60 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • AUGUST 2018
POSH INSIDE JOB POOLS:
BY RUTH BASHINSKY
Geronimo!
Swimming pools are as popular as
ever with more homeowners adding
them to their outdoor living spaces.
Compared to years ago, there are
many more options available for
the in-ground pool of your dreams:
gunite, fiberglass, and vinyl-lined
concrete are offered in a variety of
unique designs, shapes, and sizes.
And it doesn’t end there.
With today’s technology, you can
enjoy your pool with just the push of
a button on your mobile device, from
setting the temperature so the water
is just right when you are ready for
a swim to turning the underwater
lights on to create the perfect
ambiance for a night swim. Many
pool owners are even extending the
use of their pools by selecting a heater
for early and late-season swimming
so they can take an off-season dip.
SPORTS POOL
The family in this East Islip home
wanted a pool for entertaining
that was built to last. Giuseppe Abbrancati,
owner/designer of Smithtown
based Gappsi, Inc., suggested
a gunite salt-water pool in a sports
pool-style design where both sides of
the pool are shallow and the deep end
is in the middle.
“Gunite pools make a statement,”
he says. “They are a very customizable
pool. That is why you see a
sundeck, round steps, free falls,
spas inside the pool. You can shape
the cement any way you want it and
apply any finish. They are also highly
durable.”
Abbrancati should know: He has
been building pools for the last 30
years.
“The deepest part of this pool is
six feet,” he says. “It’s built like that
so you can play volleyball in the pool
and it’s fair ground.”
Abbrancati designed a classic rectangular
shaped pool that is 16-by-32
feet in size and has that sleek modern
look.
“Everyone in the Hamptons has the
gunite rectangular shape,” he says.
“It is the most elegant.”
The pool, he explains, is a cobalt
blue diamond bright with quartz
finish. Before the installation, the
house, which is close to 100 years old,
had a simple concrete patio. In order
to keep the character of the home,
Abrrancati chose a brick-looking
veneer that would blend in with the
existing bricks to make it look like
the pool was always there.
“I didn’t want the pool to look like
it was an addition,” he says. “I wanted
it to look like it was built with the
house 100 years ago.”
Travertine pavers were added
throughout. Additional features of
the property that Abbrancati built
were a sunken natural firepit made
from rocks and lava and an L-shaped
bench for seating.
A 12-foot-long
natural gas firepit
runs alongside the pool so
you can roast marshmallows
and eat s’mores right from the
pool. The fire accent is also a
beautiful decorative feature
that adds a welcoming
ambiance.
Seating inside the
pool with stools built
inside the pool made
from veneer with glass
tiles is an ideal spot
for socializing.
closes. One of the corners
Two fullsized
LED lights
in pool wall face
away from the house
and one accent light
is on the sundeck.
A sundeck is
accessible on the
shallow end of the
pool and is an ideal
place to place a
lounge chair.
To keep the
pool pristine, an
auto pool cover was
installed. With a push of
a button located next to
the sliding door, the
cover opens and
The pool has a gas
heater and the temperature
can go as high as 104 degrees.
The average setting is between
80 and 85. The heater goes on
automatically and the technology
enables the homeowner to set
the temperature that is
comfortable for them.
of the pool features a
bluestone counter three
feet wide that is designed
for enjoying snacks and
beverages poolside.