Dayton March/April 2024

A labor of lumber
The family’s pool house, one of the
primary features of their back yard,
invites guests in via wide accordion
doors. But a step inside reveals
that the homeowner’s love of trees
extends far past his profession, with
live trees and wood adorning every
room.
In the center of the pool house
stands a large American elm tree,
stretching from floor to ceiling. The
tree suffered from Dutch elm disease,
meaning it would wilt and eventually
die. The pool house was carefully
built around the tree, navigating stray
branches that could compromise the
project. Special floor lights highlight
the tree in its entirety, showcasing its
size while providing elegant lighting.
The integration of trees certainly
isn’t relegated to the center of the
space. Next to the kitchen is a wine
cooler with a bald cypress tree as a
display rack for their expansive wine
collection. The branches are fitted
with special bottle holders, so each
bottle of wine appears to be an extension
of the tree itself. The cooler was
designed with a temperature gauge,
protecting both the wine and the tree
from potential damage.
The beauty of wood is incorporated
throughout the kitchen as well, with
a long, live-edge bartop made from
black walnut and cabinets made from
ash wood. “It’s rare to see this much
ash used in a space,” the homeowner
says. “We were lucky to find it with so
much color and variation.”
Given the amounts of wood featured
throughout the space, most of
the design and additional features,
like the tiled kitchen backsplash, were
specifically chosen to accentuate the
natural effects. ➻
The trunk of the American elm stands
elegantly in the center of the pool house.
housetrends magazine 2024 55