In a truly remarkable convergence of talent, renowned pool and landscape architect Randy Angell, tile artisan Ray Corral, and award-winning pool builder Guy Wood came together to create a one-of-a-kind pool and outdoor living masterpiece. This ambitious project—five years in the making—perfectly melds modern sophistication with the organic design philosophy of Frank Lloyd Wright. Their collaborative effort, featured on the Pool Magazine podcast, offers a glimpse into how passion, patience, and expertise culminated in a backyard that is not only visually stunning but deeply meaningful to the homeowners.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Influence: A Design Years in the Making
Randy Angell’s design philosophy for this project drew heavily from the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. “The client spent several years renovating their home to reflect Wright’s aesthetic inside and out,” Angell explained. “When it was time to refresh the outdoor space, the goal was to extend that same design philosophy seamlessly into the backyard.”
The original pool, which had been in place for over three decades, was outdated and no longer aligned with the homeowners’ vision. Angell worked closely with the clients for over four years, refining the design through multiple iterations. “This was a dream project for me,” Angell noted. “I’ve always been inspired by Wright’s use of scale and balance, and this backyard was the perfect opportunity to bring that influence to life.”
Irregular Pool Shape Presented a Unique Opportunity
The centerpiece of this outdoor living area is a stunning geometric pool, reflecting the clean lines and balance synonymous with Wright’s designs. “The geometry of the pool was a challenge,” Angell admits. “It’s an unusual shape, and no two sides of the pool are parallel or perpendicular to each other. That created a unique opportunity to play with angles and to lay out the porcelain paver decking in a way that complements the pool’s irregular form.”
Surrounding the pool is an expansive deck, designed with the intention of making the space feel open and inviting. Angell selected porcelain pavers for their sleek, modern look and low maintenance requirements, a choice the clients appreciated. “They wanted as little upkeep as possible, so the porcelain pavers were the perfect solution,” Angell explains. “It gives the area a contemporary feel while keeping it practical.”
Intentional & Organic Design Elements That Feel Like Home
One of the standout features in the backyard is a custom fireplace and seating area that adds both warmth and sophistication to the space. “The existing fireplace was a key element in the design,” Angell says. “We refaced it with custom concrete tiles I designed, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s patterns. The new fireplace, along with the restructured seating area, created a gathering point that gives the space a sense of intimacy.”
The fireplace also features a new copper chimney cap and custom veneer work, with Angell raising its height by four feet to increase its visual presence in the yard. The bronze finishes, paired with the copper flashing around the roof structure, evoke the earthy, natural materials Wright often used in his designs. “The copper and bronze elements really bring in that organic feel, connecting the architecture with the natural surroundings,” Angell notes.
By blending natural materials, modern design, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic philosophy, Randy Angell created a backyard that is not just a beautiful space, but an extension of the home’s architectural narrative. “We wanted this outdoor living space to feel like an extension of the house itself,” Angell says. “It’s a place where the homeowners can entertain, relax, and connect with nature, all within a design that honors their love for Wright’s work.”
Unique Challenges in Construction
Transforming an aging pool into a modern masterpiece came with a series of challenges that tested the expertise and patience of the entire team. As pool builder Guy Wood explained, the remodel involved working around both structural limitations and unexpected soil conditions that required them to rethink their approach multiple times. “From the moment we drained the pool, we knew we were dealing with some serious issues,” Wood shared. “There were cracks all over, and we had to figure out how to address those before Ray [Corral] could even start on the tile installation.”
The pool’s accessibility was another key challenge, given that the homeowner required gentle, custom steps to accommodate her mobility needs. “The client has MS, so making the pool easy to enter and exit was essential,” Wood said. “She didn’t just want to look at the pool—she wanted to use it. We had to build eight steps with precise risers that aren’t standard for pools. Getting them just right was probably one of the most intricate parts of the project.”
A Gut Punch Moment Adds an Additional Layer of Complexity
Adding to the complexity was the discovery of shifting soil beneath the pool deck. “When we pulled up the old pavers and poured a new concrete sub-deck, everything seemed fine at first,” Wood recounted. “But over the next few months, we started to notice the deck lifting. It was like watching a cake rise with too much yeast.”
This unexpected issue forced the team to halt progress and bring in a geotechnical engineer for further analysis. “We were already 85 to 90 percent finished when we realized the deck was buckling. It was a gut punch,” Wood admitted. “We found out the soil was highly expansive, which wasn’t something we anticipated because the old pavers hid the issue.”
