Justin Fox, Creative Director
Realm Design, Irvine, Calif.
Updated tradition
Jeri Koegel
The clients wanted to have a water element in the yard while preserving as much open space as possible in their generous backyard. So they opted for a spa rather than a pool.
To complement the predominantly Tuscan feel of the home, the clients asked for a traditional design to the spa, but they wanted something to set it apart.
For that extra something, the designer added a reverse vanishing edge, laminar arcs and fire. When the spa isn’t used, it serves as a fire-and-water feature that can be viewed directly from the interior dining room.
In keeping with traditional style, designer Justin Fox drew out a square spa that would accommodate up to eight individuals. The spillway wall is finished with a glass mosaic tile featuring a unique, interlocking geometric pattern and iridescent finish. The elevated vessel is surrounded on three sides by travertine.
What the Judges Thought
A bit of soft spectacle caps off this interesting combination of traditional forms and materials in the spa, with the rustic- modern appeal of the kitchen.
In another part of the yard, Fox created a covered outdoor kitchen, with a strategically placed island that views the yard and partial ocean view beyond.
Here, too, fire figures prominently: A solid, partially translucent quartzite monolith is set aflame. Elevated slightly and illuminated from below with LED lights, it appears to float in the kitchen area. Six-inch, clear glass wind guards unobtrusively shield both fire features from the wind.
Quartzite covers the kitchen countertops, while Eldorado Stacked Stone veneers the vertical surfaces as a nod to the home’s Tuscan look. Porcelain imitation wood tile finishes the flooring.
“The yard was very open and simple, with some highlights,” Fox says. “It feels open and very spacious, not overdone.”
