Solofsky Residence

Phase One | 6 weeks

In one of our very first conversations, this family had let us know that they absolutely hated their existing backyard.  They had a deck off the rear door that was small and unprotected which didn’t allow them to entertain the way they wanted to.  They knew their space had potential but was not developed because they just couldn’t visualize exactly what the outdoor living space could be.

Sharing that they had always wanted a swimming pool, this was the first feature to include in phase one of their custom design for the outdoor living space.  However, the backyard was modest in size and had a swale running through it; they weren’t sure what they could accomplish to fit their needs.  MasterPLAN was ready to accept that challenge!

Our conversation started with the options for the swimming pool – size, shape, depth, features, swale relocation, how the pool would complement their home, how we can fit the requirements of their township and HOA…etc.  The homeowners were eager for a pool that looked like it belonged and created a relaxing atmosphere while being proportionate to the home and the backyard.  They were drawn to a more free-flowing shape that could integrate their existing shed that would soon go under a transformation itself!

Our first order of business was to demo and dispose of the existing underwhelming deck and relocate the shed to the side of the property, within the township’s setbacks.  The new shed location would act as the anchor for the rest of the improvements and allow a more open access point to the backyard.  The next step was to start their vinyl liner swimming pool installation.  The clean swimming pool design was equipped with color changing lights, a small sun shelf and a church step entry.  While the grading around the pool was being addressed, we redirected the backyard’s swale away from the swimming pool towards the rear property line and to the location of the future dry underground stone pit needed to fulfill the stormwater management requirements in phase two.

Since the deck was removed, there was an approximate 2’ drop from the rear door to grade and a staircase was needed to connect the rear kitchen door to the new pool area.  To create an easy, safe and uncomplicated staircase, we proposed that the feature run the width of the door bumpout.  This allowed for an approximate 3’ x 7’ top landing and easy transition to the two 12” deep double-sided steps to the new patio.  The staircase was fitted with 2” thick bluestone slabs for the landing and step treads and finished with a complementing stone veneer and mortar.

The low maintenance hardscape started at the foot of the new staircase and continued around the pool area.  The Techo-Bloc pavers installed are Blu60 Smooth in Champlain Grey with similar bullnose pool coping.  The colors are cohesive with the home’s vinyl siding and the stone veneer used on the new staircase.  Bringing the materials of the nearby staircase into the pool area, we installed (4) bluestone slabs to accentuate the curve of the swimming pool and create an additional poolside seating opportunity.

To soften the hardscapes, we installed lush, perennial landscaping and landscape lighting around the features to tie everything together and bring phase 1 to a close.  We made sure to include Shasta Daisies in the landscaping plan, the client’s favorite!  The landscaping at the rear property line also created additional privacy, which was high on the wish list.

The beauty of a phased master plan is that no one would know a phase 2 was in the works, as nothing looks incomplete or waiting on other features!  We can’t contain our excitement, hurry over to the next tab to see what phase two has to offer…

Phase Two | 7 weeks

A year after the installation of phase one, the homeowners were ready to reopen the conversation for phase two.  This phase was to include an attached roof to protect a chef-inspired kitchen that provides an entertainment value for everyone in the space, an open concept dining area and a beautiful, comforting lounge space directly in front of a wood burning fireplace that anchors this space as the stunning focal point.

It was extremely important to the homeowners and the whole MasterPLAN team that phase one and phase two look seamlessly blended so no one could ever tell that this was a two-phase project.  To truly accomplish this transition, we started by pulling up some of the existing pavers from the edge of the phase one patio and integrated the new Techo-Bloc Blu60 Smooth Champlain Grey pavers to create a nice blend of new and old.  Also keeping the connection between the pool and covered space as open as possible was very important.  Sure, the easiest path would be to install several posts to support the roof structure, but that would hardly accomplish the much-revered open concept!  With careful forethought and planning to eliminate excessive posts, we installed engineered steel beams for the attached roof which allowed us to fully open the connection to the pool area.

The next design solution needed was to find aesthetic solutions for neighbor and street privacy as well as being able to block the hot, blinding western sun and whipping wind.  Some would suggest a tall privacy fence or large arbs, but that is underwhelming, overdone and would never fully resolve the issues 100%.  We proposed a feature wall on the west side of the roof to solve all the above issues, cleverly combining beauty and function.

