A POOLSIDE STAYCATION

Building a pool house opens up a whole new world right in your backyard, transforming the space behind your home into a destination and creating a staycation oasis for friends and family to enjoy. Though we normally remodel and renovate existing homes, this project was built from the ground up, giving us the opportunity to start with a clean palette and create a design and structure without limitations. The client requested a kitchen area and a large space for indoor gathering so that the pool house could be used all year long, not only in the summer. To accomplish this, one of the main focal points are the large doors that open up in the summer, bringing the outdoors in and vice versa, while in the colder months, the doors can be closed, maintaining enough space inside for entertaining.

One of the goals for this project was to create large rooms without overpowering the backyard. We accomplished this with low-pitched hip roofs in conjunction with a large gable roof, allowing us to create height with glass, so that the sky is still visible in the main room. This gives the feeling of grandeur without overpowering the sightlines from the main house. Placement of the new building was a paramount factor in order to blend well spatially with the main residence and the pool, while deliver- ing beautiful and functional design in a limited area. The final result is a vacation destination right outside the back door.

Gemmi Construction has been in business for over 25 years and we attribute much of our success to the relationships we have cultivated over time. We look forward to many more years of providing custom building and renovation services to homeowners in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Visit GemmiConstruction.com.

Paxson Hill Farm

The 32-acre Paxson Hills Farm is the home of a plant nursery, animals and an amazing garden that is considered one of the most beautiful and unique places to visit in Bucks County. The nursery grows various rare and exotic perennials, annuals and trees. The garden is open to the public for a $7.00 per person fee and includes shade gardens, formal gardens, ponds, bell garden, wing gardens, a place we call “never never land,” and there are always more unique gardens projects underway.

Strolls through the garden take you along interesting paths where you can encounter bridges, ponds blanketed with water lilies. There are also many ponds that have large koi. Colors change with the seasons and the design of the continually changing garden allows for variety and a feeling of leaving the ordinary and taking a journey. Many pleasant surprises await the lucky visitor around each bend. All you need to bring is your curiosity and sense of adventure.

Paxson Hill Farm is many things. It is a nursery, with a large inventory of plants of all kinds and sizes with a staff ready and able to help and where even rare and unusual plants can be found. It is also a place to get the services that include garden design, installation and renovation, pond and water feature installation, garden maintenance and tree removal. It’s owner, Bruce Gangawer, is well-known for designing and installing some of the best gardens in Bucks County including his own scenic gardens at Paxson Hill Farm. The garden is open for visitors from March 15 through November

24Paxson Hill Farm is located at 3265 Comfort Road, New Hope, Pennsylvania. For more information, call 215-297-1010 or visit www.paxsonhillfarm.com.