When the opportunity to build a lakefront pool house in New York’s Hudson Valley came about, the owners’ dreamed of creating fun gathering areas for their young children and increasing the indoor-outdoor living opportunities of a free-spirited weekend retreat. Since the pool house vibe revolves around relaxed times with friends and family, interior designer Hilary Matt included kid-friendly elements like a climbing wall and bunk room lined in jungle gym monkey bars, while sophisticated furnishings and a soothing color palette appeal to the grown-ups. Architect Carol Kurth, principal of Carol Kurth Architecture + Interiors, also shares her vision for this project.
Designer Hilary Matt said the clients, grown children of the owners of the main house on the property, wanted a family-friendly space where their kids could freely run from the pool and into the house without the stress of ruining the decor. Case in point, the welcoming communal living area overlooking spectacular views of the lake. “This home acts as their escape from the city, so something that highlights and takes advantage of all aspects of being out of the hustle and bustle was important,” she noted. This was accomplished by focusing on panoramic water views, further heightened by the dramatic vaulted ceiling.
Playful design elements lend a carefree feeling to the layout, especially the aqua-blue bathroom wallpaper lined in swimmers. “We chose this wallpaper because it was so whimsical and added a pop of color; we didn’t want this space to be taken too seriously, which made designing it so fun. The wallpaper is from Walls Need Love and was the perfect addition to this bathroom,” Matt explained. “We went with something bright and colorful because kids love that. We also went with some practical design decisions, like a bathtub instead of a shower. All age ranges use this space so that was a necessity; also, a double vanity that allows multiple users was the best choice, and, lastly, the open shelving that stores additional towels allows little ones to easily find and grab them.” This bath can be directly accessed from the pool area too, a smart design choice that keeps wet footprints to a minimum.
The bunk room is a perfect spot for both the young and the young-at-heart, Matt observed. “The owners’ kids are absolutely loving this space! It is such an adventurous place for them to sleep in and even just spend time playing in. My favorite part is the monkey bars, I think they are so unexpected and fun, something that a pool house can pull off that a main house might not!” Designed to sleep five (or more), every bit of space in the room was used, all the way to the ceiling. “We did traditional hanging wardrobe storage at eye level, with additional storage cubbies higher up for storing things that you might not need to access all day, every day,” she said. “It is all about proportion when you are balancing, what is in essence, a room full of wall-to-wall built-ins. And using the same color throughout– even extending that color family to the bedding– keeps the look cohesive.”
Several pieces of artwork add an unexpected punch of color to the serene rooms, a deliberate design decision by Matt. “We were lucky that these clients already owned such an amazing collection of art that we incorporated portions of the collection they already owned! We did source the pieces above the living room sofa which are by artist Anthony Zininos who does fun collage pieces. Given the colors, I thought these were perfect for a pool house on a lake, also since they are collages, they tie in with the overall playful feeling of the spaces.” Nearby, a well-loved climbing wall boosts the home’s animated feeling and becomes an irresistible spot for rainy day fun.
Carol Kuth, the pool house architect, conceptualized the structure as a modern barn: an expansive open area for gathering, dining and play with views of both the pool and the lake, along with multiple bedrooms for family and guests. “The intention was to create a fun and light-filled space, bringing the outdoors in. Capturing corner views by creating corner windows provides a panoramic effect, enhancing the outlooks beyond,” she revealed. “This is a multi-generational property, designed for a very close-knit family who loves to spend time together on a very special lakefront property.
Interior Design: Hilary Matt Interiors
Architecture: Carol Kurth Architecture + Interiors
Construction: David Penny Design & Construction
Landscape: Biasin Landscape & Lawn Service
Interior Photography: Rikki Snyder; Exterior Photography: Peter Krupenye.
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