By Abby Tegnelia
His timeless landscaping and inspired design have made Michael Derrig one of the most sought-after premier builders in the Hamptons. So perhaps his newest venture was an inevitable progression: Pool Details—an aquatic design addition to his award-winning Landscape Details and Building Details businesses—which has quickly become known for elegant, negative-edge showstoppers.
“Out here, beauty and service are key,” Derrig says. “Clients are sophisticated, discerning and demanding. I was referring pool people to quite a number of my clients. After a while, it made more sense to take that business in-house—we were managing so much of it. Now, with Pool Details, we have more control over the entire outdoor environment, and can give our clients the responsive service they expect.”
Derrig specializes in the dramatic Lautner knife-edge pool design, which creates a seamless connection with the landscape. “The effect is really stunning,” says Derrig, who has built and beautified homes from Southampton to Montauk. “The design of the pool is so cool, and creates a perfect reflection of the trees, a sculpture, your dog. The look is sleek with clean lines, not too fussy. I love having grass on all four sides. People drive in from the city, where they work pretty high-intensity jobs. These pools create a soothing retreat.”
Derrig says that the gradual evolution from Landscape Details to Building Details—and now Pool Details—can be credited to his pure love for what he does. “After spending considerable time behind the desk perfecting a sketch, I will take even more time in the field building the job. Being on the site can make a big difference—with a hands-on approach, you continue to work and finesse a design. I love what I do, so the projects I begin in the morning can often turn into a 15-hour day.”
Even with all his years of experience, Derrig has been struck by the differences between creating pools versus landscaping. “It’s interesting,” he says. “The pool is a body of water that your entire body is immersed in. Your children, your family—everyone gathers around and in the pool. So it should be safe, pristine, look beautiful—and be a stress-free, serene zone. The pool season is a short one, 90 days at the most. I’m learning that you’ve got to take a little bit of a different approach to it.”
In addition to his aquatic stunners, Derrig is also big in the at-home wellness space. “We’re doing plunge pools and a lot of spas,” he says. “These wellness pieces are what everybody wants right now.” pooldetailseh.com