"The architecture of the front of

the home lent itself to designing

the back," says Roberts. Behind

the white umbrella, the edge of the
infinity pool's waterfall forms a thin,
blue line. A full story below the pool,
a sitting area allows the parents a
place to hang out far enough away
from the house to not disturb the
sleeping children inside.

Below: "Ryan had this gorgeous
lakefront property on Upper Straits
Lake, but he didn't have access to
the water," says Roberts. He and
Lerman created tiers down to the
beach, 1,000 feet away, starting with
the lower-level walkout of the house
leading to the infinity-edge pool, with
a waterfall that cascades down to
the next tier, where a sitting area is
shaded by an umbrella. A fountain
sprays water into a middle-ground
half-moon pond.

The pool area was lowered by 4 feet from the existing house grade so that the edge
of the pool would blend with the lush backdrop, says Roberts, who designed the
pool, built by the Gillette Brothers in Troy, to echo the lines of the house's architec-
ture. An outdoor kitchen, not shown, is softened by family-friendly, organic-toned
and textured seating, chosen by Ashley Campbell, the Colorado-based designer who
created the home's interior. A custom-designed brushed aluminum gate corners
the deck, and the line is perpetuated by disappearing: The infinity edge of the pool
doubles as a fence safety system.

The rectilinear pool's spa is separated from the pool by a wall that is flush
with the water. Exposed aggregate concrete creates a naturally non-skid and
cooler surface for the deck.

Illuminated by low-energy LED lighting, another pathway, paved with woodchips and
shredded bark for Kesler's training, leads to the lake through existing preserved
wetland left natural and brushy.

June 13 • 2013

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