Date:  July 31, 2024  |   Story: Virginia Brown  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |  

Aquatic Oasis Pools and Spas helps transform a Little Rock family’s backyard into a frequent hangout

In the fall of 2020, Jennifer and Kevin Wilcox planned to overhaul the kitchen in their 1960s home when it hit them: Their two sons would soon graduate from high school and not be there to enjoy time together with family and friends. “We were saving money to remodel the kitchen, but we realized our oldest was heading off to college and we thought, Wow, we won’t have our kids much longer,” Jennifer says. “We really wanted a place where our sons could hang out with their friends, and we figured they wouldn’t really enjoy a new stove, but they’d enjoy a pool.”

They postponed the kitchen renovations and prioritized a backyard gathering place. After initial brainstorming sessions with Stewart Frazier of Aquatic Oasis Pools and Spas and ideas from Pinterest, the family decided on a rectangular concept with a few individualized elements. Jennifer, who loves to lay in the sun, wanted a tanning ledge, while Kevin opted for a soothing waterfall feature and dramatic fire bowls. Adding “sport pool” elements–like the ability to easily place a volleyball net mid-pool–was another wish, and the boys liked the idea of a firepit they could enjoy with friends. “We showed Stewart pictures of a sunken firepit that we thought was really cool, but it was his vision to balance a tanning ledge with the table, and then sink the pit in between,” Jennifer says.

The cobalt blue and white outdoor furnishings came as a surprise to Jennifer from a longtime friend. “I am not a designer, I don’t have design sense, and I was still teaching at the time, giving finals and getting ready to host a Europe trip with students,” she says. “I was overwhelmed and paralyzed by trying to figure out what to do.” One day while Jennifer was at school, her friend outfitted the whole area with accessories, just in time for her retirement party. “My husband had given her a budget, and she went and bought all the pillows and containers and flowers.”

After finishing the pool, they soon added a pavilion area. “What we love is that it’s year-round for us,” Jennifer says. “We had heaters installed, and we get a nice breeze off of the valley behind our house, so we sit out there and watch TV most nights. We’ve hosted the Catholic High offensive linemen for dinner, a birthday party for my niece, and other events,” Jennifer says. “We really believe that God’s blessed us, and we want to be able to share this with others.”

Creative Elements
Stewart had the idea to sink a small, square table into the pool. It’s now one of the family’s favorite elements. “My husband, who didn’t think he wanted a pool, is in it more than anyone,” Jennifer says. “He loves to sit at the table and read under the umbrella.”

A combination of pink hibiscus, cat palm, coleus, and dipladenia ‘Rio’ add colorful interest to the landscape.

Hot Amenities
Jennifer selected the marbled Arkansas and Oklahoma flagstone from Bennett Brothers Stone in Bryant. “I was drawn to the different colors,” she says. The family was also impressed with the work ethic and craftsmanship of the landscape design team at David Chappell Landscape & Design. “They cut all of the rock around the pool by hand with little saws and built the firepit,” Jennifer says, “and they were really incredible to watch. We’re nothing but pleased with the work.” Concrete fire bowls with a metallic copper finish provide a dramatic contrast to the soothing waterfall feature.

Design Resources
Contractor and pavilion design Hunter McMillen, Hunter McMillen Construction Landscape design and installation David Chappell, David Chappell Landscape & Design Pool design and installation Aquatic Oasis Pools and Spas Audiovisual InstallAV Outdoor furnishings Family Leisure Outdoor lighting Outdoor Lighting Perspectives Plantings (containers) Cantrell Gardens and The Good Earth Garden Center Plantings (beds) River Valley Horticultural Products Stone Bennett Brothers Stone