Photo: Christopher Sturman
After suffering through another cold winter and rainy spring, there’s nothing I crave more than a midsummer day trip to the beach. By the time late July rolls around, though, the reality of the beach sets in. First there’s the commute itself, then, dealing with lugging all of my stuff out to the sand, and the less than pleasant bathrooms… not to mention the overpriced boardwalk food. The goalposts quickly move from a simple day on the sand to craving a pool of one’s own—not so far removed from ice cold drinks in the refrigerator, an air conditioned sanctuary, and maybe even some luxe cabanas too. There’s truly no competition.
For now, I’m stuck with only dreaming about poolside life from my sandy towel. Ogling other people’s pools will have to do! Below are the very sexiest pools in AD Open Door history, from Emma Roberts’s storybook setup to Diplo’s cantilevered retreat over the Jamaican jungle.
Ellen Pompeo’s Midcentury moment
When you go for a visit to a Malibu beach house, chances are, a dip in the pool is the first thing you’re after. Ellen Pompeo’s Martyn Lawrence Bullard–designed SoCal home has one situated in the interior courtyard just past the entrance gate, making it simple for guests to dive in immediately upon their arrival. It’s easy to imagine a cozy day of secluded sunbathing on those punchy pink daybeds inside the Grey’s Anatomy star’s teak-enclosed courtyard. Plus with a terrazzo-topped bar in one corner, there’s no reason to venture inside, even for refreshments.
Anitta’s party pool
At Brazilian singer Anitta’s Rio De Janeiro home by Studio Ro+Ca, the pool is just one part of the party atmosphere. The entire pad is crafted to accommodate large gatherings of family and friends, and that design ethos doesn’t stop once you get outside. Anitta wanted the outdoor area to allot plenty of real estate to poolside dancing—shaving off some square footage from the pool itself in the process, but amping up the overall energy of the patio. After a hot night of grooving and outdoor dining, who couldn’t use a quick lap or two?
Diplo’s Jamaican jungle jewel
You may gravitate to the water no mater where you’re staying in Jamaica. But at Diplo’s Jamaica home, fashioned by Brooklyn-based firm Freecell Architecture and architectural designer Gia Wolff, that pull is even stronger. The water is visible from many of the modernist concrete dwelling’s rooms, offering eye candy even on the days one is refraining from a dip. (Though, why would you?) The siren call of the water even manages to reach upstairs, resulting in dives from the second-floor balcony on particularly hot days, as the DJ himself demonstrates in AD’s 2024 Open Door tour.
Devin Booker’s desert dream
There’s perhaps no one more entitled to referring to a pool as “great for recovery” than an NBA player. This is the utilitarian purpose of the pool at Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker’s desert residence (imagined by AD100 firm Clements Design). The water sits at the center of the courtyard between his primary home and the property’s guest house. Still, he uses it plenty for “entertainment” too; a projector screen descends from the home’s roof line and is fully visible while soaking in the pool, the hot tub, or from one of the loungers. For more lowkey alfresco relaxation, a long fire pit flanks one end of the pool while views of the mountain range can be seen if you turn in the opposite direction. Not a bad place to unwind…whether or not you’re fresh from dropping 70 points in a single game.
Jared and Genevieve Padalecki’s Texas splash-zone
When Jared and Genevieve Padalecki moved into their Texas farmhouse (customized in collaboration with designer Virginia Davidson), the backyard was unruly. They transformed the outdoor area into a tiered, multifunctional space—all leading to the pool area. Enveloped by mature trees, the pool feels like a little secret in the middle of the forest. That doesn’t mean it’s without modern comforts, though. A built-in covered banquette offers a place to cool down on particularly sunny days and a wet bar with its own kegerator makes sure that the adults enjoy themselves just as much as the kids.
Emma Robert’s fantasyland
Emma Roberts told AD she wanted her Pierce & Ward–designed Los Angeles home to feel like a “grown-up dollhouse,” and her swimming pool setup extends that cutesy fantasy outdoors. Surrounded by rocks, the pool looks like a Disney-esque fantasy of a lake—sans all the undesirable qualities of swimming in dark waters. Whether you’re actually taking a dip or just lounging poolside, it’s a charming sight with a far different vibe from the typical modernist infinity pools of LA.
Daveed Diggs and Emmy Raver-Lampman’s relaxed retreat
One of the best parts of Southern California living is year-round sunshine, so why not outfit your home with a pool? Actors Daveed Diggs and Emmy Raver-Lampman noticed they weren’t getting much use out of their property’s backyard, but after adding a swimming pool and deck, they are (naturally) out there everyday. In AD’s 2021 tour of the home—which the duo decorated in collaboration with designer Mandy Cheng—Raver-Lampman jokes that you can count on finding Diggs napping in the cabana adjacent to the pool each day. Considering that zen setup, we’re definitely not judging.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
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