My Houzz: Happy Update for a Weathered Pool House
A New York glassware artist revamps the cozy pool house where she works and entertains
Rikki Snyder
October 13, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Professional photographer and stylist specializing in food, products, still life and interiors. Contributing home tour photographer and writer for Houzz.
Houzz Contributor. Professional photographer and stylist specializing in food, products,... More
Pool House at a Glance
Who lives here: Bette Hestle and her cats, Mr. Bud and Claudette
Location: Great Valley, New York
Size: 385 square feet (36 square meters), with a powder room
Glassware artist Bette Hestle of Golden Hill Studio lives on a sprawling 100 acres in western New York. On the lush, wooded property is her updated 1850s farmhouse, as well as a swimming pool and pool house, which she uses for entertaining and work.
Hestle moved into the farmhouse in 1977 and installed and built the pool and pool house in 1999. After 19 years of wear and tear, it was time to renovate the pool house.
Who lives here: Bette Hestle and her cats, Mr. Bud and Claudette
Location: Great Valley, New York
Size: 385 square feet (36 square meters), with a powder room
Glassware artist Bette Hestle of Golden Hill Studio lives on a sprawling 100 acres in western New York. On the lush, wooded property is her updated 1850s farmhouse, as well as a swimming pool and pool house, which she uses for entertaining and work.
Hestle moved into the farmhouse in 1977 and installed and built the pool and pool house in 1999. After 19 years of wear and tear, it was time to renovate the pool house.
Hestle relaxes with her cat Mr. Bud outside. “Even in bad weather you can enjoy the views,” she says. Hestle is an artist who specializes in hand-painted glassware and home decor. She had the exterior of the pool house painted in Red Barn by Sherwin-Williams.
The pergola and patio in front are used often during the warmer months. “I have had some wonderful meals there with friends,” Hestle says. “Good food and drink and lots of deer with their babies in the pasture. Heaven!”
The remodel was prompted by a wintertime leak that left the kitchen cabinets damaged. “So with that ‘little nudge,’ I decided to completely overhaul it, and all of the windows were replaced as well. Time had not been kind to them,” Hestle says. The leak occurred because the sink hadn’t been properly shut down for the cold season. “We get minus zero degrees during the winter and so the pipes burst — a mess!” Hestle says.
Before: The homeowner drew inspiration from images she found online and laid out her new kitchen with detailed notes. Hestle knew she wanted something simple, clean and understated.
She hired general contractor Tom Welch to help with the two-week remodel. “Tom Welch and his helper Dale did the complete renovation, from stripping everything and then painting, installing the cabinets, plumbing,” Hestle says.
Here, Tom, left, and Dale are seen at work on the kitchen.
She hired general contractor Tom Welch to help with the two-week remodel. “Tom Welch and his helper Dale did the complete renovation, from stripping everything and then painting, installing the cabinets, plumbing,” Hestle says.
Here, Tom, left, and Dale are seen at work on the kitchen.
After: “The new layout of the kitchen makes working simple and easy,” Hestle says. She chose white Shaker-style cabinets and granite countertops. “I did not want to get superexpensive cabinets as it is only seasonal use in this northern climate,” she says.
The total cost of the renovation was $6,500, including labor, new windows, paint and the cabinets and countertops.
The total cost of the renovation was $6,500, including labor, new windows, paint and the cabinets and countertops.
Welch built the island based on several ideas that Hestle researched and combined. “Designing the peninsula added a lot more working space,” she says. “It also doubles as a place to eat and works well as a buffet counter. Plus there is a lot of extra storage room underneath.”
Hestle spent a lot of time looking at and testing different shades of blue paint to make the island stand out from the rest of the cabinetry. “I wanted bright but not too bright, and I think this worked great,” she says. Her pick was Agave by Behr.
7 Sophisticated Blues for Your Kitchen Cabinets
Hestle spent a lot of time looking at and testing different shades of blue paint to make the island stand out from the rest of the cabinetry. “I wanted bright but not too bright, and I think this worked great,” she says. Her pick was Agave by Behr.
7 Sophisticated Blues for Your Kitchen Cabinets
The new kitchen is simple yet highly functional. Guests can gather around the island when Hestle entertains. She also uses the space for photo shoots of her glassware creations. Pictured here are pieces from her first collection, Peruvian Splendor.
“I knew that I was working with a very small area, so it was very important to utilize the space to the very best advantage,” Hestle says. “The bottom corner cabinet has a lazy Susan, and I love it, as there is no wasted space or areas where you cannot get to something.”
She chose black granite countertops for their clean lines, to complement the style of the cabinets.
Kitchen Countertops: Granite for Incredible Longevity
She chose black granite countertops for their clean lines, to complement the style of the cabinets.
Kitchen Countertops: Granite for Incredible Longevity
Colorful original ceramics are displayed on a hutch from Hestle’s parents’ house in Tennessee. “I use lots of bright colors at the pool. I think it makes it such a fun and cheerful place,” she says.
Hestle tried to maximize the number of cabinets to add as much storage as possible.
“Even though it is quite small it is comfortable,” Hestle says. The pool house has room for a small seating area. “I chose lightweight wicker chairs that have an ‘airy’ feeling. I thought this was important so as to not feel cramped or cluttered,” Hestle says. “Also a great place for guests to sit and chat while the meal is being prepared.”
Before: The pool house’s electrical system includes filters, heaters and computer electronics.
After: New sliding doors conceal the wires and machinery, which were previously hidden behind curtains. “I had my contractor build a sliding wall in front of the computer readout part of the system,” she says. “So it is simple to see the control panel and make adjustments as needed.” She had additional shelving installed as well.
The pool house also includes a small powder room.
The pool house also includes a small powder room.
These frames display photographs of past parties and favorite family memories. “My most favorite is the one of my father at the beach. It was taken in 1986 at Edisto Beach, South Carolina, where I used to go with my family every year,” Hestle says. “Dad is sitting on the deck with a beer at 9 in the morning and he looks so happy! Quite different from the suit he wore most days.”
Hestle loves her views of the surrounding landscape and has turned her expansive green getaway destination into one she gets to experience every day. She enjoys watching deer, raccoons and the occasional bear in the fields where her horses once roamed.
More: See the homeowner’s updated 1850s farmhouse gem and tour the lush, wooded setting of her live-work home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
More: See the homeowner’s updated 1850s farmhouse gem and tour the lush, wooded setting of her live-work home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
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such a lovely place : white wood, wicker, blue, lots of plants and a great view. What else do you need (ah yes, a swimsuit !). Beautiful remodel, thank you for sharing.
I love all the colorful dishes and glassware that is displayed. Love it. Definitely a place to be happy in.