Our Little Oasis In Maury County

By Katie Baker

Only in Tennessee can you enjoy the outdoor space your home has to offer year-round. Bill and Cindy Toler already had a stunning back porch overlooking the valleys of south Columbia, but there was one, albeit wet, element missing- the pool. Having built 5 pools at various homes they have owned over the years, the Toler set out, pre-covid, to build their dream backyard poolscape and aptly named it, “Our Little Oasis”.

Taking inspiration from their travels to Key West, the Tolers set out to design a pool and entertaining area that brought an airy, tropical vibe to their hilltop home. Their design concepts were discussed with Peek Pools, of the famed HGTV show “Pool Kings,’ and the dream backyard the Tolers envisioned came to life. Cindy’s best piece of advice for anyone putting in a pool, “Do your research. Look at other people’s pools, watch Pool Kings, and build what works best for your lifestyle.”

Most pools are relatively simple to build- a flat piece of land is dug out and a bean or rectangular pool is dropped in its place. However, the Tolers backyard on a hilltop meant the entire design would be modified for 2 levels to take advantage of the sweeping views of Maury County. The top level is dotted with plush seating areas from Family Leisure in Franklin and is divided by a dual use hot tub or baby pool depending on the weather. When turned on the hot tub creates a waterfall across ocean blue tiles into the gunite pool below. Pops of blue furniture dot the travertine landscape along with a mix of eclectic outdoor décor collected from the Tolers many travel adventures over the years.

The lower tier of the backyard is where the real fun begins. A salt water infinity pool, kept at a comfortable 83 degrees, is accentuated by a ledge lounge area on one end and a curved swim-up bar on the opposite side. Cindy uses the lounge deck as her reading nook most days as a way to stay cool in the water while still enjoying the view. The swim-up bar overlooks the outdoor kitchen and bar which makes serving guests a breeze.

The Tolers intend for this to be their retirement home so they made sure to include every wish list convenience they could think of when creating the covered kitchen and bar area. The stacked stone and granite counters were finished with True brand appliances including an Artisan grill, fridge, and ice maker to refresh the sunset cocktails guests are invited to enjoy. Retractable blinds shade the sun when friends gather around the outdoor tv and Lasko space heaters keep revelers warm when the cooler temps come into play. 

The entire Key West concept was executed flawlessly, but nothing can compare to the sunsets that grace the Tolers “Little Oasis”. As day turns to night the fire bowls flanking the infinity pool light up in spectacular fashion against the brilliance of a Tennessee sunset. For fun, the Tolers will activate an advanced lighting system in the gunite pool to change the underwater glow from cool blue to a Mardi Gras parade of colors. It’s easy to turn the backyard from a tranquil respite into a rockin’ good time depending on the mood and company on hand. 

The Tolers backyard was completed in about 9 months time and right as COVID began to hit the scene. Nowadays a new pool may take up to 18 months to build as the stay home orders escalated the decision for many homeowners to build a pool in their backyard. At one time in real estate pools were thought to add little value to a home as they required too much upkeep, but current market closing stats show that in Maury County homes with a pool saw on average a 15% increase in value between 2020-2021. 

If there was a way to match a backyard pool to a couple’s personality then Peek Pools successfully made that happen for the Tolers. “Our Little Oasis”  can be enjoyed as a calm escape or a place to kick up their heels and enjoy good times with the people the Tolers love the most. “We wanted it to be a peaceful getaway for ourselves, but we also really love to have our (pod) friends and family over. The memories we make back here are what we enjoy the most,” said Cindy Toler.

 

Credit:
Landscaper: Landscape Management
Pool: Peek Pools
Photos: Holly Dobbs Photography
Owners: Cindy & Bill Toler