There is a specific kind of afternoon that only happens in late summer — when the heat has peaked, the light has gone golden, and the only reasonable thing to do is find water and stay near it. The Fernhill Pool Deck was designed for exactly that afternoon.

The Space

Nestled in the hills of Malibu, the Fernhill project began with a question: what does a true outdoor escape look like? The answer, it turned out, looked a lot like paradise.

The design centered around the pool deck and its surrounding landscape — a lush, layered environment of towering palms, tropical ferns, and dense plantings that wrap the space in a sense of seclusion. Stone retaining walls rise organically from the ground, anchoring the terraced landscape while feeling as though they’ve always been there. A weathered wood deck stretches poolside, warm underfoot and unhurried in its texture.

The crown of the space is a cabana structure imported directly from Bali, Indonesia — a detail that says everything about the intention behind this project. This was never meant to feel like a backyard. It was meant to feel like a destination. Somewhere you arrive at, exhale, and don’t think about leaving.

The result is a poolside environment that is at once tropical and grounded, lush and composed — a Malibu hillside reimagined as a private resort.

🍹The Watermelon Aperol Spritz

Bright. Effortless. The color of a summer afternoon at its best.

The Watermelon Aperol Spritz is everything August asks for — something cold, something a little sweet, something that looks as good as it tastes. The bittersweet aperitivo note of Aperol softens against fresh watermelon juice, lifted by the sparkle of prosecco into something that feels both celebratory and completely unserious. This is not a cocktail you overthink. You make it, you sit down, and the afternoon takes care of the rest.

Why it works:

The Fernhill deck isn’t trying to be refined. It’s trying to be transportive — and it succeeds completely. There’s something about the layers of green, the sound of water, the Balinese cabana casting its shade, that makes the ordinary rules feel suspended. The Watermelon Aperol Spritz works the same way. It’s vibrant without being loud, easy without being forgettable. Both the space and the drink ask you to slow down and be exactly where you are.

✨ The Watermelon Aperol Spritz

Final Sip

Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add the Aperol and watermelon juice and give it a gentle stir. Top with prosecco and a splash of sparkling water. Garnish with a watermelon slice on the rim and a sprig of mint. Drink immediately, preferably with your feet near water.