Rustic Elegance.

From a kitchen remodel to a backyard transformation.

Several years before the first stone was set on this pool house, John & Desi hired Duff Builders for something far more contained — a kitchen remodel anchored by a brick accent wall and authentic hand-hewn beams. That project laid the groundwork for an ongoing partnership.

With the kitchen complete and trust in place, the homeowners returned with a more ambitious vision: a pool and a complementary pool house in their backyard. The goal was a structure that would seamlessly match the aesthetic they had already curated inside their home — timeless character, modern functionality.

Early challenges were largely invisible: relocating an electrical feed to the detached garage, moving downspout drains and an irrigation well line, then bringing new gas, electrical, water, sewer, irrigation, and low-voltage communication lines to the site. Underground duct-work allowed the pool house to be discreetly heated and cooled from a dedicated mechanical room at the rear of the building.

Above ground, the homeowners wanted an open, airy gathering space that reflected the character of traditional timber framing. Hand-hewn oak and chestnut beams — sourced and matched by species through countless hours of sorting reclaimed barn stock — provide the dramatic visual impact, while modern engineering carries the load. The centerpiece is a generously sized wood-burning fireplace built to a modified Rumford design, chosen for its efficient draw as much as its presence. Multi-glide doors span the front elevation, opening the entire wall to blend indoor and outdoor living. Brick accents — soldier courses above the windows and a wall wrapping the pool equipment — tie the pool house back to the main residence using a discontinued York County brick the homeowners tracked down on the West Coast and had shipped to the site.