The Pool House

An overlooked building given a valuable new life as guest accommodation.

The project

The Pool House was a complete transformation of an existing ancillary building into beautiful, self-contained guest accommodation with the potential to generate an income as an Airbnb.

For me, this project was about seeing the value in a building that was already there and completely reimagining what it could become.

Location · Shropshire

Project · Pool house to guest accommodation

Completion · 2025

Potential · Guest use & income-generating holiday let

Services · Architecture · Interior design · Sourcing · Styling

A character of its own

The Pool House lounge with a green velvet daybed, antique bench and exposed timber beams — Self-contained guest accommodation designed to feel considered, welcoming and characterful

From the outset, I developed the concept around creating a space that felt considered, welcoming and characterful rather than simply functional guest accommodation. I wanted the Pool House to have its own identity and to create somewhere that guests would genuinely want to stay.

The transformation gave an existing building an entirely new purpose: turning an underused Pool House into beautiful guest accommodation that could work much harder for the property, both as somewhere for friends and family to stay and as an income-generating holiday let.

Warmly lit Pool House bedroom with a timber bed, layered cushions and exposed beams — A restful bedroom shaped by rich colour, natural timber and layered textiles

Pool House bedroom with a timber sleigh bed, wicker chest and patterned rug — Character carried through every layer of the guest experience

Detail of the Pool House bed with green, tartan and rust cushions against a dark wall — A tactile palette designed to feel relaxed and inviting

Hands-on from concept to completion

I took the project from initial concept design right through to completion, and my involvement was incredibly hands-on. Alongside the architectural and interior design, I sourced the fixtures, fittings and finishing details, worked through the practical decisions as the project developed, and styled the finished space ready for its first guests.

I even painted much of the space myself — which perhaps says more than anything about how personally invested I became in seeing the original vision carried right through to the finished result.

The completed Pool House kitchenette with green joinery, oak worktop and a central window — Architecture, interiors, sourcing and styling carried through as one coherent vision

A closer look

Brushed brass kitchen tap, timber worktop and white kettle beside the Pool House window — Warm metalwork and natural timber bring depth to the compact kitchen

Pool House kitchenette corner with a wall clock, wicker baskets and green cabinetry — Useful storage is integrated without losing the room's character

Pool House daybed corner with dark green walls, framed art and layered blue and rust cushions — Antique pieces and rich textiles give the lounge a collected feel

Induction hob, oak worktop and styled shelf in the Pool House kitchenette — Simple practical details sit comfortably within the tonal scheme

Large framed mirror reflecting the Pool House bed and exposed timber beams — Reflections extend the sense of space and draw the scheme together

Pool House daybed with green velvet cover, patterned rug and antique upholstered bench — A flexible place to sit, unwind and accommodate an additional guest

Antique writing desk styled against a deep green wall in the Pool House — Existing furniture gives the new accommodation its own sense of history

Front view of the Pool House writing desk with brass lamps and planting — A quiet workspace framed by warm timber and greenery

Pool House kitchenette with oak worktop, green cabinetry and a view through to the adjoining room — The rooms connect as one coherent and carefully considered interior

Finding value in what is already there

It represents something that sits at the heart of the way I approach architecture: before building something new, I always look carefully at what is already there and ask what else it could become.

Garages, outbuildings, annexes and forgotten ancillary spaces can hold enormous potential. With intelligent design and a little imagination, they can become additional accommodation, working spaces or revenue-generating assets — often without adding any new footprint at all.

The Pool House is a lovely example of exactly that: seeing the potential in an overlooked building and turning it into something genuinely valuable.

Writing desk in the Pool House beside open glazed doors leading to the garden — The reimagined building feels connected to its setting and ready for guests

Relevant if this sounds familiar

Commercial design →
Architecture & Interior Design Combined →
The Elephant Underground →

What else could your building become?

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