Tennessee Guest House Designed for Poolside Entertaining
Some homes are designed around the view. Others are designed around the way people gather.
For these Tennessee homeowners, their poolside guest house was created to do both. Every space was planned to encourage effortless indoor-outdoor living, making it just as inviting for a quiet afternoon by the pool as it is for entertaining family and friends.
To bring that vision to life, they selected multiple ActivWall products that blur the line between inside and out—from expansive folding doors to pass-through windows that keep everyone connected.
The guest house kitchen is truly the heart of the space. Instead of relying on a single serving window, the homeowners installed two ActivWall Gas Strut Windows on adjacent walls. Each custom window measures 72″ x 60″ and features a no-sill design, creating an unobstructed countertop that makes serving food and drinks effortless.
One window opens directly to the pool while the other connects to the wrap-around patio, offering additional seating for six and allowing the kitchen to become the center of activity no matter where guests are gathered.
Finished with our Poolside/Coastal protective finish, the windows are built to withstand the moisture and chemicals that naturally come with life around the pool.
The homeowners say the windows quickly became one of their favorite features.
“The gas strut windows are so easy to use! We love them, and everyone raves about them.”
Adjacent to the kitchen, a custom five-panel outswing Folding Door creates an even greater connection between the interior and the covered porch.
Measuring 162″ x 96″, the outswing door opens to the right, transforming the guest house into one continuous entertaining space. A flush sill provides a seamless transition between indoors and the pool deck while maintaining a clean, modern appearance.
Perhaps the biggest surprise for the homeowners was just how effortlessly the system operates.
“The door is so easy to open and close! I was really worried it was gonna be such a pain to do which would deter me from using it, but no way!”
In an adjacent room, the guest house also features a 36″ x 60″ Fixed Panel Glass to provide natural light, while coordinating with the style of all of the other operable windows and doors.
The indoor-outdoor experience continues upstairs where a cozy sitting area opens onto a covered balcony through a custom outswing French Door. The door measures 72″ x 80″ and its flush sill creates an elegant transition to the balcony, where comfortable seating and a large flat-screen television overlook the pool below.
Whether enjoying a quiet morning coffee, watching the big game from the balcony while friends relax in the pool, or winding down after sunset, the upper level offers another destination designed for indoor-outdoor enjoyment.
Like the Gas Strut Windows, these other products also feature our durable Poolside/Coastal finish, providing lasting protection in the demanding outdoor environment.
While each ActivWall product serves a different purpose, together they create a guest house that feels larger, brighter, and more connected to its surroundings.
The homeowners couldn’t be happier with the result.
“We love our ActivWall! It’s so perfect!”
It’s a reminder that great design creates spaces people genuinely love to use every day.
Acknowledgments:
Story by ActivWall. Photos contributed by Melissa Arvik. Architecture by Design Team: The Design Shop of Jackson, TN. Built by Golden Circle Construction.
