Waterfront Estate Pool & Garden Restoration: A Complete 1950s Revival
Transforming a 75-year-old pool, historic formal garden, and modernist pool house into a stunning waterfront oasis
When we undertook this comprehensive restoration project at a prestigious King’s Point estate, we weren’t just renovating a swimming pool—we were bringing an entire 1950s waterfront vision back to life. The original pool, built in 1950, had served the family for three-quarters of a century but required complete reconstruction to meet modern standards while honoring its mid-century heritage. Equally important was the restoration and enhancement of the modernist pool house, a sleek glass pavilion that serves as the outdoor living space’s architectural anchor.
The Pool Restoration Challenge
The centerpiece of this project was the complete renovation of the 1950s swimming pool overlooking Long Island Sound. After 75 years of faithful service, the pool’s infrastructure had reached the end of its lifespan. The original concrete shell showed significant structural wear, the mechanical systems were obsolete, and the surrounding deck and coping required total replacement.
What We Found
- Deteriorated concrete shell with multiple crack patterns
- Failing filtration equipment that couldn’t meet current efficiency standards
- Weather-damaged decking and coping materials
- Safety features that no longer met contemporary codes
Project Gallery:
The Complete Reconstruction
This wasn’t a simple renovation—it was a ground-up rebuild that required gutting the entire structure down to its foundation. Our team completely reconstructed the pool shell using modern reinforcement techniques and materials designed to withstand decades of coastal exposure.
The new plumbing and electrical systems incorporate state-of-the-art filtration technology while remaining completely hidden from view. We upgraded all safety features and accessibility elements to current codes without compromising the pool’s elegant aesthetic.
Pool House Transformation: Mid-Century Modern Meets Timeless Luxury
The modernist pool house presented unique restoration challenges. The original glass pavilion structure, while architecturally striking, needed significant updates to improve both functionality and year-round usability. Our approach honored the building’s clean-lined modernist aesthetic while adding substantial new elements.
The Enhancement Strategy
We maintained the pool house’s signature floor-to-ceiling glass walls and flat roof design, ensuring the structure’s transparency and connection to the landscape remained intact. However, we added a dramatic stone wall feature that provides both visual weight and practical benefits.
The new stone wall creates a stunning backdrop for the glass pavilion while housing a new fireplace and chimney system. This addition allows the space to function comfortably during cooler months while adding architectural gravitas that balances the structure’s lightweight glass components.
Modern Comfort in a Classic Framework
Inside the restored pool house, we installed contemporary climate control systems, updated electrical and plumbing infrastructure, and created flexible spaces for both casual relaxation and formal entertaining. The stone wall’s fireplace becomes a focal point for evening gatherings, while the glass walls maintain unobstructed views of both the pool and Long Island Sound beyond.
Design Philosophy: Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future
The renovation seamlessly blends the property’s 1950s heritage with contemporary luxury and functionality. We refined the pool’s geometry to enhance both its visual appeal and swimming experience while maintaining the clean, sophisticated lines that define mid-century modern design.
The material palette was carefully selected to complement the estate’s existing architecture. Premium coping and decking materials not only withstand the harsh coastal environment but actually improve with age, developing a subtle patina that enhances the waterfront setting’s natural beauty. The addition of natural stone elements creates a bridge between the modernist structures and the traditional formal garden.
The Formal Garden Restoration
While the pool renovation anchored this project, we also restored the estate’s historic formal parterre garden. This early 20th-century garden had fallen into disrepair over the decades, with overgrown boxwood hedges obscuring its elegant geometric patterns and pathways showing significant deterioration.
Our restoration process included:
- Carefully reshaping century-old boxwood hedges back to their original geometric precision
- Rebuilding gravel pathways with proper drainage and base preparation
- Restoring the central fountain with modern pumping systems
- Addressing underlying drainage issues throughout the terraced garden
- Rebuilding brick stairways using period-appropriate materials
Creating Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Living
The completed renovation creates a resort-quality environment that maximizes the spectacular Long Island Sound views. The restored pool house now serves as a true outdoor living room, with the stone fireplace extending the space’s usability through three seasons. Modern outdoor furniture and carefully curated landscaping frame both the pool and the restored formal garden, creating distinct zones for relaxation and entertainment.
The pool area now serves as the perfect transition between the estate’s sophisticated interior spaces and the natural beauty of the waterfront setting. From the water, swimmers enjoy unobstructed views across the Sound, while the pool deck provides multiple vantage points for appreciating both the restored garden’s intricate patterns and the ever-changing maritime landscape.
Technical Excellence Meets Timeless Design
This project demonstrates how thoughtful renovation can honor architectural heritage while delivering cutting-edge performance. Every system—from filtration to lighting to irrigation—incorporates the latest technology, yet remains completely invisible, allowing the design’s timeless elegance to take center stage.
The pool’s new mechanical systems operate with whisper-quiet efficiency, while LED lighting systems provide both safety and ambiance without disrupting the estate’s refined aesthetic. The pool house’s new HVAC and fireplace systems are fully integrated into the modernist structure without compromising its clean architectural lines.
The Ultimate Waterfront Retreat
The transformation from a failing 1950s pool, neglected garden, and outdated pool house to this stunning waterfront oasis represents months of meticulous planning and execution. The result is more than just a renovated pool—it’s a complete outdoor living environment that honors the past while embracing the future.
This King’s Point estate now boasts a pool, garden, and pool house combination that rivals the world’s finest resort destinations, all while maintaining the intimate scale and sophisticated character that makes it the perfect private retreat. The seamless integration of modernist architecture, formal garden design, and contemporary luxury creates an outdoor environment that functions beautifully year-round.
Completed June 2025, this project showcases our expertise in historic pool restoration, architectural renovation, and comprehensive landscape design. Contact our team to discuss how we can transform your waterfront property into the ultimate luxury retreat.
