Mark Crew, Salesperson
FRED CHANEY, Supervisor
Van Kirk & Sons Pools & Spas,
Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Lawrence Mansell
The owners of this modernized Key West-style home had a clear vision: They wanted a space that accommodated large groups for entertaining, while facilitating intimacy for smaller encounters.
The team obliged with this striking waterscape with multiple spaces for groups large and small — the main pool, spa, sunshelf and a small reflecting pool, with a bridge of stepping stones leading from a covered lanai to the lawn.
Like the other shallower bodies of water, the reflecting pool was kept closer to the home. “It’s almost an extension of their patio, because it is such a shallow body of water,” says Robert Van Kirk, general manager and owner of Van Kirk & Sons in Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Bright white decking and marble floating step pads steal much of the focus and bring a continuity of materials from the home interior. This choice also follows local trends. “White has become such a prevalent color as far as decking and finish materials, more so than ever,” Van Kirk says.
The stone steps are supported with acrylic panels. A night, LED lights set underneath each pad enhance the floating effect.
Turquoise water serves as a vibrant backdrop for the white.
The elevated perimeter-overflow spa features swim-out benches on either side for easy access from the pool.
As requested by the client, the large pool runs along the entire width of the home, providing a poolside view to every room along the back of the house. Approximately 100 feet of vanishing edge runs along the backside in a path that includes several hard corners, complicating the process of making it almost dead-on level.
“When it’s not a breezy day, it looks like glass and flows over perfectly,” Van Kirk says.
When choosing colors for the pebble interior finish, the team used a lighter blue on the sunshelf and reflecting pool and a darker one in the deeper water, to increase the natural contrast created by water depth.
