West Q Estate

5012 PHTA AOE SILVER BLK2020 Silver Award Winner | PHTA International Awards of Excellence

Using design expertise, proper engineering and modern building practices, Elite Landscaping transformed an outdated, crumbling concrete pool and landscape into a fresh, award-winning masterpiece. Highlights of this outdoor living space and pool renovation include: Repaving the entire pool deck with travertine. Adding a 13-person year-round spa. Building a pool house with 20’ open cedar-beam ceilings over the men’s and women's changing rooms. Expanding and reinforcing an outdoor deck, finishing the under-deck ceiling and building a full-service, outdoor bar beneath it. Additionally, the Elite team designed a multi-level patio with sunken fire pit, flanked by natural boulders and flagstone paths. The pièce de résistance, however, is the custom-concrete waterfall and grotto, with natural interior skylights and customized water features.

For this project, Elite Landscaping completely redesigned and removed sections of a 20-year old concrete pool that had crumbling plaster, outdated stamped-concrete decking and steps, and a leaking fiberglass waterfall. A large section of the old concrete pool was removed to accommodate both a year-round, 13-person spa and a massive, 250-square foot sun shelf for in-pool lounging. The large, year-round hot tub was designed with separate heaters, filtration and chemical systems so it could be used even when the main pool is shut down. Three 10” copper scupper boxes provide visual appeal between the pool and hot tub, giving the illusion that the spa flows into the pool. To complete the poolscape’s transformation, all pool decking and bullnose coping was replaced with a luxurious “Tiramisu” Travertine.

The clients’ top goal was to install a large waterfall and grotto with special features, including natural skylights, to make the grotto more intimate inside. For a twist, instead of water over the top, Elite Landscaping redirected the flow to cascade down the interior of the grotto, gently falling behind the opening so as not to obstruct the view from inside.

Elite installed a sunken fire-pit patio with a natural gas fire pit. The patio features ample seating for the owners and their guests to relax or dine. Natural boulders, along with hand-cut and carved flagstone paths, connect the entertaining spaces to the surrounding landscape. Some of the natural boulders on this project weighed over 13,000 pounds. (That’s the weight of two four-door cars combined!)

An old cedar deck was replaced and expanded by an additional 12’ from the house. The clients wanted a shaded space for their parents and a nice, covered gathering place. During demo, it became apparent that the previous builder had used sub-par building methods on the deck supports. Elite crews used proper engineering and code-attentive building practices to rebuild safer, stone support pillars. Deck enhancements also included: TimberTech Legacy composite flooring; a waterproof under-deck system with cedar ceiling, multiple can lights, and fans; and a custom iron deck rail with powder-coated finish. Under the deck, a huge sunken bar features full amenities for entertaining, including: an outdoor grill, fridge, ice machine, sink, and plenty of storage cabinets and compartments for any appliance or gadget you could want.

The old pool shack also had to go! Elite tore it down and built a new, beautiful pool house. The front exterior was crafted from sawn dimensional dry-stack Limestone, with custom 10’ tall mahogany doors. The front sink was a custom design Elite created from solid granite. An open, 20’ high, arched cedar-beam ceiling travels through the pool house to two indoor men’s and women’s changing rooms, and features fans and puck LED lights. The clients wanted to be able to hose down all areas, so Elite incorporated waterproof building materials and stucco walls in the changing rooms. This waterproof theme was continued floor to ceiling, and out to an outdoor shower area, with teak wood floor pans, hidden drains and white pebble accents.

Elite Landscaping found that the original landscaping had become overgrown, blocking the view of the natural pond and closing off the pool area to the rest of the vast estate. So, the team gave the yard and outdoor living area a total makeover by planting over 500 annuals and truck loads of various plants, natural grasses and flowers.

This poolscape also features one of the nicest pool filter rooms Elite Landscaping has ever built. Equipment, gas lines and wiring were hidden in the walls behind closed-cell insulation to dampen the noise. The filter house also houses the audio equipment. The entire outdoor space is almost more breathtaking at night thanks to the extensive outdoor lighting that provides safety and illumination, while highlighting specialty features and focal points.