By Jarrad Saffren
In the post-COVID era, a backyard pool is no longer just a pool. It’s an oasis, according to Michael Shaffery, the CEO/president of Elite Pools in Maryland. It’s a resort. It’s the vacation that you would have taken to the Bahamas or Jamaica.
That was the idea behind a recent residential project that Shaffery’s team completed. The pool area includes a slide, waterfalls, an outdoor kitchen, a fireplace and a firepit.
“You want the Caribbean? You hit a button and [the water] is changing pastel colors in your pool,” Shaffery says. “You have all these elements like you’re in a five-star resort.”
The pandemic made people realize that “you make your world what it is,” Shaffery adds. It also helped clarify who really mattered in life.
“Who can you trust? Who’s going to be there for you? It puts the emphasis on your family and friends,” he says. “‘I want to keep my family close to me. Let’s have a staycation.’”
Design Elements
Extension of the Indoor Space
As Shaffery puts it, “People love to look at water.” They should be able to do that, whether they are having coffee in the morning on the deck or in the living room.
Fitting the House
The style of the pool should match with the style of the house. “If you have a contemporary house, we’re not going to put a traditional-looking swimming pool in there,” Shaffery says.