How Mentorship Paved the Way for Million Dollar Pool Designer Brad Holley

Winning the 2023 Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge was a pinnacle in Brad Holley’s career. But the self-taught Dallas designer is quick to share the accolade.

“It was all because of the eight-and-a-half years I spent shadowing and mentoring under Randy Angell.”

A bit of background helps set the stage. Angell, who began his design career in high school working for a custom home builder, launched his own eponymous firm in 2016 with the motto, “We live outside the box.” Specializing in groundbreaking exteriors, Angell is adept at developing team members who share his vision of forward-thinking design.

Holley considers himself lucky to be among that privileged group.

“Like Randy, I had no formal education. I didn’t even have goals or direction,” Holley said. “What I did have was a really unhinged passion for creativity and designing all sorts of crazy things. Along the way, somewhere, Randy saw this in me; he took that wild, chaotic, creative impulse and gave it direction, structure, temperance, and order.”

During his tenure with Angell, Holley learned much more than how to design a stellar swimming pool. “Randy was showing me timeless design principles like scale, aesthetic, balance, contrast, and proportion. He was lifting the curtain, explaining all the elements that make design work compelling, pleasing, and attractive to the human eye.”

Another all-important lesson had nothing to do with design.

“More than a few times, with wisdom and grace, Randy took me by the proverbial hand and carefully invited me to breathe, to react slowly, and to find empathy.”

Kudos to both teacher and student for doing their jobs — and doing them well. With influences including modern architecture, industrial design, interior design, and nature itself, Angell’s swoon-worthy exteriors have been featured on HGTV. As for Holley, there’s a new job in store, Design Director for Plano-based Pure Design, and the coveted title of Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge winner.

“The thing that makes the challenge so interesting is that there are no budget restrictions. Designers are invited to use their full imagination and really go crazy,” said Holley.

This year, entrants were asked to create a 3D, master plan for a hypothetical Miami Beach residence. Among the required elements: a lazy river feature, outdoor kitchen, entertaining area, fire pit, splash pad, swimming pool, and private spa.

The lavish Miami Vice-inspired design epitomizes next level, ultra-luxe living.

We’re talking multiple lounging areas and bars, baja shelf, yacht dock, putting green, outdoor theater, and whimsical yard art. And yes, that’s artist Frido Kahlo at the bottom of the swimming pool.

“I went from being a relative nobody to the very top of my field,” said Holley. “It was like a passing of the torch, where the older unlikely underdog transferred his story to a younger one. With passion alone, Randy became an outdoor design icon, and then he duplicated himself. Spotlighting his story is just a small token of my gratitude.”