Some of Eric Collins’ fondest childhood memories center on his family’s in-ground pool, a communal venture his family took on with their next-door neighbors and life-long friends. “Together, they made the investment to create a place where we could all gather and have fun and live life. We had a generation of love and joy experienced poolside.” When Collins took a job as the voice of the Charlotte Hornets, his family faced a necessary relocation to Charlotte from Chicago, where they’d just purchased their dream home. Collins’ wife, Keri Bartholomew, was hesitant and insisted she and their elementaryaged kids stay in their home while Collins lived remotely. “I was adamant we could make this unconventional home-life work…at first,” Keri says. “Less than two months in, I caved, but I did resort to one element of bribery, convincing Eric to pull the trigger on his lifelong desire to build our own dream pool.” He enthusiastically agreed. Keri and the kids joined him in Charlotte, and they purchased a beautiful home in Barclay Downs.
The two accepted several bids from contractors, but their desire for a small, boutique-style builder made Pool By Design an easy sell. “We first met with Tommy who truly listened to our story, taking into account what we wanted from a pool and what it would mean for our family. He and Simon Spiers worked tirelessly during the entire process to make sure we were completely satisfied with the final product.” What they wanted was a no-frills, contemporary take on the traditional in-ground pool designed for play. “There was no back and forth on the shape — the classic rectangular design best fit our needs. The idea was to take the traditional and ‘Taj Mahal’ it, making it a natural extension of our outdoor living space.”
The overall design goal was to create continuity, making the pool addition and outdoor renovation a seamless extension of the existing home aesthetic. The pitch of the backyard required them build a stacked stone retaining wall to functionally support the pool while also aesthetically dividing it from the outdoor living space. A planting area on top of the wall, where Keri keeps white rose bushes, pulls the two areas together while also creating a natural privacy screen. The pool design is simple and straightforward with a sprayed gray lining, which gives the water a darker appearance that changes with the direction of the sunlight, as well as a tanning ledge that is a favorite hang-out spot for soaking up the sun or letting the little ones play in shallow water. The house’s white brick with gray trim is mimicked in the earthen-hued tiles that give the feel of an organic, natural beach, and an expanse of green lawn was preserved for the children.
An alcove eating area and an old-European, Tuscany-inspired aesthetic created with bluestone rounded out the outdoor living space. Now, the family spends most of their time in their new outdoor space, either swimming or enjoying meals al fresco. “I enjoy trimming my trees and bushes, and Eric loves taking care of the pool,” Keri says. “It’s been a terrific investment – not just in our quality of life, but in our family as well.” “Putting in a pool was the best way to honor my mother’s memory and the investment my parents made during my own childhood,” Collins says. “Some of the best moments of my life — the ones that made me who I am — happened in and around that pool, and I want those same experiences for my family now.”
Want to recreate your own treasured childhood pool experience? Contact Pool by Design at 704-3DESIGN (704-333-7446) or visit www.poolbydesign.com.