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On the opposite side, we lightened the redwood decking with a straw-colored stain that picks up some of the architectural woodwork on the exterior of the home. We wanted the deck to look as though it had been there a while, so we applied just one coat of stain to allow the wood's grain and imperfections to show through.
Finally, in the front yard, we picked up some stone details as well as the same basic planting scheme, so now the aesthetic treatments flow through the entire space, both front and back.
The upshot of the months of meetings, countless side discussions, research and construction is a space that satisfies a complex set of needs. Most important, it has left our clients pleased with the outcome.
seeing through
It bears mentioning that these clients are not the type of people who dispense praise or easily give pats on the back. Actually, we've yet to hear much in the way of comments or praise. They both focused on what we were doing and at no time eased the pressure.
The clients were so attentive to detail and so utterly involved in every decision that we knew, once we nailed down a detail in concept, we could move forward with confidence.
Satisfying their needs was made possible through dynamic teamwork and diligence that enabled Randy Beard and me to withstand the scrutiny, questions and criticisms while completing a project that works not only functionally, but also aesthetically.
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silent running
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Locating the equipment for this project was complicated by the fact that local codes in crowded (but highly affluent) Santa Monica Canyon impose rigid noise restrictions.
We had to get permission from the next-door neighbors to place the equipment in the side yard, for example, and even then we needed to use some form of noise control. We turned to a sound-deadening panel system made by Quiet Enclosures (Garden Grove, Calif.) Where normally a pool/spa system such as this generates sound in the 60-to-65 decibel range, these enclosures, which also look reasonably attractive, let us knock that down to 30 to 40 decibels.
Proper sizing and selection of pumps was critical as well, not only to minimize noise but also to increase hydraulic efficiency. In this case, the primary circulation system runs on a half-horsepower WhisperFlo pump (Pentair Water Pool & Spa, Sanford, N.C.) with a pair of two-horsepower pumps for the slot overflow system and the spa. We also use diatomaceous earth filters by Jandy (Petaluma, Calif.) - one for the spa and the other for the pool - along with Jandy's valves and its control system. The set is rounded out by a small heater from Sta-Rite (Delavan, Wis.) chosen for its small, modular design.
Proper plumbing size is also crucial in generating a whispering, smooth-running perimeter-overflow system. In this case, we up sized the plumbing with four-inch lines from the surge tank to the equipment pad, using two-inch return lines to feed a balanced loop of returns.
-R.B. |
project reinforcement
As Stephanie Rose describes in the accompanying article, executing this project required tight coordination between her design work and on-site managing of the landscape installation and our work in developing construction details and building the pool and spa.
In our experience, these collaborations work best with a hands-on-designer and specifically one who is familiar with the construction process. Rose was right on target here: She was on board every step of the way and did a great job of "running point" with the clients.
There are countless details we can point to that resulted from step-by-step coordination. In fact, we worked so closely together that, from the clients' perspective, we offered a unified front. In other words, we looked out for one another, which made our lives easier and gave the clients confidence that the design and construction process were fully synchronized.
In projects with absentee designers, the process is always more difficult and unpredictable. If this particular project had been run that way, I would have been left to make many aesthetic decisions on my own - and I know from experience that making those sorts of decisions in a vacuum is risky at best.
In a case like this, however, where the designer, contractor and clients are in constant and coordinated contact, those decisions proceed with confidence - and everyone in the loop stands to be satisfied with the outcome.
--R.B. |
Our ability to control noise from the equipment pad was helped greatly by use of this enclosing structure, which obviated the usual concerns about the appearance of the equipment pad while reducing its noise by abouthalf thanks to a surround made of well-insulated panels. |
