Jimmy Reed, widely recognized as the premier installer of glass mosaic tile water features in the United States, reminded us all why with his artistic tiling of the intricate pool and coping design that helped rescue the Cahn Pool in Beverly Hills, California. Reed’s masterful installation played an essential role in making sure the glass tile pool and porcelain tile coping surround were installed flawlessly – this time.

For Jordan Cahn, the second time was indeed the charm, but not before the original contractors hired for the remodel of the pool and backyard terrace had the chance to fail miserably on every level, leaving her with no other recourse but to start over again from scratch. With the stakes heightened for round two, Cahn assembled an all-star cast of specialists to handle each different phase of replacing her ex-contractors terribly botched attempt. And to say the second crew had far more success would be one tremendous understatement. With Reed in the fold for the tile install, joined by the project design consultant Skip Phillips, owner of Questar Pools & Spas, as well as veteran pool builder John Crystal, the new Cahn Pool and back-terrace setting has few if any rivals in sheer awe-inspiring beauty.

Reed more than fulfilled his role, flawlessly setting just under 5,000 square feet of tile to complete the new glass pool and glazed porcelain tile coping for the suspended backyard terrace the Cahn family deserved the first time. Phillips keyed in on the rectangular dimensions the back-terrace and split-level home presented naturally, and instead of fighting against it, Phillips embraced the dimensions and designed the back-terrace to flow in harmony with the rest of the private homes architecture. For his part, Reed tiled all the interior surfaces of the perimeter overflow pool with 2” x 4” subway-style glass tiles in a brick-stack pattern. He then used the same repeating, offset rectangular pattern for the deck and coping floating and installing of all 3,000 square feet of large-format, 12” x 24” porcelain tiles without any cuts.

“The pool and the entire terrace turned out to be something really special,” said Reed, President of Rock Solid Tile, Inc. “We all felt good about that. The homeowner is somewhat of a private person that really enjoys her time at home. She was very concerned about aesthetics, and wanted her surroundings to represent the ultimate. We were instructed to select only the best materials for every aspect. She’s very pleased with the outcome this time around.”

As the design consultant for the project, Phillips worked closely with the pool builder John Crystal, owner of John Crystal Pools based in Northridge, CA, to build the new watershape and the custom, cube-stacked entry steps that again - reinforced the narrow, long dimensions of the property. While replacing the poorly executed perimeter pool they inherited, which actually leaked back into the house, Phillips was able to implement design and material changes more in concert with the true architecture of the Cahn property.

“They had left us a pool and terrace that was failing both cosmetically and mechanically,” said Phillips. “The deck was poorly constructed and they used design elements that completely clashed with the architecture presented by the property itself.

“In a team effort, we were able to overcome all that and create an infinity glass pool and porcelain tile coping that we carefully selected to match the personality and dimensions of the setting. Working together with Jimmy Reed, John Crystal, as well as the homeowner, we were able to create an extremely complex pool that blends in perfectly with the home.”

This team of Southern California pool building experts left nothing to chance. Every detail had to be perfect. The pool corners were to be exactly 90 degrees. The pool’s interior walls had flush-mount, rectangular pool lights that Phillips found in Canada. The lighting system design for the pool gives off a soft neon blue glow up from the water that permeates the entire space at night, while outlining the hard-angle, rectangular dimensions of the new water feature that belongs attached to a luxury Beverly Hills residence.

The seamless transition from pool to coping was created by Reed’s precise preparation and installation of the two opposing materials. Reed and Phillips clever use of their own custom designed inlet floor fittings helped create a smooth-looking, uninterrupted surface transfer from the tranquil pool to the beautiful porcelain tile coping perimeter overflow slot-edge installed with perfection by Reed. The Cahn homes new pool and backyard terrace setting emphasizes the importance of hiring only proven professionals. When it does happens, this team showed that even certain failure can be rescued and flipped into a spectacular pool and electric backyard setting.

About Rock Solid Tile
Rock Solid Tile, Inc. was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1982 by Jimmy Reed. Since that time the company has grown to be the top glass mosaic tile installation contractor firm in the world. For more information find Rock Solid Tile on Facebook and Pinterest or Twitter @JimmyReed10. Call 818.222.1031 and fax 818.222.1030. Rock Solid Tile, Inc., 24345 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA 91302. www.rocksolidtile.com.