckwith's collection here. More Houzz Tours: Soho Loft Shows the Warm Side of Modern Tour more amazing homes |
Ideabook updated on Feb. 21, 2011.
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"Do you have two styles you want to see merged together? Let us know in the comments below!"
I had planned on responding "Modern-Gothic"!
Not only that, this designer and I even share the same name! At least we did when I was Beckwith, married to my previous husband.
But, what's really spooky is that just a few minutes ago I thought of how much I would enjoy seeing another ideabook from Becky. And here it is! Eerie, I know!
PS) Yes, this response is NyQuil induced.
Thanks for another inspiring ideabook Becky. I love how these 2 very different styles have been merged to make such an elegant, cohesive space. I like the large blue globe in the bathroom. Is it porcelain, I wonder?
Aprilaries, too funny. I don't know about the globe - hopefully Jamie will be stopping by to ring in on the comments soon. I did get lost in her showroom site for awhile - she has curated some amazing products - the Atlanta glass artists mentioned, Elizabeth Lyons, has some truly beautiful pieces that I am now coveting.