With an East Coast vibe, this newly revamped outdoor space matches the homeowners’ home remodel. “My goal was to design an outdoor space that translated just as well with what was inside,” notes the designer.
That sensibility is apparent in the expansive terraced backyard of this Medina, Washington, home, where a pool, cabana, multiple seating areas, and layered landscaping unfold as if they were there all along.
Designer Marianne Simon was first hired by the homeowners more than a decade ago to design their main residence, an approximately 8,000-square-foot home that nods to the light-colored, shingle-clad Cape Cod style and the elevated beachside aesthetic of the Hamptons. “I’m very traditionalist at heart,” Simon says. “I stick to the classics.”
When the family was ready to complete their backyard, a large lot they had initially envisioned for a pool and adjoining cabana, Simon already understood their taste and priorities. She was joined by the home’s architect, Jim Dearth of Ripple Design Studio, and Steve Bender of Bender Wasenmiller Custom Builders, who acted as the project manager back in 2010, to create a year-round, multiuse space.
“It was a concept we had from the very beginning,” says the homeowner. The project, which also included an addition to their second-story primary closet, was a chance to “bring the whole team back together again.” Plus, now that their children are older, they could all enjoy the outdoor area.
When it came to crafting the yard, it was about reimagining it to feel like a private, inward space. The yard subtly slopes and requires a careful approach with graduated steps that begin flush and descend into the landscape, encouraging circulation and exploration. Material continuity was also essential, further instilling the new build’s connection to the main house. There is Pennsylvania bluestone, ocean pearl flagstone, and stone caps that reference East Coast fieldstone walls and historic paving. “It’s been used on sidewalks on the East Coast as paving for hundreds of years,” says landscape architect Scott Holsapple. “It’s durable and doesn’t tend to stain.”
Holsapple added to that Atlantic throughline with white hydrangeas, roses, wild geraniums, and Taylor juniper. “It has a blue tinge to the foliage, is not prone to disease, and doesn’t grow as wide,” Holsapple explains of the juniper. It also allows for privacy without sacrificing lawn space, as their nearest neighbor is just over the hedge line. When he was first hired, some of the client’s trees weren’t in the best shape, so a revamp was in order.
Past the pool is the 600-square-foot cabana, a structure that houses pool equipment, storage, and a compact pool bathroom. “We wanted the cabana to reflect the architecture of the main house in both material and detail, not for overall compatibility but to extend the feeling of the built environment around three sides of the pool terrace. This opens to the landscape and the afternoon sun,” says architect Jim Dearth. Inside, the designer chose light-colored wood, marble, and geometric tile for elegant simplicity, creating an area that is perfectly sized for its use and achieves the Cape Cod look to a T. “I just want it to feel like someone could walk in, say, 10 to 15 years from now feeling like it looks just as fresh,” she says.
Construction began several years ago but was delayed by pandemic shutdowns and significant site challenges. The project required building an access road around the site to bring in construction equipment. Utilities had to be relocated, storm drainage reworked, and finished portions of the home carefully protected while work continued behind it. While working on the main house and backyard at the same time wasn’t necessarily the ideal plan, both have come together in a way that’s made all involved thrilled.
“This whole thing took over a year, maybe even longer,” Bender says. Still, he emphasizes that strong collaboration made the complexity manageable. “The relationship with the team is critical from a communications standpoint.” The client agrees, noting that your renovation team becomes “part of your family,” a presence that makes inevitable delays easier to navigate.
By its completion, the family was finally ready to utilize their yard. “We had a pool party, and all got in even though it was 38 degrees outside,” he says.
Today, the backyard is in constant use, from wreath-making parties to sitting outdoors amid heaters and fireplace. Even in the chillier months, there are always people in the pool. With three children and a steady rotation of friends, the space has become a social anchor. “Our house is the house everyone congregates to,” the client adds. “That’s what you want as a parent.”
The home and its pool house are an homage to East Coast style, West Coast ease, and how a team of talented artisans and tradespeople can make even a lengthy renovation well worth it.
PROJECT SOURCES 
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
SHD Landscape Architecture
shd-la.com
ARCHITECT
Ripple Design Studio
rippledesignstudio.com
INTERIOR DESIGN
Marianne Simon Design
mariannesimondesign.com
CONTRACTOR
Bender Wasenmiller Custom Builders
benderwasenmiller.com
WINDOWS & DOORS
Cherry Creek Windows & Doors
cherrycreekwindows.com