The feature wall was designed to be low maintenance, finished with matching vinyl siding on the exterior and interior wipeable, paintable Azek shiplap.  The wall is accompanied by manual windows and a storm door which allows the homeowners to control their preferred level of breeze and visibility.  The windows have actionable shade slats, and the storm door was outfitted with a custom sliding wood and pvc barndoor with black powder coated hardware.  The clean and streamlined materials truly make the space feel like the inside of the home.

Those same materials can be found throughout this outdoor roof area!  You can find the white pvc shiplap and tongue & groove wood on the rear kitchen feature wall, surrounded by the same stone veneer used in the adjacent staircase installed in phase one.  The same materials carry over to the base of the kitchen, so let’s explore this feature next!

Preparing delicious mediterranean meals and breaking bread with family and friends are two things that bring this family much joy, so their outdoor kitchen had to be up to task!  This kitchen was equipped with everything necessary, a built-in grill, side burner, refrigerator, ample storage and an undermount sink with warm and cool water connection.  The granite countertop was extended an additional 12” at the rear to provide bar seating so the chef never has to prepare alone.  Convenience outlets were placed throughout the kitchen so a blender, phone charger or speaker never had to be so far out of reach.  Designed for convenience, the dining area is located just beyond the bartop seating.  The family wanted to accommodate an 8-10 person dining table, but not feel or look crowded.

After preparing and savoring a meal, the lounge space is the perfect area to relax, unwind and continue enjoying everyone’s company…especially when the fire is roaring!  This grand, custom, wood-burning fireplace is the hub of entertainment.  The chase of the fireplace rises and extends through the roof for proper ventilation, further adding to its majesty.  The fireplace is finished with the same stone veneer and mortar as seen throughout the outdoor living space.  We designed a wood storage box on each side of the fireplace as dedicated space to store and protect the family’s chopped dry wood, but also to act as another area of contrast in texture and color.  Two-inch-thick bluestone caps the storage box areas and creates striking passageways for natural light and a delicate breeze.  The firebox is finished with glass doors to tie to the fireplace in the interior living room.

The A-frame structure itself was designed as a vaulted open-air roof to bring much desired light and air to the space.  We incorporated large, fixed skylights into the triple 4 vinyl ceiling soffit in the lounge and dining areas and an actionable skylight in the kitchen to allow any smoke and/or heat created by the kitchen to escape directly overhead.  Another element that was high on the homeowner’s wish list was a seamless roof connection to the rear door of the home.  They didn’t want to get wet or blinded by the sun when moving from inside to outside, so we continued the roof line to connect the two areas.  We installed one more large, fixed skylight in this area so we could allow natural light to filter back into the inside kitchen.  The roof was completed with recessed dimmable LED lighting and recessed speakers that connect to the landscape speakers around the swimming pool area from phase one.  Also worth mentioning are the infrared electric Bromic heaters.  Two heaters were installed to direct heat into the kitchen and dining areas, making the spaces more enjoyable on chilly days and nights in the spring and fall.  These heaters do an amazing job of taking the chill out of the air and extending the fun in months where you may find it to not be so temperate.  We ran the wiring to two more locations in the lounge area, so when the homeowners are ready to install the additional heaters, everything is already in place, saving them time and money when the time is right.

Speaking of phase one, while the carpenters were on site, we were able to have them finish off the shed’s interior.  They installed a laminate wood flooring, storage closet and finished the interior off with the same low maintenance white shiplap from the nearby roof’s feature walls.  This shed could have ended up in the corner of the lawn to house pool toys and chemicals, but now it is an integrated part of the whole outdoor living space serving as a beautiful area to change or hang out with a beverage!  A cedar fence was also installed off of one side to aesthetically hide the pool equipment from sight.

One of the last important pieces to mention is the stormwater management requirements from the homeowner’s township.  Stormwater management of impervious surfaces is becoming more prevalent yet not many homeowners know what that means for their home or proposed improvements.  In this instance, we had to grab the water from the new roof and walkway and direct it toward our new BMP.  Some companies would propose a rain garden as a solution to stormwater management, but we believe that just takes up valuable square footage and can become a safety hazard, eyesore and/or mosquito breeding ground.  Instead, we opted to engineer and install an underground dry-stone pit and guided the water from the roof and walkway via underground pipes to this pit area in the rear lawn.  No one would know it is there, but it was essential to be allowed to develop this lot further!  (When deciding to take on a larger outdoor living space project, be sure to partner with the professionals that listen and present options, not problems or roadblocks!)

If you had made it to this point, thank you for hanging in there!  There really is a high level of detail in every inch of both phases and we would be remiss if we didn’t mention it all.