In the first installation of the Pool & Spa News Masters of Design staff picks series, design and construction editor Rebecca Robledo shared her top choice of past winners.
This week, the newest member to join the PSN edit team, Scott Younker, reveals his choice for favorite all-time MOD project.
Project: Michael Inzerillo | Swimming Pools by Jack Anthony, 2011, Vinyl Liner
Younker grew up in two homes, both of which that featured bodies of water. The backyard at his Arizona house had a basic kidney shaped pool, while his home in Oregon was set next to a creek that flowed through both the front and back yards.
This project reminds him of time spent at these homes, but takes the feeling to another level thanks to the well thought out design details.
"[It] is appealing because it combines a babbling brook ending in a waterfall with a pool that blends nicely into the natural setting of the yard," he notes.
The noise of the water adds comfort, but its the minimalism of the deck that Younker says really shines here.
"I appreciate pools that don’t feature huge decks, and this one is unobtrusive without being nonexistent," he explains.
A hiker who spends a lot of his spare time outdoors, Younker also finds the area's natural surroundings a key element of the award-winning pool.
"The fact that the designer used the surrounding trees to offer shade or sun during specific times of the day is a wonderful design touch," he notes. "The pool appears to fade into the woods, which adds a naturalistic feel to the entire project."