SwimmingPool

The Classicist: Tanglewood Conservatories, Turn-of-the-Century Style

Filed under: Decor, Estates, The Classicist

Beginning in the 18th century, English country houses had glass-paned orangeries where exotic plants, flowers and citrus trees flourished throughout the cooler months, providing a haven from the elements for their inhabitants and spaces for entertaining in summer. Their popularity surged during the 19th century when new construction techniques allowed for ever more fantastical structures, but they pretty much disappeared as tastes and styles changed in more modern times. At Tanglewood Conservatories, on the Eastern Shore area of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, Alan Stein, Nancy Virts and co. aim to recreate some of that bygone elegance. The company designs and builds bespoke turn-of-the-century domes, conservatories, greenhouses and swimming pool enclosures in high style.

Every structure is made by hand at the Tanglewood atelier, and the prices, starting at $175,000, reflect the time, attention and high quality materials that goes into their construction. They can be added to existing houses and mansions or built as part of brand new estates, like this incredible spread in Washington. Some of their well-known clients include Eddie Murphy, director / producer Ron Howard, the Dallas Cowboys' Don Abbey, late Lazard Freres CEO Bruce Wasserstein and interior designer Mario Buatta. Each creation is totally unique; Tanglewood never repeats the same design twice. The fit and finish of a Tanglewood conservatory has more in common with fine furniture than carpentry. Usually constructed of solid mahogany, these are intricate, complex, highly detailed structures, some large enough to hold fully-grown trees. The company also constructs glass and copper domes, roof lanterns and skylights in virtually any size, shape and design.

Gallery: Tanglewood Conservatories

The Victorians regarded the conservatory as nothing short of a triumph of architecture over nature. Swimming pool enclosures might seem a more modern innovation, but in fact the tradition of building extraordinary structures to enclose both public and private swimming pools is in even older, dating to the great Roman balnea or thermae. Most Roman cities had at least one such building, which was central to the public life of its citizens. Most private villas also included a bath house. The opulent pool enclosure pictured above was constructed for an estate in Kentucky. Tanglewood's sensitivity to form, proportion, materials and detail is evident in its pleasing lines. Their craftsmen are heirs to a 300-year-old craft and woodworking tradition, especially in an area with a long history in boatbuilding. See the gallery for more examples of Tanglewood's high-end designs in various styles.

Tags: architecture, conservatory, Eddie Murphy, EddieMurphy, garden, greenhouse, Maryland, swimming pool, SwimmingPool, Tanglewood Conservatories, TanglewoodConservatories

Maui's New Adults-Only Pool

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

It was under construction when I visited this past February, but The Four Seasons Maui at Wailea has just opened a major new feature at the resort: a new infinity-edge saltwater pool, surrounded by a 4,100 square foot terrace -- all of it ocean front, with views of Lanai and West Maui Mountains.

They're calling it the Serenity Pool, and that's because it's adults only (over 21) so no irritating splish-splash-marco-polo-ing from the wee ones. (Kids can use the other lovely pool that's not that far away.)

The new Serenity Pool has underwater music, four bubble loungers, two hot tubs, and a walk-up and swim-up bar. You can arrange for massages and facials pool side.

There are also six 160 square foot cabanas available for daily rental, with internet access, ceiling fans, couches, chaise lounges, flat screen HDTVs. And for the workaholics among us, the cabanas also offer WiFi and wired internet access. There's also a laptop safe if you feel ready to put down the computer and take a dip.

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Tags: hotels, maui, swimming pool, SwimmingPool

Thompson LES Still Delayed But Pool Pics Surface

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Despite the notorious delays of the Thompson LES (as in Lower East Side) hotel, the latest in hotelier Jason Pomeranc's lineup of luxury sleepover parties, a few teaser pics have surfaced thanks to Men.Style.com. Above is the LES pool, complete with a triptych of Andy Warhol photolithographed to the bottom. Now scheduled to open July 29, Thompson LES was designed by architect Ed Rawlings and sits high at 190 Allen Street, eighteen stories reminding the neighborhood that the times they are a-changin'.

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Tags: andy warhol, AndyWarhol, lower east side, LowerEastSide, swimming pool, SwimmingPool, thompson hotels, thompson les, ThompsonHotels, ThompsonLes