Several months ago, when it was still warm and the thought of getting in a pool was nice,  my client approached me about turning their existing pool house into a Cantina. A comfortable oasis in the country was their desire. Construction had begun but quickly slowed down when some difficult decisions had to be made. How were we going to finish the beams, the ceiling, the columns, the cabinets… and make them all look good together?

The overall size was determined by the space available next to the pool and the existing pool house. Instead of continuing the pool decking into the space, bricks were laid and the joints were filled with sand instead of grout. Beams were constructed, the roof was added. Now what?

To achieve the comfortable Cantina feel, we stained the boards on the ceiling a soft grey and stained the beams a mid grey tone. The trim and columns were painted white and the cabinets were painted a warm taupe. Custom designed tile and granite countertops warmed the cabinets at one end of the Cantina while outdoor furniture created a cozy seating group on the other end. Lighting was very important since the main source of light would come from either inside the Cantina or from the stars above. (Being in the country means no street lights!) Down lights and sconces were purchased from The Lighting Source and installed with perfection.

The style and placement of the furniture was determined and ordered. Covers for the upholstery were also ordered not only to protect the cushions from the outdoor elements but also to protect them from the family pets! Comfort was top priority when it came to the furniture and the colors used on the upholstery were inspired by my clients’ recent trip.

Welcome to the Cantina in the middle of the country!

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