Banks Blue Valley Pool and Spa creates a breathtaking backyard sanctuary where modern elegance meets timeless beauty.
Story by Ann Butenas / Photography by Matt Kocourek
There’s something magical about stepping into a space that instantly transports you somewhere else entirely, a place where the stresses of daily life melt away and luxury becomes the only language spoken. For one local family who had recently moved into their new home, this vision of escape wasn’t found at a distant resort, but right in their own backyard, thanks to the artistic vision of Hoyt Banks and his team at Banks Blue Valley Pool and Spa.
What began as a desire for recreation, entertainment, and aesthetic enhancement evolved into something far more profound: a complete backyard renaissance that redefines what it means to live beautifully outdoors.
The Art of Water in Motion
The heart of this transformation beats with the rhythm of cascading water. Three LED sheer descent waterfalls descend from a dramatic accent wall, their surfaces catching and reflecting light in an ever-changing dance. These aren’t merely water features. They’re also living sculptures that transform the pool area into a showcase where water becomes the star performer.
The 18×36 gunite pool, finished in an elegant St. Martin shade plaster, provides the perfect canvas for this aquatic artistry. The sophisticated neutral tone creates depth and richness, while the pool’s carefully planned shape responds to both the natural geometry of the property and the homeowners’ vision for luxury amenities, including an integrated spa and automatic pool cover.
Within the spa’s innovative airwall design, the water seems to float effortlessly, creating a visual illusion that captivates from every angle. Custom jets provide therapeutic benefits while maintaining the clean, uncluttered aesthetic that defines the entire space. An LED bubbler nestled in the sun ledge adds gentle movement and sparkle.
Fire and Light: Nature’s Most Dramatic Elements
If water provides the soul of this outdoor sanctuary, the fire appointments represent its passionate heartbeat. Two Corinthian-style fire bowls crown the accent wall, their flames reaching towards the sky while casting warm, flickering shadows across the marble surfaces below. The juxtaposition of fire and water creates a mesmerizing visual conversation that captivates and inspires.
The custom-built fire table anchors a separate gathering area, its flames surrounded by elegant bench seating that invites intimate conversations under the stars. Here, the fire becomes a gathering point, a focal element that draws people together while providing both warmth and ambiance for evening entertaining.
As darkness falls, the entire space transforms through the magic of synchronized LED lighting. Color-changing lights throughout the pool, spa, and water features create coordinated light shows that can shift from serene blues and greens to vibrant purples and golds, allowing the homeowners to paint their backyard with light according to the mood and occasion.
A Tapestry of Textures and Tones
The foundation of this outdoor masterpiece lies in its sophisticated material palette. Three thousand square feet of sand-blasted marble pavers, laid in a classic Versailles pattern, create an expansive canvas that flows throughout the space. The light grey tones provide the perfect neutral backdrop, which is elegant enough to complement the home’s high-end finishes while allowing the water and fire features to command attention.
Extensive retaining walls frame the entire composition, creating defined spaces while adding architectural drama that’s particularly stunning from elevated viewpoints. These walls flow gracefully into the firepit area, where they terminate in the bench seating, creating a sense of journey and discovery as guests move through different zones of the outdoor space.
Large marble staircases add vertical interest and grandeur, their presence reinforcing the resort-like atmosphere while providing practical access between different levels of the hardscape spaces.
Seamless Sophistication
The genius of this design lies not just in its individual elements, but in how they work together to create a unified vision of outdoor luxury. The existing covered area received a complete renovation, featuring a new outdoor kitchen and revamped fireplace, all connected by the continuous marble paver treatment that visually links every space.
This three-season covered area, complete with heaters and screens, extends the pool environment’s usability throughout the year, ensuring that the beauty and functionality of the space can be enjoyed in any weather. The outdoor kitchen invites seamless entertaining, while the renovated fireplace provides another gathering point for cooler evenings.
Additionally, smart automation ensures all this beauty operates effortlessly. Pool functions, lighting schemes, and water features can be activated via smartphone commands or wireless remote control, allowing the homeowners to orchestrate their outdoor experience with the touch of a button. Energy-efficient systems and LED lighting throughout provide eco-conscious luxury without compromising on performance or visual impact.
The Sound of Luxury
Perhaps the most surprising element of this installation is what you hear, or rather, what you hear everywhere. Underwater speakers create an audio experience that flows seamlessly from poolside to pool bottom, enveloping swimmers and loungers alike in perfectly synchronized sound. Whether hosting a pool party or enjoying a solitary evening swim, the audio landscape adapts to enhance every moment.
Living the Dream
The homeowners speak of their backyard as creating an “oasis effect.” It provides the feeling of being transported to a world-class resort. As a result, they find themselves entertaining more frequently, spending considerably more time outdoors, and have also discovered that luxury isn’t just about having beautiful things, but about how those things enhance the quality of their lives. This modern classic design creates a space where every day feels like a vacation and every evening promises new discoveries in the interplay of light, water, fire, and stone.
Resources
- Pool and Patio: Banks Blue Valley Pool and Spa
- Landscaping: Skyton Outdoor Design & Living
- Outdoor Sound: Applause Custom Sight & Sound
