Unobstructed water views, an infinity pool that seems to disappear into the bay and endless pink-sky sunsets are reasons enough to love this stunning Bonita Springs home. The star of this home’s outdoor living space, though, waits below the main pool deck. At the end of the stairwell, you’re greeted by a 14-foot water wall with a mosaic tile backsplash cascading down from the pool to a cozy seating area in the waterfront backyard.
Michael Diamond, of Diamond Custom Homes, says the water wall wasn’t a part of the original plan. Because the home sits in a flood zone, Diamond and Architectural Land Design’s Christian Andrea positioned the pool on the elevated first floor of the house, leaving behind a blank wall. Like painting a canvas, the team filled the wall with varying blue tiles to create a shimmering pattern that mirrors the surrounding water.
The 27-by-15-foot saltwater pool was constructed with durable gunite and features a submerged spa and natural stone deck. Building a pool on the second level, Diamond says, was a bit of an engineering feat, requiring pilings to support the structure. Complicated construction aside, the outcome is spectacular, engendering a seamless indoor-outdoor flow heightened by vistas of the bay.
Inside, the great room opens to an expansive covered lanai—with an outdoor kitchen, dining area and living room with a fireplace—which leads onto the pool deck. A metal railing with cable detail surrounds the space and is echoed on the steps to the ground level and on balconies throughout. All of it comes together to guide the attention back to the water—just as it should.
Photo by Tina Sargeant