Coastal Cottage Retreat

St. Augustine, Florida

Located in St. Augustine, the Coastal Cottage Retreat was designed to seamlessly connect a primary residence with a detached cottage, transforming two separate structures into one cohesive backyard oasis.

The homeowners envisioned a peaceful, coastal-inspired environment where architecture and water worked together. The pool needed to serve as both a visual anchor and a functional gathering space. It had to feel intentional, not added on, blending the two buildings into a unified retreat.

The result is a geometric 12’ x 29.5’ pool designed for relaxation, connection, and effortless entertaining. Ivory-toned Eurolock Glacier pavers frame Caribbean Blue waters, creating a soft coastal palette that reflects St. Augustine’s beachside charm.

PROJECT DETAILS

Pool Style

Geometric

Dimensions

12’ x 29.5’

Depth

3.5’ – 4.5’

Entry Design:
Standard entry steps with a popped-out sun shelf providing 9” of water, complete with (1) bubbler and (1) umbrella sleeve.

Interior Finish:
Stonescapes Caribbean Blue Pebble (blue-gray background) enhanced with glass bead for added shimmer and depth.

Waterline Tile:
6×6 Aquatica Cloud Aqua

Coping:
Artistic Pavers Eurolock Glacier 12×24

Decking:
Artistic Pavers Eurolock Glacier 16×16

Additional Design Consideration:
A radius of open space was intentionally left in the decking to preserve an existing palm tree, allowing the natural landscape to remain a defining feature of the space.

CHALLENGE & ACTION

The most complex aspect of this project was positioning the pool precisely between two buildings: the main home and the cottage.

The team had to carefully assess:

Existing lanai elevations
Step transitions
Yard slope
Structural alignment between both buildings

Every measurement required proactive verification and thoughtful modification. Elevation planning was critical to ensure water lines, decking transitions, and walkways felt natural and unified.

Through collaboration and attention to detail, our team solved each structural and grading challenge before construction began. What could have been a logistical obstacle became one of the project’s strongest design features. Standing back, the pool and decking feel like they’ve always been there, perfectly integrated with the house and cottage, as if all three were built as one.

THE TRANSFORMATION

Today, the Sterling family enjoys a backyard that finally feels complete.

The pool acts as the connective centerpiece between the home and cottage. A space that allows them to cool off on hot Florida days, relax in peaceful solitude, and entertain visiting family with ease.

The Caribbean Blue interior paired with ivory decking delivers a beach-inspired aesthetic that feels timeless and tranquil. Evening swims glow beneath the color LED lighting, and the sun shelf offers the perfect shallow retreat for lounging.

The best compliment? When someone asks, ‘Wait, this wasn’t always here?

“Every touch point, from the moment we met Chelsey, to when Joe came out to go over the process, to Chip, to Ben, every single touch point was fabulous. It’s like having a new family.”

— The Sterling Family

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READY TO BUILD YOUR OWN RETREAT?

A well-designed pool should feel like it was always meant to be there.

At Breakwater Construction, we take a hands-on, intentional approach where every detail is thoughtfully planned, clearly communicated, and built to last, that’s the Breakwater Difference.

If you’re ready to transform your backyard into a unified, intentional space, our team is ready to guide you from concept to completion.

Imagine your dream pool—let’s make it happen!

Imagine your dream pool—let’s make it happen!