The owners of a vintage Colonial had big plans for their half-acre lot. They enlisted Rolling Acres Landscaping to mastermind a project encompassing a pool and hot tub with a limestone deck, a pool house and a pergola sheltering an outdoor kitchen. Brick walls and stairs match the house while existing plantings have been repurposed.

A steep slope behind the house bottomed out in parkland, so a 20-foot-tall retaining wall was constructed to support the pool and pool house. “The original concept included a one-story structure,” recounts Rolling Acres’ John Hyman. “But we had a ‘eureka’ moment when we determined there was enough clearance below the pool deck for a lower level.” At the owners’ request, this space became a bay centered on virtual golf.

Architect Mark Giarraputo designed the 1,223-square-foot structure with a kitchenette, lounge area, bath and changing rooms. Bi-fold doors open out to the pool and a stair leads down to the golf simulator. “Harmonious, traditional architecture complements the house,” he says. “We kept the height low to be in scale with the small yard.”

Inviting interior spaces were conceived by designer Kelly Holland, who created a casually classic vibe in the lounge area with built-in cabinetry, walls covered in raffia by Thibaut and slip-covered seating. Mural panels from Carlisle & Co. enliven the golf room.

Landscape Architecture & Contracting: John Hyman, Rolling Acres Landscaping, Brinklow, Maryland. Pool House Architecture: Mark Giarraputo, AIA, Studio Z Design Concepts, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Kelly Holland, KPH Studio, Arlington, Virginia. Builder: Jason Evans, Acadia Renovations, Bethesda, Maryland.