Every once in a while, a project comes around that flips pool design on its head. In collaboration with Virginia-based builder JDO Pools & Spas, design firm CREATIVEscapes made a musical masterpiece — in the form of a swimming pool. This guitar-shaped project was a labor of love for a homeowner whose passion lay in music.
“Design’s always been my passion,” CREATIVEscapes owner Chris Johannsen says. “When I started CREATIVEscapes, I saw a need for clients to work with a design firm and then have everyone, including contractors, on the same page for the final vision. It’s a way to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.”
For this unique pool, it was more than just the shape that called for extra close attention to detail. As the homeowner was wheelchair-bound, it was pertinent for the pool to be ADA compliant and offer several accessibility features.
This came in the form of a few things — the neck of the pool is zero entry, allowing the homeowner to enter easily and interact with other guests in the pool. Finding ways for him to enjoy the pool, as well as have it reflect his passion for music, was at the heart of the project, Johannsen says.
“I don’t want to say it was a typical design process,” Johannsen continues. “Making it ADA compliant definitely threw some curve balls, because we had to think harder about how he’d be able to enjoy the pool. But building it to scale and making it look exactly like a guitar was pretty challenging in itself.
“I would argue the biggest takeaway from this was learning how to make pools accessible. This was the first client I had where the pool needed to be ADA compliant, so it went further than the challenges of the unique shape. Besides that, it’s, ‘Okay, let’s figure out how we can make this guitar pool function for you, being handicapped. We need to put features within the pool that would benefit you and the people enjoying the pool as well.’”
Complete with a sun lounge and fire pit in place of the guitar’s soundhole, this project is a testament to what can be achieved no matter the challenge. It’s a lesson to builders across the industry about making pools more accessible and encouraging designers to keep it in mind.
“I always love challenges,” Johannsen says. “I love making sure that it’s not just a great design, but that the backyard and pool functions for that particular client. Every designer loves something like this, where you’re making something completely different than your typical project.”
Opening up a world of possibilities for pool design, CREATIVEscapes
and JDO Pools & Spas created a real musical masterpiece — one that you can swim in.
This article first appeared in the October 2025 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