The only solution was to completely remove the newly installed deck and start from scratch. “That was one of the toughest moments,” Wood said. “We had to tear out everything we’d just built and engineer a suspended deck system to make sure it wouldn’t happen again. It added at least two or three months to the timeline, but the client was understanding throughout the process.”
Putting In The Extra Effort
Despite the setbacks, Wood emphasized the importance of getting things right. “Our philosophy has always been: If it’s not done right, it’s not done. We worked closely with the engineers and our crew to ensure the new deck would hold up for the long term. It was painful, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing—this project deserved the extra effort.”
The custom handrail installation also presented a unique challenge. “The handrail had to be functional for the client, but we wanted it to be a design feature as well,” Wood explained. “We worked with a fabricator I trust with all my toughest jobs. He crafted the handrail from stainless steel, and we anchored it using a modified pool ladder system, which allows it to be easily removed if needed for maintenance.”
The Art of Tile: A Story of Complexity, Symbolism, and Precision
One of the the most impressive elements in this Frank Lloyd Wright inspired pool renovation would certainly have to be the intricate tile work. Every element tells a story, shaped by the vision of the client, the artistry of tile artisan Ray Corral, and the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright’s design principles. Corral, the founder of Miami-based Mosaicist, brought his decades of experience to the project, creating a pool interior that is as visually compelling as it is technically challenging. “This wasn’t just another tile job,” Corral emphasized. “It was a deeply personal project with layers of meaning woven into every part of the design.”
Translating Frank Lloyd Wright’s Aesthetic Into Tile
At the outset, the client expressed a desire to incorporate the aesthetics of Frank Lloyd Wright into the mosaic design. However, Corral quickly realized that the project required more than just translating Wright’s work into tile. “We had to walk a fine line between honoring Wright’s vision and ensuring the design fit the scale and purpose of a swimming pool,” he said. “Straight-line geometric patterns are extremely hard to execute on curved surfaces. It’s a completely different ballgame.”
Complicating matters further, the client requested a unique and deeply personal design element—a strip of crimson red tile, subtly integrated into the floor pattern. “At first, I didn’t understand the importance of the red tile,” Corral admitted. “I asked the client several times why she wanted it, but she only revealed the significance during one of our final meetings in Texas. She told me that the red tile was a tribute to her son, who passed away at the age of four. After hearing that, I knew it had to be perfect.”
The design evolved to include a flowing, arrow-like movement, with the red tile subtly leading toward the deep end of the pool. “We reworked the entire layout to make the red tile feel intentional, not like an afterthought,” Corral explained. “It’s tucked away just enough to be meaningful without overpowering the design.”
Beyond the symbolic red tile, the rest of the pool interior was dominated by rich greens and iridescent beiges, carefully selected to evoke a sense of nature. “The client wanted the colors to reflect a connection to the environment, much like Wright’s work,” Corral said. “We went with a dark green base to ground the design, with lighter, shimmering elements that catch the light and add subtle elegance.”
Bringing The Vision To Life
The difficulty of the project was amplified by the need for precision across the pool’s varying depths. “The design flows from the shallow end to the deep end, with the patterns gradually expanding as you move deeper,” Corral noted. “That flow needed to feel seamless. Everything had to look intentional and proportional once installed.”
The installation process required a combination of artistry and engineering. “This wasn’t just laying tile and calling it a day,” Corral said. “We had to build parts of the floor in the workshop, then match it perfectly on-site. My team had to be prepared to make adjustments on the fly, especially in areas where the design wrapped around curves.”
Reflecting on the project, Corral spoke to the emotional impact of the finished product. “The story behind the red tile—it really changed the way I looked at this project,” he said. “It became more than just a pool or an artistic endeavor. It became something personal, not just for the client, but for me and the entire team. It was a privilege to bring their vision to life.”
The Power of Collaboration: A Seamless Blend of Visions
The success of this project was due in no small part to the close collaboration between Angell, Corral, and Wood. “We’ve worked together on other projects, but this one was special,” Angell reflected. “I knew I needed Guy’s expertise to handle the construction challenges, and Ray’s artistic vision to bring the tile design to life.”
Wood echoed those sentiments. “This collaboration has been one of the most rewarding of my career. Even with the challenges, the teamwork and shared vision made it all worthwhile.”
The three professionals praised the homeowner’s involvement as well. “They were wonderful clients,” Angell said. “Their creativity and input added another layer of meaning to the project.”
Ready to take a deeper dive?
Listen to our entire discussion about this incredible Frank Lloyd Wright inspired pool and outdoor living renovation with Randy Angell, Ray Corral and Guy Wood on the Pool Magazine podcast.
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