This unbelievable pool house by Group 3 Designs brings an outdated backyard into modern grandeur
Subtle changes and lasting craftsmanship work together to create an outdoor space that endures.
Story by Barry Kaufman
Photography by John McManus
One of the easiest ways to refresh a home, without losing the qualities that make it special, is to update only what truly needs care. When Group 3 Designs’ Mike Ruegamer returned to this Brams Point property, he knew the outdoor spaces called for a light, respectful touch. Much of the beauty you see today began with his earlier work on the home.
“I designed that 15 years ago. That was not original to the house,” he said.
Afternoon light spills across the stepped brick terrace, where fresh plantings and graceful window arches frame an easy spot to sit, breathe and soak in the view.
The pool house still serves as the backyard’s anchor. Its copper dome has mellowed into a soft green patina that settles naturally beneath the canopy of live oaks. Classical columns define the open-air pavilion and create an easy transition from poolside to shaded seating. The harmony continues across the main house, where the long-aged green roof shifts to a newer copper red above the expanded dining room, which will age slowly to match the green patina. .
Together the architecture and landscape show how gentle updates can elevate a space rather than reinvent it. The result is a backyard that feels calm, cohesive and unmistakably Lowcountry
